As an adult when someone says, "root canal", you might shudder. It doesn't matter whether you have had one or not. Yet, there's really nothing to fear as a root canal isn't as painful as people make it out to be. In fact, in the caring hands of Dr. Tyler McCabe, D.M.D., of McCabe Dental in Ocean Springs, you may not feel anything at all when this procedure is complete.
Why Root Canals Are Done
Going in to see a family dentist in Ocean Springs for a root canal leaves some patients with a lot of questions. The dentist for any Ocean Springs root canal will tell you that this procedure is not as painful as it sounds. Since the tooth root in question is already dead, the dentist is just trying to clear it out and seal it up. In doing so, the rest of the tooth is preserved against decay and loss.
Someone Told You a Root Canal Was Awful
A tooth that is rotten or past the point of saving hurts much more than a root canal. A tooth that is so decayed that you can't feel it any more will lead to far more pain when it turns into an abscess (i.e., a pus-filled sack in the gums under the rotten tooth). Pulling a bad tooth also hurts more because it has to be surgically removed from the jaw.
A root canal doesn't really hurt. What you might feel after the fact are the dozens of other little nerves running to neighboring teeth that are disturbed during the procedure. Those nerves quiet down after a few hours to a few days. Additionally, your mouth is anesthetized for the procedure, and you don't feel any of it while the dentist works on the tooth.
One Root, Two Roots, Three Roots
For dentists in Ocean Springs root canals come with rules. In molars, root canals can be performed on up to three roots out of four. Most molars have four roots. If all four roots are dead and/or dying and there are signs of infection, the root canals aren't going to help. Then the tooth is pulled.
However, your family dentist in Ocean Springs won't be able to tell the extent of the problem until he gets into one of the roots and sees that there is a greater problem. If the dentist sees that the tooth can't be saved through root canals, he will tell you. Then you can decide what to do next.
Root Canals in Other Teeth
It's highly unusual to perform a root canal in teeth other than molars. However, a dentist may choose to do a root canal on a canine or incisor if your tooth pulp needs rescuing. These front teeth are not as thick as molars, so the procedure is a little bit different.
Talk to Dr. McCabe About Your Root Canals
If you think you have teeth that need root canals, book an appointment with Dr. McCabe. He can examine your teeth and let you know if root canals are necessary, or if other procedures can save your teeth.