Even if you don’t have dental anxiety normally, the words “root canal” can bring on a sense of worry. Much of this is the result of misunderstandings about the root canal procedure.
We don’t want to blame Hollywood for those misperceptions, but movie portrayals of dentists have not helped. Too many people have come to associate root canals with pain, and that’s just not the case, especially here at Bayou Dental Group.
Our dentists want all our patient in Monroe and nearby Louisiana communities to know that you can have a pain-free root canal treatment at our office.
Make an appointment if you would like to learn more about our approach to this safe and effective procedure.
When A Root Canal Is Needed
Look, we get it. No one wants to have a root canal treatment, and that becomes a bigger challenge when you are worried that the procedure itself will be painful.
Unfortunately, this leads many patients to put off dental care until the real pain begins. That is the pain that comes from having an infected tooth. This occurs when bacteria eats into the middle of a tooth and causes inflammation of the pulp (a soft connective material) inside your teeth.
The pulp is housed in the pulp chamber but also takes up space in your root canals. These are openings where nerves and blood vessels enter your teeth.
For better or worse, we have seen the faces of many patients who are in more pain than they can stand. That pain is what finally brings them to our office for assistance. Dr. Finley has helped more patients in this situations than we can count during his 30 years as a dentist.
And he would be glad to help you if you come to Bayou Dental Group for care.
The thing is Dr. Finley has been doing this long enough that he may recommend a root canal treatment before the pain begins if sees the symptoms of a tooth infection. Those infections often develop as a result of advanced gum disease or untreated tooth decay.
If you see him early, he may recommend a root canal before your toothache becomes more than you can handle.
Performing A Pain-Free Root Canal Procedure
The first step we would recommend is making your appointment at Bayou Dental Group.
Dr. Finley will tell you that we treat patients every day who experience dental anxiety, so it’s OK if you are feeling anxious about a root canal procedure. We can and will help you get through it.
If you have any questions before the procedure begins, we will be happy to answer them for you. We also will do everything that we can to keep you feeling comfortable throughout the procedure.
Most of the time, we are able to complete root canal treatments in a single visit, which saves you time and an extra trip to the dentist.
At a minimum, we will provide local anesthetic to numb your infected tooth as well as the soft tissues around that tooth. We have learned that some patients want something strong to make absolutely certain that they will feel no pain during their root canal procedure.
This is why we offer sedation dentistry at Bayou Dental Group. Specifically, we offer oral conscious sedation, which is about as simple as can be.
All you have to do is take some medicine before the treatment begins. After the medicine has taken effect, you won’t feel anything and you probably won’t remember anything about your treatment either.
You will need a family member or friend to take you home, however, since the medication can last for hours.
Stopping Your Pain With A Root Canal Treatment
The purpose of a root canal procedure is to save your tooth by removing the infection completely. In doing this, we also remove the cause of your pain.
With the modern tools we use at Bayou Dental Group, our dentists can reach more places in your infected tooth. Doing this makes it less likely that the infection will return.
The final step is sealing the tooth with a dental filling or a dental crown. This restores the appearance and the function of your tooth. This way you can bite and chew without pain once again.
Make Your Appointment Today
If you suspect that you have tooth decay, please call 318-323-9303 or fill out our online form today to make an appointment with one of our dentists in Monroe, LA.
We would much rather prevent you from feeling any pain if we can. However, if you do have a toothache already, then we encourage to call Bayou Dental Group as soon as possible.