You’ve probably heard a couple myths about Root Canal Therapy (RCT). As a commonly misunderstood treatment, the myths can lead patients to be fearful about receiving treatment. However, many myths about root canals are simply not true. Below, Dr Jennifer Collins is setting the record straight on three misconceptions surrounding this procedure
Myth: Root Canal Treatment is painful. By far the most popular myth, this idea most likely came about because patients usually feel considerable pain before receiving treatment. As outlined above, the symptoms of an infected or inflamed inner tooth are severe pain or sensitivity. After nursing discomfort for a couple weeks, it’s common for patients to become nervous or anxious before the procedure. However, Dr Jennifer Collins always places patient comfort first. Before the procedure, a patient’s affected tooth is completely numbed. Root canal therapy actually relieves pain; patients can expect to feel a significant difference in pain levels immediately after the procedure.
Myth: It’s a temporary fix. Root canals are not a temporary solution; they are a permanent, safe solution for infected or damaged teeth. Although there is not a 100% success rate with RCT, they are a very common, successful way to save a patients tooth from extraction. If an RCT is too complicated for your dentist to do, you may be referred to an endodontist for treatment, these are people who are specialists in RCT.
Myth: It’s only needed for patients in pain. Pain is a common symptom when a tooth needs RCT, but the absence of it doesn’t mean a tooth isn’t infected. In its early stages, infection sometimes does not present symptoms. By taking care of the growing infection earlier rather than later, patients can actually avoid pain and discomfort. Also non vital (dead) teeth sometimes are not painful at all, but the internal part of the tooth may be necrotic and on the cusp of in abscess. Many people may have asymptomatic non vital teeth in their mouth which they do not realise needs RCT. #dentalcareireland#northumberlanddentalcare#oralhygiene#sugar#sugarytreats#toothbrushing#flouride#sweets#dentist#dentistdublin#dentistdublin4#diet#healthydiet#gumdisease#gingivitis#periodontitis #rootcanaltreatment