No pain, no gain: How root canals can be painless

When you hear the phrase “root canal” you may automatically think of an incredibly painful procedure. You fear the dentist will trap you in the chair as you experience immense pain from the dental procedure. In reality, a root canal is not as painful or as scary as one thinks.

When it’s more than a cleaning

People tend to avoid receiving a checkup due to relating dentistry to pain. Dental visits do not have to be painful, so long as one keeps up dental hygiene and regular visits to the dentist.

The pain will not be as terrible as people believe since, “Advanced technologies and specialized techniques used by endodontists give them a very accurate view of the inside of the tooth and allow them to treat the tooth quickly and comfortably,” mouthhealthy.org explains.

A root canal treatment will not be the painful experience everyone believes it to be. In fact, “By saving your tooth, an endodontist can help you keep your natural smile, so you can continue to eat your favorite foods and maintain your overall health,” mouthhealthy.org adds. Regardless of the facts, people will believe in myths of dental treatments.

Debunking the myths of a root canal

The root canal is a procedure of endodontists and extremely beneficial to patients dealing with toothaches or infection. The American Association of Endodontists, AAE, disproves several myths about the root canal procedure.

One myth is that root canal treatment causes illness. In the 1920s, Dr. Weston A. Price, “advocated tooth extraction—the most traumatic dental procedure—over endodontic treatment,” the AAE writes. Since medicine was not as advanced as it is today, “This resulted in a frightening era of tooth extraction both for the treatment of systemic disease and as a prophylactic measure against future illness.”

Amazingly, people still believe in this myth forgetting that a root canal or endodontic, “treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save the natural tooth,” the AAE adds. While there are methods to replace a natural tooth with artificial teeth, the methods should only be applied if the tooth is beyond saving.

Another myth the AAE debunks is that pulling teeth is a strong alternative to a root canal. The truth is that saving natural teeth is the best option. The AAE continues to debunk this myth by explaining that endodontic treatment “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.”

It is important to note what specific procedure will work best for you. In some cases, tooth extraction and replacement may be the best option. Seek a professional dentist for the possible options and ask if a root canal procedure is right for you.

Advanced Dental Group

At Advanced Dental Group in Los Alamitos, CA, we will customize your treatment to match your needs and schedule. Our professional staff will go over any important facts you need to know about your treatment.

If you have any questions or are unsure of what is causing the pain in your teeth, do not hesitate to call us. We will answer any questions and make sure you get the help to feel comfortable with your treatment. We can help prevent any constant damage to your teeth and set you on track for a lifetime of pristine oral health.