Are you planning an upcoming root canal treatment in Oklahoma City? Unfortunately for many families, endodontic treatment is plagued by a dozen different old wives’ tales. We’re here to set the record straight so you know what to expect during your upcoming root canal.
Myth 1: Root Canals Hurt
A root canal helps relieve the source of your tooth pain (abscessed or dying nerve) rather than cause it. When you’re getting a root canal, your tooth is numbed up with a local anesthetic just like any other routine procedure. The only difference is that if you have a severe infection, inflammation can interfere with the anesthetic. Dr. Grace or Dr. Phil will guide you through what to do to avoid this unwanted side-effect. Our OKC root canal therapy relieves pain; it doesn’t cause it.
Myth 2: It’s Easier to Pull Your Tooth and Skip the Root Canal
It may seem like a quicker and cheaper option, but extracting a tooth creates a chain-reaction in the surrounding teeth. Tooth loss creates excess space that will lead to shifting in your neighboring (and opposing) teeth, as well as bone shrinkage in that location. As a result, you can see an increase in tooth decay, crowding, bone loss, and irregular wear. Therefore, if possible, it’s most often best to preserve your tooth with a root canal than it is to have it extracted.
Myth 3: The Recovery After a Root Canal is Horrible
Any time we inject a local anesthetic to numb a tooth, the injection site can tend to be a little sore for a day or two. But with a root canal, your tooth is no longer vital, so there are no nerve endings to indicate any pain or discomfort. Soft tissue irritation can usually be managed with a warm saltwater rinse or anti-inflammatory medication.
Myth 4: I Need to See a Specialist for Root Canal Treatment
If you have an extremely atypical root structure or extra roots on a hard-to-reach tooth, then you might need to see an endodontist, and our dentist will refer you out if this is the case. However, for the most part, our OKC dentist can complete all root canals comfortably and affordably right here in our dental practice.
Myth 5: If My Tooth Doesn’t Hurt, I Can Wait to Treat It
This is probably one of the biggest myths of any dental treatment. Unfortunately, pain isn’t a good indicator as to the extent of your dental infection. A tooth can be severely decayed or abscessed and never hurt. Waiting for the pain to improve or worsen before you schedule a dental appointment could result in having a tooth that’s damaged beyond repair.
Pragma Dental OKC Has Your Answers
If you’re looking for a gentle root canal experience in OKC, it’s time to give us a call! Reserve your new patient appointment today.
