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If you’ve been told you should have a root canal, you may be nervous due to misconceptions about them. Believing these myths could be keeping you from getting the dental care you need, so it’s important to know the truth. Below are four common myths about root canals that aren’t true.

Busting Myths About Getting a Root Canal

1. They’re Only Done When Your Tooth Is Hurting

root canalA tooth that’s infected or badly damaged won’t always cause you pain, which is why regular dental visits are so important. If deep tissues haven’t been affected or the tooth has already died, then you may not experience pain, but will still need a root canal performed. A good example of this is when a tooth is dead or dying, where as a canal will remove tissue to prevent it from becoming infected, enabling you to keep it.

2. They Lead to Illnesses

Root canals haven’t been substantially correlated with the development of illnesses or new infections. The procedure only involves the removal of damaged tissue from the tooth, which cannot cause a disease or illness to develop. If the tooth does become infected again after the procedure, it’s due to poor aftercare, oral hygiene, or an infection that was not fully removed during the procedure, which is rare.

3. Pulling the Tooth Is Better & Easier

A root canal is performed as a last resort to save a tooth that’s been badly damaged by infection. Pulling a tooth causes more trauma to your mouth, as it leaves an empty socket and can affect the health of your surrounding teeth. If you don’t have another, separate oral surgery done to replace the missing tooth, the neighboring teeth will shift into the gap, becoming misaligned and affecting your bite. Root canals pose none of these risks, as they don’t affect the surrounding teeth. They’re completed in one visit to the dentist; and if successful, you won’t need another procedure.

4. Healing & Surgery Are Very Painful

Root canals have a bad reputation for being very painful, but this is likely due to negative experiences before recent developments in dental care. In modern dentistry, anesthetics, innovative technology, advanced approaches, and personalized pain management instructions all minimize any discomfort. Your experience should be no more painful than a cleaning, crown, or filling.

 

At Lowitz & Meier in Cincinnati, OH, you’ll find dependable dental care for your whole family, including skilled root canal procedures. For more than 30 years, they’ve provided extensive dental services from every area of dentistry, including oral surgery, pediatric care, and cosmetic dentistry. They’re open five days a week, boast extended hours, and have won the Angie’s List® 2013 Super Service Award. Learn more about their services online, then call (513) 521-8900 for an appointment.

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