Don’t Believe These 3 Root Canal Myths

One of the most dreaded treatments in dentistry is a root canal. Unfortunately, root canals have gotten a bad reputation. In truth, this endodontic treatment offers heroic benefits towards your smile. Instead of causing pain, root canals can be the only way to bring you out of pain while saving your tooth at the same time.

What Happens During a Root Canal?

Root canals are a specialized dental procedure that treats a diseased or infected tooth. When the inner pulp of the tooth becomes infected or inflamed, it can result in very intense pain because this is where the sensitive nerves reside within a tooth. During a root canal, your dentist will remove the infected tooth pulp and sanitize the inner chambers of the tooth so that there is no lingering bacteria or future infection. In many cases, a dental crown is placed on the affected tooth to restore its strength and integrity.

Myths About Root Canal Therapy

If your dentist has told you that you need a root canal, don’t shy away or avoid the treatment. Root canals are nothing to fear. Take the time to learn the facts about root canal therapy and stop believing these common myths:

Root Canals are Painful.

The most prevalent misconception about root canal therapy is that the procedure is painful. However, root canals are typically no more painful than getting a dental filling. Instead, this endodontic treatment relieves the pain of your infected tooth.

Extractions are a Better Alternative

Many patients falsely believe that getting the infected tooth extracted is the quickest, cheapest and best way remedy their dental pain. Unfortunately, if you remove a permanent tooth, you’ll need to consider a dental implant, which is a procedure that is far more invasive, time-consuming and expensive than a simple root canal treatment.

A Root Canal “Kills” the Tooth

While a root canal cleans the inside of a tooth and kills the infection-causing bacteria, it does not kill the tooth. Instead, it allows the tooth to heal and restore itself.

Have More Questions About Root Canals?

At Pure Smiles Dentistry, we welcome the opportunity to educate patients about root canal therapy and other misunderstood dental treatments. You’ll find that we are diligent about helping each patient understand their treatment plan so that they can move forward with confidence and ease.