Root canals are painful – that’s one statement which is being unanimously uttered by one patient to another. But what else do we really know about root canals? Here are top questions about root canals which you wish you had the courage to ask Central Dental:

Technology has gifted us with more painless ways of doing things. The advent of lasers and more potent anesthetics have made procedures not just less daunting but even rather enjoyable. But this wasn’t always the case. Back in the days when laser technology was just a mere concept, dentists had to make use of large drills and the anesthetics they used weren’t that potent either. Naturally, patients felt a lot of pain with every root canal procedure. All of that has changed though and these procedures are not only less painful to some extent but are also done at a quicker rate.

2. Is extracting the tooth a better solution than root canal?

The entire idea of root canal is that it “kills” the tooth so that the pain caused by irritated nerve endings would go away and you’d be able to use your tooth for mastication and other purposes without much discomfort. But at the heart of it all, this procedure is done because of the pain. Other people would much rather have the tooth extracted because doing so will naturally get rid of the pain, but it will also get rid of your tooth which you need for chewing and biting. That’s something which a root canal procedure spares you from.

3. Can you have a root canal procedure when you’re pregnant?

This is a rather controversial issue because before you can have a root canal procedure, you first need to get a dental x-ray, and last time you checked, x-rays are not recommended for pregnant women. However, the only portion which will be x-rayed is your mouth and the rest of your body, most importantly your abdomen, will be shield from the radiation so dentists can and do perform root canals on pregnant women for as long as it is that necessary. There are general repercussions for doing anything invasive on a pregnant woman. Pregnancy induces an increased blood flow which means that bleeding tendencies are more frequent. If you do need to push through with the procedure, insist on having a lead apron for you and your baby’s protection.

If you have any questions regarding root canals, contact Central Dental in either Little Rock, Conway, or Jacksonville, AR.