What You Didn’t Know about Root Canals

The word root canal alone is enough to make most dental patients nervous, but this important dental procedure is clouded by misconception. Patients see root canals as an inconvenience, but the truth is that they are highly vital in the fight to help patients keep their natural teeth and prevent the progression of damage caused by dental infection.

Because we understand that root canals can be intimidating, we’re here to dispel common misinformation with the following truths about root canal therapy:

Treatment is More Comfortable than you Expect

Root canals are recommended to reverse the effects of a tooth infection. Many patients don’t realize that the pain of a tooth infection far outweighs the often-discussed and so-called discomfort of a root canal. It’s also important to note that, by the time teeth have become so affected that a root canal is necessary, the nerves and tissue inside teeth (called the pulp) are “dead” -- performing a root canal therefore does not affect live nerves that trigger pain. With the addition of a local anesthetic, root canal therapy is a more painless experience than patients give it credit for.

Broken Teeth May Require Root Canal Therapy

Dental pain caused by a tooth infection can lead patients into a dental office ASAP for care, but many patients may not think they need immediate attention for a chipped or cracked tooth. However, if damage to a tooth was moderate enough, it’s possible that bacteria are given access to inner systems of teeth, which is what causes a tooth infection. Patients who do not seek dental treatment for an injury to teeth may notice their tooth begin to look gray or darkened over time, which is the sign of deadened pulp.

Get a Root Canal -- Keep your Teeth

Without a root canal, bacteria that cause dental infections can continue to move through the root systems of teeth, damaging it beyond repair and even affecting bone beyond the roots of teeth. While this is a worst-case scenario, damaged teeth that are not treated in time can require extraction. When teeth are treated with a root canal as soon as possible, harmful bacteria can be removed, and your tooth can be protected and restored with a crown, so it can remain a part of your smile.

Questions about Root Canals? Contact our Thunder Bay Dentist

Our dentists, Drs. Mao and Lau, are here to address any questions or concerns you may have about root canal therapy. Contact ABA Dental Clinic to learn more about this procedure.