The minute your dentist utters the word “root canal,” you might start trying to think of ways to get out of the procedure. With a terrible reputation and an even more terrifying name, people often assume that their root canal will be a painful, unpleasant experience—when that typically isn’t the case. Here are three reasons not to be afraid of root canals. 

3 Reasons Not to Dread Root Canals

Root Canals Alleviate Dental Pain 

Root canals are needed whenever the inside pulp of the tooth is severely inflamed or infected, which can cause patients an extraordinary amount of tooth sensitivity or dental pain. During root canals, the entire area around the tooth is numbed with a powerful local anesthetic, and the inflamed inner portion of the tooth is removed and filled, alleviating dental pain. Root canals are incredibly effective at relieving pain and preserving the tooth’s root, helping patients restore chewing function and prevent bone and tooth loss.

Dental Dams Can Help Improve Patient Comfort 

Often, patients are concerned about rubber dental dams, which are intimidating-looking rubber sheets with a hole cut through them that are placed around the tooth during the root canal. Although dental dams aren’t used during fillings or other basic procedures, they serve a few simple purposes: To keep the tooth clean and dry and to keep antiseptic solutions out of the patient’s mouth. In fact, dental dams can improve patient comfort, since decay debris, fluids, and other materials won’t come in contact with your tongue or palate.

Recovery Is Simple

Recovering from a root canal is simple and typically pain-free, with studies showing that 57% of patients report no pain following the procedure, and 22% of patients reporting only minor discomfort. After your root canal, you may have to return to have a permanent crown placed on the tooth, but otherwise, you should be able to eat, drink, and talk normally as soon as the anesthetic wears off.

Are you living with dental sensitivity or tooth pain? William U. Britton, DDS, MAGD, in Chillicothe, OH, can help with everything from root canals and dental implants to preventive dental care, cosmetic restorations, and emergency appointments. With more than 35 years worth of experience, this dentist focuses on providing kind, gentle dental care while teaching patients how to protect their teeth. For more information about this practice, check out the practice’s website or call (740) 772-2225.