5 myths about root canals

Are you experiencing a lot of sharp tooth pain? Has one of your teeth died completely? If you suspect you need a root canal, or possibly have already been told by a dentist that you need one, it’s understandable to feel anxiety. After all, this dental procedure is pretty much synonymous with having a bad day. It doesn’t need to be that way! Here at Complete Dental, we take pride in providing root canals to our patients that are as painless and comfortable as possible. In fact, the idea that a root canal is always painful is the greatest myth we like to expose as fiction.

#1 Root Canals are Painful
Not true! In fact, the root canal procedure often relieves pain, not causes it. The misplaced idea of root canals being painful began many decades ago when dental procedures were done differently. Just like basically all other medical procedures and surgeries are done today, modern technologies and anesthetics have made root canal treatments much better and often no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed.

#2 You Can Get an Illness After your Procedure

You may have heard false claims that your teeth receiving root canal treatment actually contributes to the occurrence of illness and disease in the body. This myth is based on long-debunked and poorly designed research performed nearly a century ago, at a time before medicine understood the causes of many diseases. While the first myth was true at one time, this myth was never accurate.

#3 You Should Just Get the Tooth Pulled Instead
Saving your natural teeth, if possible, is always the very best option. The next step after an extraction is either a dental implant or a bridge, so you won’t be avoiding future dental visits or bills by opting to pull it. No dental implants can identically replace what your natural teeth can do, so pulling a tooth should not be a decision make haphazardly. It’s also not best to just go without a tooth. Keeping your teeth is important so that you can continue to eat the wide variety of foods necessary to maintain the proper nutritional balance in your diet.

#4 You Only Need a Root Canal if you’re in a lot of Pain

While pain is often the first symptom, the pain going away is not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes teeth that have died no longer cause pain and need to have a root canal in order to avoid becoming severely infected. There are several tests, including temperature testing and percussion testing, available at Complete Dental that allow us to know when a tooth has died and needs to receive a root canal.

#5 Root Canal Benefits are Temporary Anyway

This treatment also has a very high success rate. In fact, many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime. The final restoration, also known as a crown, is the key to successful results. A well-made and well-fit crown combined with a good oral health routine can ensure that your tooth lasts a lifetime.

A root canal is a safe and effective procedure. Even with this information, it can be difficult to get yourself ready for a root canal. Instead of dreading the trip, allow one of the caring professionals from Complete Dental provides you with relief. We offer the personal touch a root canal requires, that is why so many in the Houston area have chosen us as their dentists. Contact us today at (281) 449-1053  to schedule your root canal procedure, or to discuss your options.