emergency dentists in philadelphiaChances are you’ve heard of root canals in popular culture. Television shows, movies, and stand-up comics have portrayed them as being the most painful and difficult procedures on the planet, but is that reputation actually deserved? Despite what you’ve been led to believe, root canals are relatively painless and carry so many benefits, it would be foolish to avoid one. If you need a root canal, the experts at ZDental want you to know there’s nothing to be afraid of; here are a few reasons not to fret over scheduling a root canal procedure.

The Pain is Minimal

The horror stories about root canals likely came about during the early era of dentistry, when the techniques were a bit less advanced than they are now. The truth is that dentistry has come a long way since the 1800s, when rudimentary root canal procedures were first performed. Today, a modern root canal in Philadelphia is actually no more painful than getting a filling; in fact, the most pain you’re likely to experience during the procedure is the slight prick you feel when your dentist injects Novocain into gums.

It Will Prevent Future Pain

Speaking of pain, the throbbing ache you feel in your tooth before your root canal is likely to be much more painful than anything you’ll experience during the procedure. If you have a root canal scheduled, it’s probably because the pain has become unbearable. Once your procedure is complete, that pain will go away within a day and you’ll be back to chewing and eating normally, just like you did before your tooth became infected. Plus, barring any complications, your tooth pain is unlikely to return in the future as long as you take good care of your teeth and follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions.

You Can Save Your Own Tooth

Bridges, dentures, and other dental prosthetics may look the part but they’re never as strong and as resilient as the real thing. When you have problems with your teeth, wouldn’t it be great if you could save your own living teeth rather than replacing them? With a root canal, you can do exactly that! During your procedure, your dentist will drill into the tooth, removing any infected root tissue and filling the cavity with an inert substance to protect it from becoming infected again. While a crown is often still necessary in many cases, by saving the root structure of your own tooth, you’ll end up with a much stronger result that performs just like your real tooth.

At ZDental, we want you to know that root canals have gotten a bad rap. If you’re experiencing tooth pain that could be related to an infected root, don’t be afraid; schedule an appointment with your dentist right away so you can save your tooth instead of getting it pulled. If you live in the Pennsylvania or New Jersey, ZDental has locations near you! Check out our contact page to find the location nearest you and give us a call for all your dental needs.