You’ve probably heard this adage before; “I would rather get a root canal than do that.” These types of negative sayings cast a bad light on root canals and encourage people to believe that root canal procedures are never a good experience. Unfortunately, these sayings have made the rounds and too many people are fearful of root canals. Fortunately, there are skilled dentists like Dr. Vo who’ve spent years training and performing successful root canal procedures.

Poor dental hygiene is one of the biggest causes of tooth decay. Tooth decay is the leading reason for a root canal. Failure to brush your teeth, floss between meals, and keep a regular schedule of dental screenings can lead to cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, and root canals.

The typical root canal is a procedure in which the crown of the tooth is ground down, the root nerve is removed while leaving the root structure intact (this allows the tooth itself to remain anchored to the jawbone). The resulting cavity is disinfected and filled with a biocompatible material to create a barrier between the vulnerable bone abscess and the germs that invade the mouth. Once the cavity is filled, the remaining tooth structure is shaped and a crown is placed over the tooth to provide a porcelain shield over the now brittle tooth; preventing cracks from forming.

Recovering from a root canal isn’t a pain free experience, but the in-office anesthesia provides a painless surgery that leaves many patients wondering what all the fuss was about.

Unfortunately, a root canal cannot save a tooth in some cases. Even after the root canal procedure, the tooth can continue to decay and a tooth extraction might become necessary. The hope is that you’ll visit the dentist long before a root canal or tooth extraction become necessary.

You can never go wrong with scheduling a twice-yearly visit with your dentist. Root canals in Kennesaw are commonplace, but that doesn’t mean you should undergo the procedure with just any dentist. Call or visit the offices of Dr. Vo and Dr. Breckley at Thirty-Two Dental to schedule a checkup.