Eight Myths People Have About Root Canals

Most people dread getting root canals. Just the mention of them can cause some people to stress out. The truth is that root canals are not painful in most cases. It turns out the things that people associate with root canals most often are myths. Here are the eight most common root canal myths.

1. Root Canals are Painful
The perception that this procedure is painful is really a holdover from a time when the procedure was a painful one. In past decades, the procedure was slow and painful. Today however, modern technology and pain control drugs make this procedure not any more painful than getting a tooth filled.

2. Multiple Dental Visits are Required for this procedure
While it used to be true that root canals could take several visits, today most of these can be finished in one or two visits to your dentist.

3. Dental Crowns Lead to This Procedure
Some people believe the myth that dental crowns eventually cause the tooth to require one of these procedures. This is simply not true. A crowned tooth may have need of a procedure like this, but the need is not caused by the crown itself.

4. They Can Make You Sick
There is no factual basis for this myth. Studies have shown that these do not put people at greater risk for illness over those who have not had the procedure done.

5. The Roots of the Tooth Must be Removed During a Root Canal
During a this procedure, the dentist removes the pulp from the inside of the tooth, not the roots of the tooth.

6. Pregnant Women Should Not Have This Procedure Done
While greater care must be taken when doing this procedure on pregnant women, the procedure is safe. X-rays are involved but they are not near the area of the fetus and the anesthetics used are safe for pregnant women. Always tell your dentist you are pregnant before having a procedure done.

7. One of These Procedures Will Not Prevent the Tooth from Eventually Falling Out
This is not true, a properly performed root canal, along with proper oral hygiene should allow the tooth to last your whole life.

8. One of These Procedures is not Necessary if There is No Pain
Infected or damaged tooth pulp does not necessarily cause pain in the tooth. Dentists are trained to recognize when a tooth needs this procedure.