1.Is root canal painful?
When people are told that they need a root canal treatment, they usually think about pain. However, the pain they feel is caused by an infection in the tooth, not by root canal treatment. A root canal is done to eliminate that pain. The root canal procedure itself is painless. A local anesthetic numbs the tooth and the surrounding area. Many people may be afraid to have a root canal because they are anxious about having dental work done.
2.Why bother getting a root canal done when I'm just going to need the tooth taken out eventually?
It is not correct to assume that the treated tooth will eventually need to be extracted. In fact, most root canal treatments are successful and result in the tooth being saved. I'm not feeling any pain, so I don't really need a root canal. Many teeth that need root canal therapy will not cause pain. But that does not mean the tooth is okay. Your dentist and endodontist have ways to see if the tooth's pulp is damaged or infected. If it is, then you will need root canal treatment, even if the tooth doesn't hurt. If you see something near a damaged tooth that looks like a boil, see your dentist. The "boil/pimple," called a fistula, is a tunnel of tissue draining pus from an infection. There is no pain because the fistula keeps pressure from building in the tissue. It can come and go. The infection must be treated, and the tooth probably needs root canal treatment. Without treatment, nearby tissues will become infected.
3.A root canal means I'm having the roots of my tooth, or my whole tooth, removed.
The whole point of root canal therapy is to try to save a tooth, not to remove it. Your tooth and roots are not removed. The canals are cleaned and shaped on the inside only. The nerve tissue and pulp are removed along with some of the inside part of the root to ensure all the bacteria have been removed.
4.After I get the root canal, I won't have to go back to the dentist for a while
Once you have received root canal therapy, you will need to make follow-up appointments to have a permanent filling or crown put on the tooth. The temporary filling that is placed after the pulp has been removed will protect the root from infection for only a short time. A permanent filling or crown must be placed to ensure that bacteria don't leak into the canal.There is a stigma that root canal is painful and a excruciating procedure. But, the truth is root canal therapy is performed to relieve pain. Root canals are needed when an untreated cavity spreads to the pulp of your tooth and causes an infection. This is where the pain comes from, not the procedure itself. Your doctor will numb the area around the infected tooth where you will hardly feel anything during the procedure. Once complete, the excruciating pain you’ve experience before will disappear, and your tooth will be saved.
5.There is a common misconception indicates root canals can lead to negative health risks such as heart disease, kidney disease, and much more.
However, this is not the case. Just because you are not in pain does not mean your smile is in pristine condition. Maintaining regular dental visits can help us catch the early stages of severe decay, and predict whether you need a root canal. Getting your root canal done early is a way to skip all the pain you would have to go through once your tooth severely becomes infected.
It’s best to get regular check-ups to avoid the pain and complications from an infected tooth.
6.Many people believe root canal therapy requires many visits, but that is not the case.
A follow-up may need to occur, but the procedure can be completed in one visit, depending on the case. A dentist can perform root canals in a natural setting conveniently in the dental office. There is the myth among people that root canal therapy is short-term. However, modern techniques and technology which dentists nowadays use has made the procedure predictable with high success rates. While people prefer extractions over the root canal, it’s important to save your natural teeth. Your natural smile is the strongest and long-lasting solution to maintain a healthy life. Once your tooth is gone, it’s gone. A dental implant and bridge cannot replace the effective function a natural tooth can.