Root Canal Specialist

What is root canal therapy?

Root canal therapy repairs and saves decayed, infected, and injured teeth. The procedure involves Dr. Arora removing the nerves and tissue, or pulp, inside your affected tooth, then filling and sealing the tooth with dental materials. The nerves inside your teeth help detect hot and cold sensations, but your teeth do not actually require them for their health or everyday function such as chewing food, which is why a root canal can fully restore your teeth.

You may experience no symptoms from an infection of the dental pulp. However, signs that you might need a root canal include:

• A severe toothache
• Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold
• Swelling and/or tenderness in the area
• Abscesses or pimples

If you have an infection or inflammation inside your tooth, leaving it untreated results in worsening pain and may require you to have your tooth pulled. Whenever possible, saving your natural teeth is a better option, which is why it’s important to get a root canal from Dr. Arora if you need one.

Are root canals painful?

You may be tempted to get a tooth pulled or replace it with an artificial tooth rather than get a root canal because you’ve heard root canals are painful. However, this reputation is several decades out of date. Thanks to advances in modern dentistry, receiving a root canal from Dr. Arora with local anesthesia is nearly painless, and in fact, far more comfortable than having a tooth pulled.

If you’re considering getting a root canal, you’re likely in pain. Keep in mind a root canal will relieve your pain, and what you’re experiencing now is far more unpleasant than what will happen during or after the procedure.

What are the benefits of root canals?

It’s in your best interest to try saving your natural teeth whenever possible, and a root canal will do just that. Pulling just one tooth can cause significant problems in chewing and speaking naturally, and as mentioned, it’s far more painful than a modern root canal procedure.

While there are a number of useful artificial tooth replacement options, nothing can replicate the feel and function of a real tooth, so as long as saving your natural teeth is an option, that should be your priority. Most people who get a root canal procedure can keep their teeth for their lifetime.

To learn more about the benefits of a root canal, call Dr. Alok Arora, DMD, or schedule an appointment online today at the Menlo Park, California, office.