Is Root Canal Anxiety Justified?
A root canal procedure is often used as an example of extreme pain but is this based on reality?
If there is one phrase that is almost guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of a patient, it is probably ‘root canal procedure’. For a long time this has been used as an example of the worst pain that anyone can experience and much of that is still believed today, even with the advances that have been made in modern dental care and the sophisticated equipment such as we have at our local Epsom clinic.
Should people be concerned though when told that they need this procedure? The short answer is ‘no’, and we will look at the reasons why this is the case shortly. First of all though, let us understand what the procedure is and why it might be needed.
Who needs a root canal procedure?
If you have been told that you need to have root canal treatment following an examination at the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre, it is because we have detected an infection in the root canals of your teeth. This area is where the ‘pulp’ material is stored. This includes tiny blood vessels and nerves as well. Once bacteria has entered this area there is no other way to save the tooth other than with this procedure. The only other option available is to extract it. It may be tempting to take this option thinking that it will be easier than the root canal option, but if you feel that way, you should read on first.
What does the procedure consist of?
The point of this procedure is to remove the infected material from the tooth root canals, clean them and then seal the tooth to prevent further infection. This is done by your Epsom dentist first removing a section from the top of the tooth to enable them to access the infected root canals. The infected pulp material is then removed and the now hollow canals thoroughly cleaned. In order to fill and seal the canals, a special filling material called ‘gutta percha’ is first heated and then placed into the canals which help to completely seal it. This should prevent further infection.
While this completes the actual treatment, in many cases a dental crown will also be attached to the tooth. Without this the tooth not only looks unnatural but its strength would be significantly compromised and its use limited. Adding a crown then, not only gives the tooth a natural appearance but will provide the strength needed for its day to day use.
All of this procedure of course, takes place with a local anaesthetic which helps to minimise any discomfort that might be felt.
The question then is, why does this particular treatment have the reputation that it does?
The history of root canal treatment
A root canal procedure of sorts has been carried out since possibly around the middle ages when teeth may have been drilled into in order to attempt to relieve the pain people were feeling. This would have been largely instinctive as the anatomy of a tooth would not have been fully understood then and it is likely that it was considered to be a single block of material.
From around the 1800s, when tooth anatomy was better understood, more sophisticated treatments were carried out, eventually with at least a rudimentary anaesthetic to make the treatment easier on the patient.
The real turning point though probably came around the 1920s or ‘30s when x-rays started to be more routinely used, making a diagnosis more accurate and enabling the treatment to be carried out more accurately. One strong theory about its reputation is that prior to x-rays, it was quite feasible that abscesses would go undetected. That would mean that this could easily be drilled into and the result would be too excruciating to imagine. If this was still the case, then patients would have every right to feel terrified of having it done. The reality now though is completely different.
X-rays are now routinely taken before a root canal procedure is carried out. This is not only to ensure accuracy during the treatment but to check if any abscesses are present. If there are, the treatment will be delayed until such as time that they have been treated and the area is abscess free. Once this happens, the treatment will take place. Without the abscess, the procedure should cause no more discomfort than other invasive dental treatments.
Unfortunately, the legacy of the early versions of this treatment live on despite advances and understandings of this treatment. We do understand that some patients experience dental anxiety anyway so the thought of having to undergo this particular treatment only serves to make things much worse. We are always happy to discuss any aspect of your treatment with you to help you understand what we are about to do and what you can expect from it. We have lots of experience in treating nervous patients so please do let us know if you have any concerns about any treatment you are due to receive at our Epsom dental practice.
For more information on the root canal procedure, or to book appointments etc, please call the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre on 01372 720136. We look forward to helping you.