Myths about Root Canals and Root Canal Pain

There are several misconceptions surrounding endodontic treatment and whether patients experience root canal pain or not.

Root canals may require work, but not pain.

Myth #1—Root canal treatment is painful.

The truth is, getting a root canal doesn’t cause pain, it relieves it!  Root canals feel almost exactly like getting a cavity filled.

Most patients see their dentist or endodontist when they have a severe toothache. The toothache can be caused by damaged tissues in the tooth.  Root canal treatment removes this damaged tissue from the tooth, thereby relieving the pain.

Myth #2—Root canal treatment causes illness.

The Myth: Receiving a root canal can contribute to the occurrence of illness and disease in the body.

This false claim is based on long-debunked and poorly designed research performed nearly a century ago by Dr. Weston A. Price, at a time before medicine understood the causes of many diseases.

The truth is, there is no valid scientific evidence linking root canal-treated teeth and disease elsewhere in the body. A root canal is a safe and effective procedure. When an infection in a tooth requires endodontic treatment, that treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save the tooth.

Myth #3—A good alternative to root canal treatment is getting a tooth extraction

The truth is, saving your natural teeth, if possible, is the very best option.

Nothing can completely replace your natural tooth. An artificial tooth can sometimes cause you to avoid certain foods. Keeping your own teeth is important so that you can continue to enjoy the wide variety of foods necessary to maintain the proper nutrient balance in your diet. If your dentist recommends extraction, ask whether root canal treatment is an option.

Getting a root canal will leave you pain free and smiling at your dental office

Endodontic treatment, along with appropriate restoration, is a cost-effective way to treat teeth with damaged pulp and is usually less expensive than extraction and placement of a bridge or an implant.

Endodontic treatment also has a very high success rate. Many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime.

Placement of a bridge or an implant will require significantly more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to adjacent teeth and supporting tissues.

Millions of healthy endodontically treated teeth serve patients all over the world, years and years after treatment. Those healthy teeth are helping patients chew efficiently, maintain the natural appearance of their smiles and enhance their enjoyment of life. Through endodontic treatment, endodontists and dentists worldwide enable patients to keep their natural teeth for a lifetime.