Shedding Light on Unnecessarily Dreaded Dental Procedure

No two words strike more fear in the hearts of dental patients everywhere than “root canal.” The very idea of it has become synonymous with something arduous and painful, one of the worst things a person can go through (thanks, in part, to Finding Nemo)! The truth is, this dental procedure has gained a bad reputation. Allow me to put that misconception to rest. Here are 8 reasons why you shouldn’t be afraid of a root canal.

#1: It’s a Lot Like Getting a Filling

Much like a filling, a root canal is a cavity treatment, but it involves some extra steps and goes deeper into the tissue. The main difference is that a root canal is typically required when other cavity treatments are delayed, and a cavity has reached the inner nerve chamber of your tooth. Your dentist creates a small access hole in the tooth, removes the infected tooth pulp with specialized equipment, and then fills the tooth in with a specialized root filling material and protective cement.

#2: Root Canals Save Your Teeth

The purpose of a root canal is to save your natural tooth when it suffers from extensive damage due to tooth decay. For most patients, it’s the final effort to save a tooth that has been compromised by a large cavity or fracture. Root canal therapy can prevent the need to extract and replace a tooth with a dental implant or bridge. This spares several extra days of more involved dental procedures.

#3: Root Canals Stop More Pain Than They Cause

Most people fear getting a root canal because they’re afraid it will hurt. The truth is, if one of your teeth has decayed and become infected to the point that you need a root canal, then you’re already experiencing far greater tooth pain than you will during the procedure. Often severe tooth pain can become a hinderance to sleeping and day-to-day life. Any minor discomfort you experience during and after the procedure will come with the benefit of ending the severe tooth pain you were experiencing.

#4: You’ll Be Numb the Whole Time

You just won’t feel it. Your dentist will thoroughly numb the tooth and surrounding gums with a local anesthetic before beginning, so there won’t be pain during the procedure. Just like getting an ordinary filling, the worst thing you’ll feel is the slight prick of the needle as your anesthetic is delivered. It isn’t common to be fully sedated during a root canal, but most dentists offer the option of oral sedation for patients who suffer from more extreme anxiety about dental procedures.

#5: Root Canals Are Relatively Fast

If you’re imagining hours in the dentist’s chair or multi-part procedures spanning several visits, you may be surprised to know that a root canal is a relatively simple and quick procedure. It takes a couple hours, just a little bit longer than a typical filling. It doesn’t usually have multiple stages that requires repeat visits. Only in rare and very severe cases does a root canal require you to visit your dentist more than once.

#6: Modern Dentistry Has Come a Long Way

This is not the root canal your uncle had in 1995. The dental drills, x- ray technology and lasers used today are light years ahead of what was available just a few decades ago and have been designed with patient comfort in mind. We now have access to anesthesia medications that enable more effective and longer-lasting numbing, creating a much more comfortable experience.

#7: Root Canals Are Highly Effective

Root canal treatments have an exceptionally high success rate. This dental procedure is highly effective at saving the affected tooth and preventing further infection. Most studies put the exact number somewhere around 95%. Once you’ve completed a root canal, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll experience any future problems from the affected tooth. Teeth that have been fixed by a root canal often last a lifetime.

#8: You Won’t Have a Long, Painful Recovery

Another common misconception is that the road to recovery after a root canal is long and painful and involves jaw pain and the inability to eat. Although you may have some discomfort once the anesthetic wears off, most patients experience a swift recovery, usually within a week, during which time you will likely experience some tenderness and discomfort while chewing. Less often, the recovery can be up to two weeks, but most patients find that any discomfort is easy to manage with over the counter or prescription pain medication.

Hopefully this removes some of the unknown when it comes to root canals and shows that they aren’t nearly as scary as they’re sometimes made out to be. Even so, no one wants to have a root canal if they can avoid it. The best way to avoid getting into a situation where you need a root canal is to maintain good oral hygiene habits and keep up with your regular bi-annual teeth cleaning appointments.

If you have severe tooth pain, the time to reach out to your dentist is right now. No one should have to suffer needlessly, and if a root canal treatment is the right procedure to ease your pain and save your tooth, then the sooner you can seek treatment and get relief, the better. Your dentist is your ally and will put your comfort and safety ahead of all other concerns.