Say the words “root canal,” and for some people, anxiety and apprehension immediately sets in. The good news is the procedure has come a long way thanks to technology and other advancements. Even better, the routine dental treatment can be smooth sailing just by knowing what to expect. At the Dr. David K. Skeels family dentist practice in Rochester, NY, the friendly staff is committed to providing a comfortable environment for all of its professional dental services.

If you’re scheduled to have a root canal done, here are a few, important tidbits of helpful information:

• Why It’s Needed: Instead of extracting a partially damaged tooth, a root canal is designed to preserve what’s already there. The procedure can eliminate the need of having to pull the entire tooth, keeping your mouth full.  
• Local Anesthesia Use: To numb the gums and other areas around the infected tooth, the dentist will apply a deep local anesthesia. The application will eliminate any pain felt during the procedure.
• Infection Removal: Once the tooth has been isolated, the dentist will carefully and thoroughly remove the infected material from the space. During the root canal, the root is then sealed off to ensure bacteria can’t get in.
• Time Duration: It can typically take an hour or so for the entire root canal to be completed. If more than one is needed, some dentists prefer to do them all at once or schedule another for a different appointment.
• At-Home Care: Once the root canal is done, your dentist will give specific instructions on at-home care such as avoiding biting on the treated tooth or chewing food for some time. There should be little if any pain but if you do experience it, your dentist will suggest appropriate medication.

The general dentistry office of Dr. David K. Skeels specializes in providing a calm, relaxed, and friendly atmosphere to ensure all of its patients are at ease for root canals and other dental procedures.

To learn more about the state-of-the-art root canal service, call Dr. David K. Skeels dentist office today at (585) 467-7000. New patients are welcome to schedule a free initial consultation and exam. Visit the website for additional information about the wide range of available services.