IF YOU’RE LIKE SOME OF OUR PATIENTS HERE at Comfort Dental, you may have heard rumors that root canal therapy is painful or difficult. However, surveys continue to show most people’s dental procedure fears are more about “perception” than “reality”.
It is unfortunate that inaccurate information about root canals – and other dental procedures – can cause people to make uninformed—and often unwise— dental decisions.
These uninformed decisions can lead to: additional expense, hassle, unnecessary damage to oral health and possibly overall health.
BEFORE YOU BELIEVE ANY RUMORS OR HYPE, we thought we’d help clear up the top five myths about root canal therapy.
MYTH #1: ROOT CANAL TREATMENTS ARE PAINFUL
Typically, it isn’t the actual root canal treatment that is painful—rather, it is the condition of the problem tooth requiring the root canal that is very uncomfortable in the first place! Most people who have root canal therapy admit the pain they experienced was prior to the procedure, not during it… And, they felt so much better after.
MYTH #2: ROOT CANALS ALWAYS REQUIRE SEVERAL APPOINTMENTS
Typically, a root canal treatment can be completed in as few as one or two visits with Dr. Brucken or Dr. Stubbs. Some cases require a tooth to be restored with a crown after the root canal is completed, but these appointments are not part of the actual root canal process.
If you are already scheduled for root canal therapy with Comfort Dental, and if you’re experiencing discomfort, here is a good explanation from our friends at ADS:
MYTH #3: ROOT CANAL THERAPY LEADS TO ILLNESSES
This myth stems from some research that is 100 years old—and, has NEVER been duplicated or confirmed through modern research. That is, the bacteria that may be present from doing the root canal procedure can somehow make you sick after your root canal therapy. Actually, presence of bacterial infection makes the root canal necessary. Not treating this bacterial infection can be life threatening. This myth truly is just that—a myth you don’t need to worry about.
MYTH #4: ROOT CANAL THERAPY ISN’T NECESSARY UNTIL YOUR TOOTH HURTS
Teeth in need of root canal therapy don’t always hurt. In fact, some “dead” teeth may just require a root canal to prevent infection. You may have a tooth in need of a root canal and not even know it.
MYTH #5: THE BENEFITS OF ROOT CANAL THERAPY DON’T LAST LONG
This fifth myth probably starts with people who have had a tooth crack at some point after having had a root canal treatment. It is true when a nerve is removed from a tooth, the blood supply is eliminated. Without this blood supply the tooth can become brittle—making it more fragile and susceptible to cracking. Technically, this means that although the complete restoration solution may need to be examined, it doesn’t mean that root canal therapy doesn’t “last”. Often, Dr. Brucken or Dr. Stubbs will recommend having a crown placed over your tooth to prevent this from being an issue.
Well, there you go…the top five myths about root canal therapy shattered right before your eyes! We hope that you now feel a little less fearful of root canals, and much more informed. There is more root canal information from the dentist on our website.
If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call or connect with us via “Ask the Dentists”. We want to dispel dentistry myths & promote dental reality!
