You might not be looking forward to getting your root canal. They have a reputation for being uncomfortable and even painful! Fortunately, root canals aren’t like how they have been portrayed in movies and TV shows over the years. They can actually help to relieve discomfort. Putting your root canal off will only result in more serious consequences. Here’s what can happen if you postpone your root canal to a later date.
Additional Pain
You’ve probably heard from movies and TV shows that root canals are excruciatingly painful. The good news is that this isn’t true. Thanks to modern dental technology, you don’t need to worry about feeling pain during your procedure. Before the treatment begins, your dentist will always start by administering a local anesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel any pain at all. Many dentists also offer sedation options if you get anxious or have a fear of undergoing dental treatment. Generally, getting a root canal feels like getting a large dental filling. Root canals can even relieve pain that you are feeling due to your infected or abscessed tooth. When you put off this procedure, your tooth pain will only become worse and could even spread!
More Time at the Dentist
If you are delaying your root canal because of your busy schedule, you should know that if you wait to long, you could require additional time in the dental chair or more appointments to restore the health of your smile. Things can become much worse, and you could need more than a root canal. By clearing a little bit of time in your schedule, you can save yourself lots of time in the future.
More Complex Dental Problems
It may feel like if you can tough out the pain for a while, the problem will go away. This isn’t the case. Even if your pain suddenly disappears, this doesn’t mean that you are in the clear. This could mean that the nerves inside your tooth have died due to your infection. At this point, it becomes questionable if your tooth can be saved. The infection can even spread to other areas of your mouth and body, including your vital organs. By treating your tooth now with a root canal, you could avoid a potentially life-threatening situation.
It may seem like a headache to go to the dentist for a root canal, but it is very important that you do! By addressing the problem now, you can avoid many inconvenient consequences down the line.
About the Author
Dr. Renu Michelsen is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for more than two decades. She earned her dental doctorate from the University of the Pacific Art A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. She is committed to continuing education and is a proud member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and the Orange County Dental Society. For more information on root canals or to schedule an appointment at her office in Orange, visit her website or call (714) 492-1169.
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