Advances in Dentistry Lead to More Comfortable Root Canal Therapy

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Have you ever heard a horror story about a root canal gone wrong? Root canal treatments were perhaps one of the scariest procedures in dentistry, but today that reputation is completely unjustified. Advanced dental technology has provided us with more ways than ever before to keep you comfortable and pain-free during and after your root canal and dental extractions in Studio City.

What is a root canal?

Root canal therapy is used to remove diseased or infected soft tissues from the inner chambers, or root canals, of the tooth. These soft tissues include the nerve of the tooth. The nerve is to blame for any pain you feel.

Many people with infected, badly decayed or abscessed teeth will feel a throbbing pain in or near the tooth, and the pain can radiate throughout the jaw and neck. Once the diseased nerve has been extracted with a root canal, the source of the pain will be gone, but you will still have your natural tooth, which can continue to serve you for many more years.

Does a root canal hurt?

Root canal therapy is nearly painless thanks to new techniques. The process beginswith numbing the tooth with a local anesthetic. This will immediately block the painful sensations, and once the diseased nerve is extracted, your pain will be gone completely. You may feel some pressure as in the root chambers during removal of the infected tissues, but you should feel no discomfort.

Once the anesthetic wears off, you may notice some tenderness. This is due to the inflammation around the tooth and is more common with severe infections. The inflammation should subside within a few days, and your discomfort will disappear with it. Advil or Tylenol can be used as needed to ease any tenderness you feel.

What happens next?

After the extraction of the nerve and pulp of the tooth, the dentist will clean and disinfect the root chambers. The canals are shaped so that they can be sealed against further infection. Modern dentists use a special rubber-like material called guttapercha, which improves the long-term success of the root canal therapy.

The final steps are to fill and crown the tooth. The filling and dental crown restore the tooth’s natural shape, size and appearance and protect it from further damage. New materials and techniques are used to ensure the best possible results with the least possible discomfort.

Call (818) 762-2977 to learn more about root canal therapy or to schedule a consultation for dental extractions in Studio City.

About the Company:

Dr. Kouyoumdjian received his Doctoral of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Southern California where he focused on esthetic dentistry. He has received several professional awards and regularly attends training sessions to stay up-to-date on the latest cosmetic dentistry. Several other services are also available, including teeth whitening and general dentistry. The whole staff at Studio City Dental Center strives to make patients comfortable and have a pleasant experience.