Root Canal Misinformation
If your dentist has just told you that you need a root canal, chances are you immediately started searching the web for details about this common but poorly understood dental procedure. It is true that the internet is a goldmine of knowledge, but it is also rife with questionable sites and false claims that can mislead the unwary.
Besides root canals, there is also false information about The Woodlands dental crowns, bridges, dentures, and more. However, this is exactly why we decided to write this blog.
The following are some of the most widely circulated but false beliefs regarding root canals and tooth discomfort on the internet:
- Having a root canal is excruciating.
Root canals have a bad reputation for being extremely uncomfortable. However, the real reason for root canal treatment is pain relief. When a cavity goes untreated and infects the pulp of your tooth, you will need a root canal. It is not the procedure itself that is painful, but rather this.
- It takes multiple visits to the dentist to finish a root canal.
One or two visits may be needed to finish a root canal procedure. The total number of required appointments to finish a root canal depends on a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
- How bad the infection is.
- The trouble of getting a root canal.
Essentially, root canal therapy does not include the visits required to restore the tooth to full function.
- Root canals are expensive; this is myth number three.
Getting a tooth extracted and replaced with a bridge or dental implant is more expensive than having a root canal and dental crown done. Root canal procedures range in price depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of the tooth, whether it is the patient’s first root canal or retreatment, and the dentist’s or endodontist’s specialty.
- The positive effects of root canal treatment will not last.
The effects of a root canal treatment last for quite some time. They alleviate pain in the tooth and safeguard it for the long term. The final restoration, or crown, is crucial for optimal function.
Tooth extraction is a viable option to root canal therapy.
Patients will sometimes choose to have a tooth extracted rather than undergo a root canal operation due to the high cost and lengthy treatment period involved. Unfortunately, the patient might not realize that losing a tooth would lead to the need for additional, expensive dental work down the road. Unlike a simple root canal, replacing a missing tooth after extraction necessitates more time in the dental chair and more expensive treatments like dental implants or bridges.