When someone tells you that they have to have a root canal, do you immediately cringe and think “glad it’s not me!” You are not alone. A 2019 study by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) showed more people (59%) are afraid of getting a root canal than speaking in public (57%), spiders (55%) or being trapped in an elevator (54%).
After all, this dental treatment has a pretty terrible reputation. However, we are here to tell you that all the horror stories, all of the overdramatic representations of root canals on television, and all of the terror surrounding them are UNNECESSARY. That’s right, your dentist wants you to know that getting a root canal really is not all that bad.
Root canal treatment is virtually painless and often leaves you with less discomfort during recovery than if you have your natural tooth extracted. Thanks to modern techniques and effective anesthesia, patients who experience root canals are six times more likely to describe it as painless than patients who have a tooth extracted!
Why Are People Scared of Root Canals?
Historically, before the dental technology that we have now, getting a root canal was often very unpleasant. That, paired with how root canals are represented in entertainment, has created a long-standing assumption that root canals are terrible, horrible, and super painful. However, thanks to advances in technology, root canal treatment not that different than having a cavity filled.
What Does a Root Canal Do for Someone?
A root canal may be recommended by your dentist if decay or infection has moved deep into the inner workings of the tooth and a filling alone will not fix the problem. This level of decay or infection also tends to come along with tooth pain, but a root canal will successfully remove the decay and actually ease the pain. So thanks to a root canal, your pain will be relieved AND your tooth will be saved.
What are the Benefits of Saving the Natural Tooth?
There are many clinical reasons for needing root canal treatment, but there are also countless practical reasons why saving the natural tooth is a wise choice. Restorative treatment helps you maintain your natural smile, continue eating the foods you love and limits the need for ongoing dental work. With proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime.
- Virtually Pain-Free Procedure: Root canal treatment is virtually painless and often leaves you with less discomfort during recovery than if you have your natural tooth extracted. Thanks to modern techniques and effective anesthesia, patients who experience root canals are six times more likely to describe it as painless than patients who have a tooth extracted.
- Efficient: Tooth extraction can take longer than root canal treatment due to follow-up appointments required for a denture, bridge or implant; plus the cost may be higher. Most dental insurance plans cover Root Canal Therapy.
- Visually Appealing Result: Crowns not only function like natural teeth; they look great, too. Improve your smile and laugh out loud again with root canal treatment.
What’s Involved in a Root Canal Treatment?
Understanding a root canal treatment can really help decrease fear or anxiety and overturn old assumptions of what treatment is like. Let’s take a closer look at how a dentist performs a root canal.
First, your dentist will completely numb the area so you will not feel anything more than slight pressure at times. This makes a root canal virtually pain free.
Next, a hole is made in the affected tooth which allows your dentist to access the inside where all the roots and nerves are located.
Then, the area is thoroughly cleaned out. Your dentist will empty out the tooth canals and remove everything inside including, any infection, pulp, and nerves. This completely eliminates that tooth’s ability to feel anything, alleviating the pain you had prior to treatment.
Finally, the canals are sealed and capped off with a dental crown to keep anything from getting back inside the tooth.
Do I Need a Root Canal?
Besides tooth pain, there are other signs that you may need a root canal including:
- Increased pain while chewing or with applied pressure
- Sensitivity to heat or cold that doesn’t go away quickly
- A small raised bump on the gums near the tooth that hurts
- Tooth discoloration
- Gum inflammation
Any of the above or any combination thereof may indicate that you need a root canal. However, not every case of tooth pain, sensitivity, or inflammation automatically means a root canal is in your future. Talk with your dentist to find the source of these problems as well as the best treatment for you individually.
If you think you may need a root canal, schedule an appointment with your dentist sooner rather than later. Getting treatment earlier can make all the difference in saving your tooth.