Five Myths about Having a Root Canal

Posted by Light Touch Dental Care on March 8th, 2020

Did you know that a root canal may be the best way to restore your healthy smile? While patients here in Toledo and all over the U.S. often consider this the most feared dental procedure, there are actually many myths surrounding it.

A survey conducted by the American Association of Endodontists shows that the reason patients don’t make an informed decision about their dental health is inaccurate information. Don’t let misinformation about root canals keep you from having a healthy smile you deserve. Here are a few myths about root canal therapy.

Myth #1 – Having a Root Canal is Just too Painful

A root canal is used to alleviate pain, not cause it. The therapy is always performed when a tooth is causing pain as the result of infected pulp (pulpitis). This is an irreversible condition often caused by a broken tooth or a slowly dying nerve.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, much of the perception that having a root canal is painful is the result of early treatment methods that are no longer used.

The root canal therapy of today that employs the latest technologies and anesthetics is no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed. A recent national survey of patients who had root canal therapy showed they were six times more likely to describe it as “painless” than patients who did not have a root canal.

Myth #2 – Teeth Always Hurt Before You Need a Root Canal

Teeth needing root canal therapy do not always cause pain. In fact, a “dead” tooth often requires root canal therapy to protect healthy teeth from becoming infected. Your cosmetic dentist may discover a tooth that has died during a regular examination. Tests used to confirm this are:

Percussion testing

Temperature testing

A pulp vitality machine

Myth #3 – Pulling a Bad Tooth is Better than Having a Root Canal

Saving your natural teeth if possible is always the best option. Your dentist wants you to know that nothing can ever completely replace natural teeth. Artificial teeth sometimes require avoiding certain foods needed to maintain the necessary nutrient balance in your diet.

Endodontic treatment coupled with appropriate restoration is usually less expensive than tooth extraction and implants or placement of a bridge. As a result, it is a more cost-effective way to treat teeth that have damaged pulp.

Implants and bridge placements require significantly more time for appointments and treatment and can result in further procedures for supporting tissues and adjacent teeth.

Myth #4 - Pregnant Women Can't Have Root Canals

Having a root canal is perfectly safe for pregnant women. Because a root canal only requires a small x-ray, radiation exposure is limited to the mouth and not the abdomen. It is important to let your dentist know you are pregnant.

Myth #5: The Benefits of Root Canal Therapy Don't Last Long

When the nerve is removed during a root canal, blood supply is eliminated to that tooth. Should a patient fail to have their cosmetic dentist place a crown on that tooth it may become brittle, causing it to eventually break. In that case, the root canal did not fail but rather the restoration of the tooth.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call us at Light Touch Dental Care, your family dentist serving Toledo and surrounding areas.

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