If your dentist refers you for a root canal, you are likely to have a lot of questions about what to expect. Unfortunately, myths about root canals make many people go out of their way to avoid this treatment that could actually get them out of pain and prevent the need for tooth extraction. If you are scheduled for a root canal in Grand Rapids, don’t let these myths make you put off getting care.
Myth: Root Canals Are Painful
This myth is probably the biggest one people have about root canals. Although they have a reputation for being painful, most people actually find that the treatment is no worse than getting a filling. Thanks to local anesthesia, the procedure is painless and recovery is fast. If there is any discomfort after treatment, then it can be easily managed by over-the-counter pain medications. After having a root canal, most people wouldn’t hesitate to have one again.
Myth: You Only Need One if You Have a Toothache
Some people think that if they don’t have pain in a tooth, then they don’t need a root canal. In reality, your dentist can see decay in your tooth that may not be causing you any symptoms. Many infected teeth aren’t painful because the nerves in the teeth are already dead, and only a root canal can prevent the problem from becoming worse.
Myth: You Should Get an Extraction Instead of a Root Canal
Tooth extractions are necessary procedures in some cases, but they shouldn’t be performed interchangeably with root canals. Any time you can keep your natural teeth, as a root canal allows you to do, you should. Tooth extractions are invasive procedures that carry a higher risk of infection than root canals and have much longer recoveries. When a tooth is extracted, you either need dental implants, dentures, and a bridge to fill in space where the tooth was removed, for cosmetic reasons and to prevent future tooth loss. A root canal is a faster, less invasive, easier alternative that you should embrace when possible.