A root canal treatment is a brief, pain-free procedure that can save a tooth from having extracted. But in general root canals have been associated with pain, illness, and infection which is not true. So put your mind at ease as we dispel the common myths about the Root Canal treatment or therapy.
A root canal treatment is a brief, pain-free procedure that can save a tooth from having extracted. But in general root canals have been associated with pain, illness, and infection which is not true. So put your mind at ease as we dispel the common myths about the Root Canal treatment or therapy.
MYTH 1: Root canal treatment hurt
According to the American Association of endodontics, the perception of root canals being painful began decades ago. Today, with modern technology and painless injections for better anesthesia, root canal treatments are no longer painful.
MYTH 2:Root canals require multiple or lots of visits to the dentist
With today's cutting edge technology, most root canals can be performed in one or two visits unless there's a huge infection. Nowadays everything is done with the help of motorized machines which eventually minimizes the need for multiple visits
MYTH 3: Root canal treatment causes illness
There is no evidence to support that root canal causes illness. People who have an infection in the tooth and if left untreated can lead to illness and other bodily infections such as kidney
or heart disease.
MYTH 4: it is BETTER TO HAVE YOUR TOOTH PULLED
It's always a better choice to try and save your natural tooth rather than getting it removed. Artificial teeth don't offer the same level of function that your natural teeth do, limiting what you can eat and those alternatives are much more expensive.
MYTH 5: ROOT CANALS INVOLVE REMOVING THE ROOTS OF THE TOOTH
Whenever your dentist performs a root canal treatment, he or she removes the pulp from inside the tooth. The roots of the tooth are not removed.
MYTH 6: PREGNANT WOMEN CAN'T HAVE ROOT CANALS
Pregnant women do have root canal treatment. Nowadays all the X-rays are digital and radiation exposure is minimal. Plus the X-rays are aimed at the mouth, not the abdomen area. A lead apron is used to cover the belly. The anesthetics that dentists use are safe for pregnant women and we have drugs that are given as completely safe post-treatment medications.
MYTH 7: IF THE TOOTH DOES NOT HURT, THERE'S NO NEED FOR A ROOT CANAL
While an acute, throbbing toothache usually results in the need for root canal treatment, but many times there can be no pain present in case the pulp of the tooth is infected from a long time resulting in a nonvital pulp which needs an urgent root canal treatment. dentists and endodontists are specially trained to test a tooth to see if the pulp is infected or damaged. In that case, a root canal would be necessary to save the tooth.
MYTH 8: EVEN WITH A ROOT CANAL, THE TOOTH WILL COME OUT EVENTUALLY
If you have a tooth properly restored, maintain good oral hygiene, and visit your dentist for regular checkups, your natural tooth could last for the rest of your life.
MYTH 9: THERE IS NO NEED FOR A CROWN AFTER THE ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
It's extremely important to make a follow - up appointment with your dentist to have the tooth permanently restored with the help of a crown which is a cover like structure on top of the treated tooth. After the pulp of the tooth is removed it becomes very brittle and dry. Having a crown will protect your tooth from fracturing.
MYTH 10: IT'S EXPENSIVE TREATMENT
The treatment is pocket friendly and not very expensive. Moreover, it is saving your precious teeth. So all the myths have been thus debunked.