Is there a general dental procedure more misunderstood than the root canal? With a reputation for being complicated and painful, no recommendation strikes fear into a patient’s heart like root canal therapy.

Here’s the truth, though. Dental technology has been improving constantly, and with modern techniques and a skilled dentist, root canals aren’t any more complicated or uncomfortable than a filling. They also have a high success rate and allow us to save a tooth that might otherwise have to be extracted and replaced, which in turn saves you extra hassle, discomfort, and money. We think that’s a win/win situation.

Sometimes, it helps to understand better what the procedure is and why we perform it. The name “root canal” can sound a little scary, but what it’s actually referring to is a part of your tooth’s anatomy.

Your tooth has layers to it. The top layer, the enamel, is the white, shiny part that everyone sees when you smile. Just beneath the enamel is the more porous dentin. The inside of your tooth is a chamber that contains nerves and tissue called pulp, and there’s a canal that allows the nerves of your tooth to run from the pulp cavity into your jaw. This is the root canal.

If you have a particularly deep cavity or injure your tooth in an accident, the root canal can become infected. This infection is usually quite painful, and the only way to treat it is with either an extraction or root canal therapy.

We think the main reason root canals are considered painful is because the condition they treat is so painful, that it’s a “guilt by association” situation. But a root canal will actually relieve your pain and restore the function of the tooth.

To start your procedure, we’ll make sure that you are completely numb. Your comfort is important to us, and we don’t want you to feel a thing as we treat your tooth.

Once you are numb, we’ll create a hole in your tooth that gives us access to the root canal. We’ll remove the nerve and the damaged tissue and use specialized instruments to carefully clean out the infection. Next, we’ll sterilize the inside of your tooth, and we may place an antibiotic treatment in there just to make sure that no bacteria remain. Finally, we’ll fill your tooth. We may also recommend a crown to cover and protect your tooth.

Dental pain is never normal; it means that something is wrong. Without treatment, the problem will only get worse. If you live in Santa Rosa, Miramar Beach, Destin or the surrounding area and are experiencing pain, please contact our Miramar Beach or Seagrove dental office to request an evaluation by one of our skilled Santa Rosa Beach dentists.