How Root Canals Have Advanced Beyond the Stereotypes

For ages, popular culture has portrayed the root canal as analogous to torture. In fact, it’s common for the procedure to be used as a stand-in for pain and suffering: “I’d rather have a root canal than [do some other undesirable thing].” But the truth is, the era of the miserable root canal has long since passed. Root canals are used to fix problems, of course, so it’s better not to need one – but if you do, advancements in dentistry have turned it into a routine procedure with minimal discomfort.

What is a Root Canal?

According to the American Association of Endodontists, the need for a root canal comes into play when the pulp inside your tooth becomes inflamed or infected. This can happen due to chips, cracks or extensive decay within the pulp, which is the soft tissue within your tooth. During a root canal therapy procedure, the pulp is removed and replaced with gutta-percha, a rubber-like material, which is then sealed with a dental crown. Modern root canal therapy is comparable to a routine filling, though it wasn’t always that easy. 

The Genesis of the Root Canal Procedure

If you had a root canal years ago, you might remember it as a distinctly unpleasant experience. The first record of an attempted root canal procedure dates back to the second or third century B.C., but the first well-documented root canal therapy procedure took place in 1766. A man by the name of Robert Woofendale came to the United States from England and removed a damaged pulp in order to alleviate the pain, though no attempt was made to fill the tooth. Later down the road, substances such as gold foil made it on the scene as fillers. While these methods worked for the time period, we can all be grateful that root canal therapy has advanced in the modern era. 

Your Springfield, Ohio Root Canal Therapy Experts

We are all extremely grateful for 20th-century technology! With the introduction of X-rays and anesthetics, root canal therapy pain has become a thing of the past. At Springfield Dental Group, we understand it’s normal to be nervous about the prospect of a root canal procedure. But you can rest assured that, thanks to our use of the latest advancement in tools and techniques along with Dr. David Scurria’s 30 years of dentistry experience, you’re in great hands! 

If you feel any discomfort in your teeth, don’t just cross your fingers and hope it will go away. Make sure to schedule your appointment today and have a healthy and happy smile for years to come!