Taking The Fear Out Of Root Canal Treatment In Ipswich

Is this procedure’s reputation for pain justified? We explain why not.

‘Root canal’; two words that patients seem to fear the most when they go to the dentist. Even those of a less nervous disposition sometimes flinch at the mere mention of the words. Although it is just the name of a dental procedure, it has widely found its way into everyday language as a term that is used to denote extreme pain. Given that is the case, no wonder it strikes fear into some patients!

In today’s Foxhall Dental Practice blog, we will take a look at why this might have been the case and why its reputation has persisted, even with today’s modern dentistry techniques and equipment. We will also take a look at what it is used for and what actually happens during the procedure.

Where are the root canals?

These are located in the roots of the tooth and contain a soft pulp material which contains tiny blood vessels, but also nerves. As you can imagine, infections of this part of the tooth then can be very painful, and especially so if abscesses form in them (more on that later).

When the root canals become infected, a root canal procedure will need to be carried out at our dental practice in Ipswich.

Why does it have the ‘pain’ reputation?

No one seems to know for sure how it all started, but there is consensus that it probably goes back a very long time ago. The first root canal surgery was carried out around probably the 2nd or 3rd century BC but the first modern version was carried out in the early to mid 1800s. Even the modern one would be very different to modern methods though, with the drill being hand held and no local anaesthetic barring, perhaps, alcohol!  It isn’t hard to imagine how painful that could have been.

To make things worse, x-rays would not have been taken, and if, as sometimes does happen, an abscess forms in the tooth, we probably don’t need to tell you how that would feel if it was drilled into even with a local anaesthetic. Without one, it would be excruciating.

Are there alternatives?

There are two alternatives but one of them is to leave the infected tooth as it is. This would be a very very bad move, even presuming that you could bear the pain, which you most likely wouldn’t. If an abscess were to be present, there is a risk that it could burst and the infection enter your bloodstream which could potentially be very serious. The only realistic option is to extract the tooth. While this does provide an alternative, we don’t recommend extraction unless it is necessary. Removing a tooth can cause additional movement from other teeth and you could end up with a crooked smile and further damage. We will discuss this in another blog.

We hope, and think, that after you have read the next section of today’s blog, you will not be as afraid of the treatment as you might expect to be.

Will I actually feel pain while receiving the treatment and what happens?

The answer to the first part of this question is that, no, there is no reason why you should feel pain. There are two reasons for this, in addition of course, to the skills of our experienced Ipswich dental team. The first is that we will always take x-rays before carrying out the treatment to see if there are any abscesses present. If there are, the procedure will be postponed until this has been treated. This rules out the likelihood of an abscess being drilled into.

The second factor is that the treatment is carried out using a local anaesthetic. These are excellent at numbing the treatment area so that you don’t feel any pain. What most patients experience are some sensations from the drilling etc and perhaps the ‘anticipation’ of pain, rather than pain itself. We will make sure that you are properly numb before the treatment starts.

Once you are numb, this is what to expect.

First of all, the dentist will access the top or side of the tooth so that the root canals can be reached. The infected material will then be removed and the hollow canals thoroughly cleaned to remove any remaining bacteria. The canals will then be filled using a special filling material known as ‘gutta percha’. In effect, this completes the treatment, however, in most cases a crown will then be attached to the treated tooth. This not only helps to restore the appearance of the tooth but perhaps more importantly provides it with additional strength so that you can use it for eating etc.

And that is all there is to it. Yes, it is an invasive procedure, but with the local anaesthetic, you should feel no pain at all, and certainly nothing like its reputation might make you expect.

If you have any questions about this treatment if you are told that you need one, don’t be afraid to ask anything about it that you wish. Our dentists will be happy to explain.

For any advice regarding teeth or gum problems or to book an appointment at the Foxhall Dental Practice, please call our reception team on 01473 258396.