The dreaded ROOT CANAL

Company:  Dentistry by Dr. Arida

Location: 131 S. Euclid Ave, Westfield NJ

Phone: 908-654-6262

So, Doc, what is the topic of the month?

This month’s topic will be the dreaded ROOT CANAL! Often feared and mostly misunderstood.

Tell us why?

Most tooth pain is related to the nerve in the tooth beginning to die, Sometimes, cold, hot, biting can be the cause of pain.

Sometimes the pain can be spontaneous. Not all tooth pain is cause for root canal, that is why it is very important to see your dentist if something is bothering you so it can be evaluated. It may be a simple problem but if it is need for a root canal it can progress from mild pain to very bad pain in a matter of hours.

Many of the emergency patients that I see wind up needing a root canal. It is the procedure I will come in on a weekend to do if a patient is in pain, because I know how bad the pain can get if not treated in a timely manner.

How long does it take? What are the expectations?

A root canal will take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes depending on the tooth and difficulty level. You are totally numb and comfortable during the procedure and most patients feel much better immediately after treatment although the tooth can be a bit sore for a couple of days.

Anything else we should know?

Most people are “horrified” to hear that they need a root canal only because the typical story will go: “I had horrible pain! I couldn’t stand it! I needed a ROOT CANAL! I never want to gothrough that again!” The thing is that many people that need a root canal are in considerable pain but the root canal is the procedure that gets them OUT of the pain but it is closely associated with the whole pain experience. Just remember that root canal is your FRIEND if you need one! If you are in some pain, DO NOT WAIT! Seek the care of a dentist to determine what the problem is and get the appropriate care. Root canal takes care of a biological infection of the tooth. The tooth that usually has large fillings can be structurally weak. It is important to know that once the biological infection is solved with root canal the tooth may be structurally weak and the way to strengthen the tooth that is weak is to put a crown (cap) on it.

Dentistry by Dr. Arida is widely considered to be one the best dentists in the local area and we are lucky to have his columns to learn more about dental health. For more information, please visit www.drarida.com
or call 908-654-6262. The practice is located conveniently at 131 S. Euclid Ave, Westfield NJ.  Check him out on social media: www.facebook. com/kennethwaridadds;
@dr_arida on Instagram