New Inroads In Dental Care Cut Down On Root Canal Pain

A root canal is not the most pleasant of experiences, but the procedure is extremely necessary to prevent the spread of tooth decay and periodontal disease. Regardless of the all the positive reasons to have damaged teeth fixed, many would-be patients are going to feel a little trepidation about making a trip to the dentist. All the drilling involved with a root canal procedure is likely the cause of the worries. Good news exists for dental patients as new innovations in dental care can make a root canal far easier to undergo today than in the past.

A New Stem Cell Procedure

The University of Nottingham and Harvard University teamed up to perform research work on a new synthetic biomaterial tooth filling that turned out to deliver a very surprising result. The bony sections of teeth may be able to regenerate. Rather than removing the pulp from the tooth, the material comes in contact with stem cells. This, in turn, could stimulate regrowth without all the undesirable drilling.

Other Ways of Enhancing Care

All of this is wonderful news for those who dread the possibility of having to deal with a root canal in the future. For those who may have a quicker date with the dentist, there is other encouraging news. Consistent research into improving root canal has led to newer approaches capable of making the procedure far more tolerable.  

Support from Digital X-Rays

Digital X-rays reflect technological innovations that could lead to a far less troubling and stress root canal. Digital x-ray images reveal "root canal lengths" which, in turn, tell the dentist just how much digging and work has to be performed. More precise work on the root canal reduces the amount of work required to be performed. This makes for a much less invasive procedure. Less drilling should lead to a quicker recovery time, which means less lingering discomfort.

• Convey Information About Pain

Of course, the anesthetic used during the procedure reduces pain. Patients could very well help a dentist with the administration of anesthesia by conveying detailed descriptions about the level of pain experienced. Based on the patient's descriptions, the dentist may be able to better determine the appropriate amount of anesthesia. Keeping a log of the pain felt prior to visiting the dentist is helpful. Try to be as accurate as possible when describing the pain. Avoid generalized descriptions about a toothache. Note every nuance instead.

Read Up On Treatments

One of the best ways to make a root canal is more tolerable is to simply read up on new treatment methods. A little personal research could immensely help with finding the best dentist and undergoing the least-troubling procedure.

For more information, talk to a professional like Family Dentistry Of Woodstock.

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