Whenever you hear the words, “root canal” this can be enough to make people get scared and cringe. The image most people see in their head when they think of a root canal is someone holding their jaw in pain while moaning. This image you think of is because how movies, TV shows and cartoons perpetuate root canals. With advancements in technology modern day root canals are nothing like they used to be. In this blog you’ll learn the facts vs the myths of modern-day root canals.
Reasons why you may need a root canal? There can be a few different reasons why your dentist will tell you that you need a root canal. The most common reasons are cracked teeth, damaged teeth, deep cavities, abscesses, and trauma.
Myth number one. A root canal is painful. Root canals don’t cause pain, they relieve pain. With today’s modern anesthetics and technology, a root canal is no more painful than someone getting a simple cavity filled. One of our great dentists will make sure you are comfortably numb and relaxed before they remove the pain causing infection from your tooth. After the dentist cleans out the tooth, they will fill in the hole to seal out any further bacteria while repairing the enamel of the tooth with a filling or cap the tooth with a crown.
Myth number two. It’s better to have your tooth removed than a root canal. The last resort should always be a tooth extraction. Nothing functions as well as your own natural teeth, so by preserving them whenever you can is always the best option. A root canal allows you to keep your now healthy natural tooth. This will prevent you from having to resort to other dental treatments, such as bridges or implants to fill in the gap if your tooth gets extracted.
Myth number three. You only need a root canal if your tooth hurts. Sometimes a tooth’s root infection has become so unembellished that the tooth can actually die. You may no longer be feeling any pain, but the infection is still present and damaging your underlying bone structure. Even at this point a root canal can still save the tooth structure itself. By going to your routine dental checkups and exams every 6 months our dentists will be able to detect any signs of a tooth infection and can deal with the problem before it becomes painful and harmful.
Myth number four. Root canals take a couple visits to complete. Nowadays, most root canals can be completed in just a couple of hours. If there is no serious infection, they usually can be finished in one appointment at Philly Dentistry. You may need to return only if you need a filling or crown procedure.
Myth number five. Infections are common after your root canal procedure. It is possible for a re-infection of the tooth to happen, but it’s not very common at all. If an infection returns you will need further treatment. With advancements in latest dental materials for root canals they are now designed to significantly reduce the likelihood of re-infection.”
So, have no fear Philly Dentistry is here for all your general and cosmetic dentistry problems. Now that you know the facts about root canals, don’t believe the myths you hear. If you think you may need a root canal give us a call at 215-568-6222 or send us an email at info@phillydentistry.com. Don’t forget to follow us on social media to stay up to date with the latest news in our office. Thanks for reading.