Root Canals in Fort Collins, CO
A root canal is a critical procedure that saves infected teeth and protects your oral health. The procedure may have a bad reputation, but at Buxton Family Dental, we would like to dispel the myth that root canal treatment itself is painful.
For one thing, root canals relieve pain; they don’t cause it. Any pain you experience before treatment is due to the infection inside your tooth. A root canal procedure removes the infection, which eliminates pain.
Also, the vast majority of root canal procedures are pain free and modern dentistry has numerous options for making you as comfortable as possible.
Why Root Canals Are Needed
The outer layer of a tooth is dental enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. Beneath the enamel is a softer layer called dentin. Decay that is not treated can penetrate your dental enamel and the soft layer of dentin beneath it, ultimately reaching the innermost part of your tooth.
This area inside your tooth contains the pulp, which is made up of nerves and the blood supply that keeps the tooth alive. The root canal is the channel for the nerves and the blood vessels. When decay or infection reaches this part of the tooth, you will experience intense pain, and the only way to relieve it is with root canal therapy or by extracting the tooth.
What Happens during a Root Canal?
We understand that, despite what we tell you, facing a root canal is still stressful for many people. When scheduling your appointment, Dr. Buxton will talk to you about your concerns, and if necessary, he will prescribe a mild sedative for you to take before you arrive at our office. If you opt for oral sedation, you will need to have a friend or family member drive you to and from your appointment.
The next step is to get you settled comfortably in the dental chair with a pillow and warm blanket and help you choose your favorite music or TV show. We also offer nitrous oxide to help you relax as much as possible during the procedure. Of course, we will make sure your mouth is completely numb before we proceed.
Dr. Buxton starts the procedure by making a tiny hole in your tooth so he can access the root canal. He then uses specialized instruments to expertly clear away all the infection. The space is then filled, and a temporary filling is placed on the tooth.
Trust Your Care to Experience
Root canal therapy is a complex procedure that requires hours of education and experience. At Buxton Family Dental we try to complete as many root canals for our patients as we can, but some teeth are easier to treat than others! These teeth take extra training, expertise, and equipment. That is why we have a root canal speciality called endodontics. It is not uncommon to be referred to the endodontist to ensure you have the best experience and results possible.
If you suspect you need a root canal or are experiencing pain, please call our office. We are usually able to see our emergency patients the same day to provide you with the relief you need.
