There is probably no medical procedure in our society that is more dreaded than the root canal. What are the causes of these common perceptions and are they justified?
Perhaps the single greatest fear with regard to the root canal, is the perception that the procedure is incredibly painful. You may be surprised to learn that this is almost completely untrue. There may have been a time before modern techniques and anesthetics when root canals would have been painful, but that is no longer the case. In fact, the reason you are likely considering a root canal is that you may already be in pain and area looking for some relief. That’s precisely what the procedure can do: relieve pain. Many describe the root canal procedure as relatively pain-free.
Some people fear that a root canal will take multiple, painful procedures. While in some severe cases more than one procedure is necessary, the vast majority of root canals can be handled, painlessly, in a single visit!
Other people are concerned that the root canal procedure will leave their teeth more brittle and weaker than before. In reality, a root canal can be one of the best things to improve the health of your teeth. Fearing this concern, some people think it might be better to just pull the tooth. However, it is usually better overall to save your natural teeth. False teeth may actually lead to more procedures and issues to the surrounding teeth in the long-run.
A fear that used to keep people away from the dentist was the notion that a root canal would lead to greater tooth decay and illness. This, however, has long-since been demonstrated as false. There are no studies which link root canals to increased disease. Keeping the natural tooth and protecting it is one of the healthiest things you can do.
If you have been putting off your dental health due to fear of pain, Lifetime Smiles can take care of you with comfortable and pain-free dental care in Escondido. Call our office at (760) 747-1811 today!
