The Most Common Question We Hear is, “Will it Hurt?”

Many of our patients are understandably apprehensive about root canal treatment and  want to know what to expect. In addition to their advanced training in all aspects of root canal treatment, our specialists at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, Drs. Rick Davis, Rick Schwartz and Zac Liang  are experts at pain management.

Local Anesthetic

The most important aspect in managing a patient’s pain is to get the tooth completely numb prior to treatment.  Painful teeth are generally harder to numb than the typical tooth that only needs a filling.  Our specialists have employ a variety of special techniques to accomplish profound numbness.  Generally, the bad experiences some patients have had during root canal treatment was because they weren’t completely numb.  At Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, we get every patient completely numb before starting treatment.

Conscious Sedation

For patients who are particularly fearful or have had bad experiences in the past, we offer a full range of sedative options. In order from “lightest” to “deepest” sedation, options include:

• Nitrous oxide (or “laughing gas”)
• Oral sedation 
• Intravenous (IV) sedation 

Sedation refers to the delivery of medications to cause relaxation and sometimes sleep. With conscious sedation the protective reflexes of your airway remain intact and you are responsive to voice commands and can communicate with us throughout treatment. Many of our patients are apprehensive and nervous, and request sedation. You are not alone if you are fearful. 

For oral and IV sedation, specialized equipment monitors your vital signs throughout treatment. For oral sedation (a prescription medication/pill) or IV sedation (administered through a vein in your arm), you must arrange for someone to drive you to and from our office.  

We are here to help. If you are interested in sedation, Drs. Davis, Schwartz or Liang will discuss appropriate options with you. We also provide detailed instructions on what to do and what to expect before, during, and after treatment. Dental professionals in Boerne, Eagle Pass, Fredericksburg, Laredo, Del Rio, Spring Branch, and beyond trust their patients to our specialty team. Call Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio at (210) 405-0473 with questions or to schedule an appointment.

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