It’s normal to feel nervous when it comes to sitting in the dentist’s chair. But if you’re like many others with more severe anxiety, your fear might prevent you from scheduling potentially smile-saving services, such as undergoing a root canal.
Unfortunately, this procedure has developed a negative reputation over the years, leading many people to believe the misinformation about it circulating among the public. Continue reading to learn about 3 falsehoods you might have heard about this standard treatment for toothaches and why you shouldn’t believe them!
Myth #1: The Procedure Will Inevitably Hurt
It’s human instinct to want to avoid situations that cause potential harm or might hurt, and dental treatments are often no exception. But thankfully, this service typically alleviates more throbbing than it causes.
For starters, your dentist will numb your mouth before starting your procedure to help reduce sensations. Many providers also offer medications, like oral conscious or IV sedation, to help you remain calm and comfortable the entire time. That means you won’t need to worry about side effects until the meds wear off, and while you might feel sore or sensitive for a few days, you’ll likely also notice that your terrible toothache has already begun to subside!
Myth #2: I’ll Probably Get an Infection Afterward
Your mouth is full of bacteria that can penetrate your enamel or connective tissues and eventually make their way to the tender pulp inside your teeth. From there, they can infect sensitive nerves and trigger a painful reaction, which is the leading complaint among patients who need a root canal.
This treatment involves making a small opening in your enamel to remove diseased or damaged material, disinfecting the area, and filling it with a special dental material to prevent a recurrence of the infection. This process has an incredibly high success rate, ranging between 86% to 98%, meaning that only an estimated 5% to 14% of patients develop significant side effects if they follow the post-operative care instructions carefully.
Myth #3: I Don’t Need One if My Tooth Stops Hurting
A horrible toothache may be the chief complaint of patients needing this service, but it’s not a prerequisite. Some patients assume that if their discomfort suddenly fades, their condition must have improved, and a root canal procedure is no longer necessary.
But nothing could be further from the truth. Dental problems don’t usually resolve themselves and tend to progressively worsen the longer they remain unaddressed. While you might think your tooth healed because the throbbing dissipated, it’s more likely that the infection finally damaged the sensitive nerves so much that they died and can no longer transmit signals. However, the disease likely remains and needs to be treated before it spreads.
Although it’s normal to feel nervous about a root canal, this treatment usually resolves more problems than it causes and can help you regain a healthy, pain-free smile!
About the Practice
Patients at Fort Dental benefit from a team of award-winning providers who are passionate about helping them improve their lives by enhancing their dental health. Dr. Cheng, Dr. Thorburn, and Dr. Luk collaborate to provide a comprehensive menu of services, including root canal procedures, to people of all ages so you and your family receive the same top-quality care. They also offer multiple options for sedation to help you feel calm and comfortable, regardless of the reason for your visit. You can request an appointment on the website or call (817) 292-5957.