If a root canal sounds like your worst nightmare, you don’t know Dr. Victoria Ball.
At Contemporary Endodontics of Oklahoma, Dr. Ball specializes in caring for the inside of the tooth when it becomes inflamed or infected. She diagnoses and treats complex causes of tooth pain, such as tooth abscesses caused by infection.
In many respects, she said, the fear of extremely painful root canals is outdated.
“My field of dentistry involves treating the nerve of the tooth,” she said. “An endodontist is a highly specialized dental professional focusing on treating tooth pain.”
Dr. Ball said if patients are experiencing pain when eating or drinking, they should act sooner rather than later. Waiting too long could result in greater pain, infection or even loss of the tooth.
“If you’re eating ice cream, for example, and it’s painful when before it wasn’t, it’s a good idea to be examined to help avoid bigger problems in the future,” she said.
Patients appreciate the attention they receive from Dr. Ball and her staff, especially since anxiety can be high when it comes to dental procedures.
“I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Ball and her staff for my root canal,” said one patient. “They have a way of ensuring that you are comfortable, that everything is explained to you – and are very empathetic, which shows that they truly do care about you as a person, not just another patient. I highly recommend their practice.”
Dr. Ball said root canals have evolved over the years and are much less painful than they once were.
“There are modern techniques that have made it an easier procedure for patients, that have allowed people to be more comfortable,” Dr. Ball said. “The whole point of what we do is to relieve the patient from pain and help them save their natural teeth.”
