One of the best ways to strike fear into the hearts of dental patients is to mention a root canal. That’s a shame, because today’s modern root canals are faster and more comfortable than ever! Dr. Dick Davenport of Davenport Dental Group in Laredo, TX can save your infected tooth and save you a great deal of suffering, time, and expense later.

An Undeserved Bad Rap

The myths about root canals date back about a century. That’s when some really bad science was released by a single individual claiming that root canals were incredibly painful, that they could allow disease from the mouth to enter the body, and that extracting teeth was always preferable.

Pain

To be fair, dental anesthesia was relatively uncommon back then and not nearly as effective as the modern anesthetics that dentists use today. So, “back in the day” that argument was probably true. If you consult Dr. Dick Davenport of Davenport Dental Group in Laredo, TX for a root canal procedure, nothing happens until the tooth and the surrounding area is thoroughly numb. And you should know that most people describe the “pain” of a root canal as no worse than getting a filling. Any post-operative discomfort can usually be handled by over-the-counter pain relievers.

Infection

This myth was never true. Left untreated, dental infection can get into the bloodstream. Extensive and ongoing research shows that dental infection is associated with:

  • Cardiac disease
  • Lung problems
  • Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and many others
  • Poor diabetes control
  • Low birth weight and premature birth
  • Various forms of cancer

And many other potentially serious conditions.

The goal of a root canal is two-fold: to clean out any existing infection and to preserve the tooth. Dr. Davenport will open the tooth and then use special tools to remove all the pulp –the tissues, nerves, and blood vessels inside the tooth – to halt the infection. If needed, he’ll add some medication to eradicate any trace of disease. An inert material is inserted into the tooth which is then covered and protected by a dental crown. The entire procedure takes about an hour in most cases.

Keeping Your Natural Tooth Is Best

Losing a tooth is more than inconvenient. One missing tooth will allow the neighboring teeth to slowly shift their positions. That can lead to problems with your bite and to excess wear on your tooth enamel. The underlying bone is deprived of the stimulation of chewing and it begins to deteriorate. And if more than one tooth is missing on the same side, there’s a strong tendency to chew more on the other side. That can result in muscle imbalances and headaches, among other things.

There are a number of options for replacing a missing tooth, but they’re not inexpensive. There’s no doubt about it – keeping your natural tooth is best.

Don’t Risk Your Tooth

If you’re experiencing severe dental pain, or severe pain suddenly vanishes, you may be in need of a root canal to save your tooth. Don’t wait. Schedule an appointment with either  Davenport Dental Group office in Laredo, TX. Call 956-242-6745 or 956-517-2695.