Every dentist in Cranbrook knows how people feel when they hear the words root canal. People cringe and quake at the mere thought of such a complicated and painful dental procedure. That reaction is based on outdated and just plain wrong information that ignores the incredible advances in dental techniques and technology in recent years. Dentists want you to know the truth about root canals in Cranbrook, including this.
The root canal is a pain-free procedure that eliminates the pain and risks presented by serious tooth infections and that saves teeth from preventable extractions.
If you’re struggling with a tooth infection, or your dentist has recommended root canal therapy, you need to know the truth while considering all your options. It’s time to separate fact from fiction about root canal in Cranbrook.
MYTH: Root canal in Cranbrook is excruciatingly painful
Thanks to advances in endodontic treatment and anesthetics and constant investment in the most up-to-date equipment and training, root canal procedures are pain-free. They can even be accomplished using lasers rather than drills — and silently and without any vibrations.
Will you experience discomfort after your procedure? Yes, you’ll experience mild and temporary discomfort after the anesthetic wears off and during your recovery. That temporary discomfort is easily resolved with simple remedies like cold compresses, keeping your head elevated, and over-the-counter pain medication.
MYTH: You’re better off having your tooth pulled
Staff at dental offices in Cranbrook prioritize protecting your natural teeth and tissues whenever possible. Root canal therapy prevents unnecessary extractions by removing all sources and consequences of infection while maintaining your full and natural dental function. Once your treated tooth is capped with a crown, it is permanently protected without any need to consider an implant or bridge to replace a needlessly extracted tooth.
MYTH: Root canal in Cranbrook involves many more appointments than an extraction
This persistent myth ignores the fact that, after an extraction, it is unwise and unhealthy to leave a gap in your jaw. Filling that gap with a bridge or implant will require dental appointments after you recover from the extraction. Root canal therapy does not involve extraction or trigger the need for an implant and can usually be accomplished in three visits to the dentist.
MYTH: If your tooth is dead, you can just ignore it
A dead tooth is no longer receiving any blood supply to its nerve. It can be caused by injury, trauma, or serious infection. This myth is based on the false and dangerous notion that a dead tooth is just an inert, static mass in your jaw. The truth is that it will rot over time and produce bacteria that can cause serious and spreading infections into your mouth, gums, jaw, and bone.
MYTH: Root canal treatment doesn’t work
Modern advanced root canal therapy is successful in halting and preventing the spread of infection the first time 95% of the time. You can increase those already excellent odds of eliminating pain and infection by choosing an experienced dentist, complying with all after-care instructions, and completing root canal treatment by getting and maintaining a crown to protect your infection-free tooth.
Here’s one truth with which everyone agrees: the best root canal is no root canal at all. Dentists would rather support your excellent daily oral hygiene habits than open up your tooth to remove infected matter before sealing that tooth up to prevent reinfection. But, if an infection has taken hold, a root canal in Cranbrook is an effective and painless procedure to eliminate that infection while preserving your tooth. And that is no myth.