Two days before Thaipusam, Joanne (not her real name) began to experience pain in her molar. She took over-the-counter pain-relief pills thinking it would eventually go away, but this time the pain got much worse.
It became almost unbearable on Thaipusam day itself, so her sister recommended a dentist, and Joanne was able to get an appointment in the morning. He evaluated the tooth, cleaned out the infected area, put in temporary filling, and advised her to get a root canal so a crown could be placed over the molar.
He then took his time to explain that the negative reputation of root canal dates back to a time prior to the universal adoption of local anaesthesia.
Like any field of medicine, dentistry has evolved over the years, he said, noting that when he was a child, anaesthesiology was not as advanced as today, and sometimes, patients did feel some pain. But this isn’t the case any longer.
The exceptions are when a patient is already in so much pain that any contact makes it worse; or when anatomical quirks or the presence of severe inflammation and infection prevents the anaesthesia from thoroughly numbing the tooth. Most endodontists are trained to manage these types of situations with supplementary techniques.
Joanne learnt that a root canal is necessary when the pulp of a tooth, which includes nerves, blood vessels and other tissue, becomes inflamed or infected, usually from decay that has been left untreated, or from broken fillings or injury.
The dentist will remove the inflamed pulp, disinfect the canal, and fill it with a biocompatible material.
Joanne returned to the dentist to complete the procedure. Despite his assurances she was still expecting a certain level of pain, but once the anaesthetic wore off, she was surprised to find there was minimal to no discomfort.
Millions of teeth are treated and saved this way each year, relieving pain and making teeth healthy again. It’s very similar to a routine filling and can usually be completed in one or several appointments, depending on the condition of one’s tooth and personal circumstances.
Her dentist shared that the main reasons for a root canal procedure are:
- persistent symptoms not responding to previous non-surgical treatment;
- previous dental treatment that has not resolved the problem; or
- persistent infection.
Saving one’s natural tooth with root canal treatment has many advantages, such as efficient chewing, normal biting force and sensations, and a natural appearance.
Joanne is very happy with the results. During both visits, her dentist was both patient and professional, taking the time to explain and answer all her questions. She encourages anyone who requires this procedure not to fret too much and to go ahead and make that dental appointment.
TELEME Healing Life Stories is a collection of inspirational stories of how ordinary people triumph over their health conditions and recover to lead a healthier life. Email [email protected] to share your story.
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