Myths About Root Canals

A root canal may sound scary, but it is a pretty common procedure. A root canal may be performed to remove an infected pulp or to prevent a pulp from getting infected at all. Over the years, root canal treatment has gained the reputation of being painful, long, and grueling. However, an RCT is no more painful or uncomfortable than a dental filling. 

For many people, the term RCT can cause feelings of fear and anxiety. The procedure has earned a rather negative reputation due to various myths surrounding it. Finding correct information on the Internet can be challenging. You can always book a consultation session with an endodontics whitestone expert to learn more. 

Myths about root canals 

• Tooth pain always means you need a root canal. 

Tooth pain is a very vague term and can mean various things. Tooth pain can emerge from minor to major reasons, and the degree of pain depends on the severity of the problem. That being said, not all tooth pain is unbearable. On the other hand, some kinds of tooth pain can cause headaches, fever, and other complications until resolved. Root canals are only required when an infected pulp hurts your tooth. 

• A root canal treatment is painful. 

In the old times, most dental procedures, including an RCT, used to be painful since anesthesia was not commonly used in patients. Moreover, dentists back in those days did not have much knowledge about an RCT, and they would most likely recommend extracting the infected tooth. Thanks to advancements in the dental industry, local anesthesia is commonly used to numb the treatment area to prevent the patient from feeling any pain at all. 

• You cannot have a root canal when you have an infection. 

In reality, a root canal is recommended for patients with an infected tooth pulp. When your tooth becomes damaged and it progresses to the roots of your pulp, it becomes impossible to reverse the problem without extracting the infected pulp first. In a root canal treatment, the infected pulp is extracted, the space inside is cleaned and then covered with a dental filling. 

• Tooth extractions are better. 

A tooth extraction and an RCT can both remove the infected pulp from your mouth and prevent the problem from progressing. However, removing a tooth is often kept as a last resort due to its various associated complications. Tooth extraction can impact your bite and lead to extensive procedures in the future. An RCT makes things much simpler. 

If you are considering an RCT, speak to a dentist today.