A root canal is a dental procedure for treating the infected pulp of a tooth. It involves cleaning the inside of the tooth, disinfecting it, and then sealing it. Just like any other dental procedure, you should ask your dentist questions and understand the procedure fully before undergoing it. Here are some of the questions to ask:

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Procedure?

A root canal is an ingenious way of dealing with a tooth whose pulp has been damaged, but it isn't the only treatment available. Therefore, you need to know why you should have a root canal instead of other treatments. This should involve evaluating the pros and cons of a root canal. 

The main advantages of a root canal are that you get to preserve your natural tooth and the procedure doesn't affect the bones around the tooth. However, the success of the procedure isn't guaranteed, and the infection might reoccur.

What Are the Risks of the Procedure?

Every treatment has its risks; whether the risks are major or minor, you should understand them before having the treatment. The main risk of a root canal procedure is that the bacteria from the infected site may enter your bloodstream and cause infections in different parts of your body. However, your dentist will advise you on how to minimize the risks. For example, you may be advised to take antibiotics before and after your treatment if the dentist feels that you have a high risk of getting an infection.

What Happens Without the Treatment?

Every time your dentist suggests an invasive procedure, you should know what will happen if you don't undergo the procedure. This will help you decide whether you can adopt a "wait and see" approach. For a root canal, the consequences of waiting can be dire. For one, you risk losing your tooth. Not only that, but the bacteria may spread to other parts of your mouth, such as the gums and adjacent teeth, and even other parts of the body.

What Are the Alternatives?

As mentioned above, you don't have to get a root canal if you have a damaged tooth pulp. Some of the alternatives include extracting the tooth and getting an implant or sealing the affected tooth's nerve with adhesives. Talk to your dentist for more information on these procedures so you can make an informed decision.

These are just a few examples of the questions to ask. The main idea is that you shouldn't have the treatment without understanding it fully. The good news is that root canals have a high success rate – most statistics put it at over 90%. For more information, contact a dentist at a dental office like Mulberry St Family Dentistry.