You may be surprised by how many questions your endodontist hears on a daily basis. The following questions are the most common, and for good reason. Patients aren’t used to receiving endodontic care like a root canal in Huntsville very often. Regardless, knowing is half the battle, and asking these questions will help you stay fully informed when pursuing and receiving endodontic treatment. Keep them in mind during your next appointment so your endodontist can give you more info.
Do I Need a Referral to See an Endodontist?
Endodontists are considered specialists, so it’s reasonable why people ask this question. If a patient is told by their general dentist that a root canal is needed to save their tooth, they’ll want to know if they need to schedule an appointment with a separate doctor to get the work done. Luckily, all endodontists are also dentist, so you won’t need a referral when seeing your endodontist in Huntsville.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
When significant decay and an infection or inflammation is present inside the pulp, it needs to be removed. Not removing diseased pulp puts the remaining tooth at risk as well as healthy teeth nearby.
Does Root Canal Treatment Hurt?
People have the tendency to associate root canals with pain, but this is slightly misleading. You’re far more likely to feel pain before treatment since the infection and decay is in the same area as your nerve.
Will I Have Pain Following Treatment?
You may experience minimal discomfort after treatment, but this is reduced since your endodontist performs nonsurgical root canals. Pain relievers like Advil Liquid gels and Tylenol Rapid Release are effective after treatment.
How Does Endodontic Treatment Save My Tooth?
Once the infected pulp is removed and the root canal is cleaned out, the internal area is filled, sealed, and covered with a restoration. This effectively restores and protects your remaining tooth from bacteria in the future.
Why Not Just Extract My Tooth?
A tooth extraction is always the last resort for your dentist since replacing a tooth later is usually far more expensive and time-consuming than a simple root canal. It also means that there’s enough tooth left that’s worth saving, which is always a preferred outcome.
How Long Does a Root Canal in Huntsville Take?
The process of removing diseased pulp and filling the area can be done in a single visit. However, covering the area with a crown takes a couple weeks because the crown needs to be produced. You’ll come back for a second visit to have it placed then.
Are Root Canal Treatments Usually Successful?
The success rate is very high for root canals, especially when performed by an endodontist.
Have more questions for your endodontist in Huntsville? Schedule an appointment with them today to get them answered!
About the Author
Dr. Deborah Bishop earned her DMD degree from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. She then attended an endodontic residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. To learn more about root canals or endodontic treatments, contact her at (256) 882-5161 or visit her website.