Dental Technology Eliminating Root Canal Pain

For many patients, just the mere mention of root canal procedure can make them cringe. However, what these patients don’t realize is that new technological advancements in dental technology have all but made the negative aspects of root canal therapy a thing of the past. Here’s a brief look at how new dental technologies are eliminating root canal pain and other associated issues.

New Filing Materials

During a root canal, the dentist will have to scrape out the infected areas of a tooth. Older, stainless steel files where susceptible to breaking during use, limiting the dentist’s ability to remove the infection. Today, dentists use nickel titanium files, which are significantly more flexible than stainless steel, allowing dentists to remove infected areas much more efficiently, making the procedure easier for the dentist and reducing discomfort for the patient.

New Equipment

While faster and stronger drills may actually sound scarier—these new devices give dentists more control so they can better shape the root canal. Some dentists even use ultrasonic instruments that use vibrations to clean the root.

Anesthetics

Local anesthetics have come a long way over the past few years, allowing doctors to numb a patient’s tooth much more effectively, with much less discomfort during the application. Many dentists also utilize sedation dentistry, making it easy for even the most nervous patients to receive root canal therapy.

Apex Locators

Sometimes it can be difficult for a dentist to find the very end, or apex, of a root canal, making it a challenge to ensure that that all of the infection had been removed. But now, thanks to apex locators, dentists can utilize sound waves to navigate a root canal much more easily, significantly improving results.

Magnifying Glasses

When cases become fairly complex, dentists may use special magnifying glasses that actually allow them to see into a patients tooth, far down into the root canal.

Digital X-rays

Dentists need to consult x-rays during root canal treatments. Using digital x-rays not only reduces the amount of radiation used, but, because the images render instantly, they significantly reduce the amount of time root canal treatments can take.

At Signature Smile, our dentists use the most up-to-date technology available to them, because our patient’s comfort and safety is of the upmost importance. If you have any questions or concerns about root canal therapy, or think you may need it, make an appointment for a free consultation at our Brooklyn Heights dental office today!