A root canal is a type of endodontic surgery that is used to treat infected teeth by removing the damaged material, filling the tooth, and capping it with a crown. Despite how common and simple the procedure is, root canal therapy is often incorrectly depicted as painful and inconvenient.
The team at Redmond Art of Dentistry wants to pull the curtain on mysterious root canal therapy to give our patients correct information that will lead to a more accurate view of the treatment. Here are a few of the most common myths about root canal therapy:
1. ROOT CANALS HURT
This is the most common (and least accurate) myth about root canals. The process is actually very similar to having a filling placed, and it is performed using numbing agents, so you won’t feel a thing. You can even be sedated during the procedure to ensure a comfortable visit. Your tooth may ache a bit after treatment, but that’s nothing compared to the pain and discomfort of a toothache, which is a common symptom of an infected tooth.
2. IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO RECOVER FROM A ROOT CANAL
This is also false. You can go back to your normal, day-to-day activities as soon as the procedure has been completed. However, you may notice some discomfort and tooth sensitivity. This usually goes away in just a few days.
3. IT’S BETTER TO JUST PULL THE INFECTED TOOTH AND REPLACE IT
This is false! Saving a natural tooth is always the best option. Artificial replacements, like dental implants, are a good option if the tooth cannot be saved. However, if you can have the tooth treated with a root canal and a dental crown, this is always going to be a better choice. It will be less expensive than having your tooth extracted and replaced, and there will be fewer complications with the surrounding teeth and supporting oral tissue.
4. ROOT CANALS ARE EXPENSIVE
Though root canals are an investment in your oral health, they are usually covered by dental insurance. Even if you do have to pay out of pocket, a root canal is much cheaper than having a tooth extracted or getting a partial denture, dental bridge, or implant.
5. ROOT CANALS DON’T LAST VERY LONG
The success rate of root canal treatment is over 95%, and most patients who have a root canal can keep their tooth for the rest of their lives. As long as the crown and the surrounding teeth are properly maintained with regular brushing and flossing, as well as routine exams with Dr. Bickel, your root canal will last for the rest of your life.
understand the truth behind root canals: don’t be intimidated!
Root canals are an extremely common procedure, and Dr. Bickel has performed hundreds of root canals in Redmond. If you think that you may need a root canal, don’t wait. Get help as soon as you can by contacting us at (425) 386-7599, or stopping by our office at 16455 NE 85th Street, Suite #101, Redmond, WA 98052.