root canal rumors

5 Need-To-Know Facts About Root Canals

By on January 12, 2016

Root canals are almost universally despised by dental patients, and without many valid reasons! The misinformation floating around about this essential dental service is everywhere, and in most cases it’s yelling a lot louder than the truth. If you’ve ever had a toothache you may have needed a root canal, but did fear keep you away?

At Really Smile Dentistry we want to clear the air about root canals. There’s no reason to be so terrified of them – in fact most of the bad info is either the opposite of true, inspired by bad science, or simply confused. Get the truth about root canals from us with these five must-know facts.

#1: They Save Your Teeth

An infected tooth can be incredibly painful, and a lot of people just assume the best course of action is to extract it. But not so fast! Extracting a tooth is far from the best option, especially since extraction can often cause the loss of more teeth in the future!

Root canals are designed to get rid of the infection without endangering the tooth. When we perform a root canal we’ll remove all the infected dental pulp at the root of your tooth while leaving it in place. With proper care the root canaled tooth will last for the rest of your life!

#2: They Eliminate Pain, Not Cause It

It’s a commonly held belief that root canals hurt. First off, we would never perform a root canal at our Carmel office without anesthesia, so don’t worry: you won’t feel it. Secondly, root canal pain is often a misconception because of the intense pain an infected tooth root can cause. People have often conflated the two, losing the distinction between the pain relief provided by the root canal and the pain of the infection.

By the time your anesthesia wears off you’ll be able to tell just how much better you feel post-root canal.

#3: They Are Perfectly Safe

There was a theory in the early 20th century called “focal infection theory.” It held that an infection stemmed from some quality of the area that was infected, so leaving a root canaled tooth in place was just allowing an infection to happen again.

We now know that is anything but true, and that it’s the bacteria from a deep cavity that causes root infections. When we remove the infected tissue and sterilize the inside of your tooth you’re safe from a risk of recurrence.

#4: They Are Necessary To Preventing A Spread Of Infection

When an infected root isn’t cleaned with a root canal you’re at serious risk for the bacteria spreading past the tooth. It can get into your gums, bone, and even your bloodstream! When the bacteria makes it past your tooth you can end up with a dental abscess, a serious pocket of infection that is incredibly dangerous.

An abscess can become very painful very quickly, and is entirely capable of destroying gums and bone. If you don’t treat an abscess right away you’re jeopardizing the health of your entire mouth. Don’t avoid a root canal hoping that it’ll just get better: that doesn’t happen!

#5: They Save Time And Money Later On

Root canals are simple and quick, only requiring a crown to be placed to restore your tooth and protect the remaining healthy portion. Contrast that with the reconstructive needs from one or more lost teeth, an abscess, or any other complications to your health caused by infection and you can quickly see why a root canal is the best choice!

Don’t think of a root canal as an inconvenience or something to be scared of: it’s a time and money save, a pain-reliever, and a tooth-preserver. You can’t really beat the results of a root canal, except by never needing one at all!

Don’t Mess Around With Oral Pain

If you ever find yourself with a toothache it may already be time for a root canal. Avoid the need for one by seeing us on a regular basis for checkups and exams. Schedule an appointment at Really Smile Dentistry today by calling 317-451-4050 or filling out our online form. We look forward to seeing your healthy smile soon!

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Root Canals: What’s The Real Story?

By on October 9, 2015

If you’ve been around the world for any amount of time you’ve probably heard of root canals. These horrifying dental treatments are, if the rumors are true, the worst thing you could ever have happen in your mouth. You’ll suffer from excruciating pain, secondary infection, and complete misery!

Like any controversial medical technique root canals are, of course, nowhere near as bad as they seem. At Really Smiles in Indianapolis we’ve answered a lot of questions from a lot of patients who’ve been worried about root canals and we always tell them the same thing: there’s nothing to worry about!

We want to go over some of the most common root canal myths and help explain why you don’t have anything to fear from this tooth-saving, pain-relieving condition!

Myth #1: Root Canals Are Painful

Let’s explain what a root canal is and why they’re performed as we tackle this myth – they go hand in hand!

When a cavity gets so deep it reaches the root of your tooth it can get quite painful. The soft pulp at the center of a tooth becomes infected and inflamed and needs to be removed to prevent a secondary infection, abscess, and serious pain!

A root canal involves going into the root of the tooth and removing the infected pulp with a series of special tools. Patients who come to our Indianapolis dentist office are always under anesthesia when we perform a root canal, so you won’t feel a thing! And contrary to the idea of a root canal hurting they’re meant to provide instant relief for pain due to infection! Most patients are amazed at how much better they feel once their root canal is complete!

Myth #2: Root Canals Cause Other Illnesses

The origin of this myth goes all the way back to the early 20th century. A man named Dr. Weston Price put for the idea that infections have a focal point, in this case a tooth, that always carries the risk of later infection. This is, of course, untrue!

The staying power of this myth comes from a long history of misunderstanding. Dr. Price’s “focal infection theory” was disproven only a couple decades after he proposed it and has long been considered another historic misunderstanding of the human body.

Root canals don’t leave behind any infected tissue. The center of your tooth is filled with a plastic-like material that leaves it protected and infection free!

Myth #3: Root Canals Are Temporary

There are some people who argue that it’s better to pull the tooth because root canals are a temporary fix. Based on what we told you about how and why a root canal works do you really think that’s true? A root canal removes the infected tissue, cleans out tooth decay bacteria, and seals your tooth safely under a crown so that it’s protected from further harm.

Root canals are permanent solutions that leave you with your natural tooth. We always want to preserve a tooth instead of pulling one – it’s far better for your long-term oral health!

Myth #4: You Only Need A Root Canal If You’re In Pain

Because of their association with pain it might seem like root canals are only necessary when you hurt, but that’s not true at all! A regular dental exam can detect cavities and determine when tooth decay has reached the dental pulp. That’s the exact time you need a root canal, pain or no!

It’s common for patients with infected dental pulp to be in pain but it’s not universal! Cavities that reach the dental pulp can cause infection and decay without causing pain. The pain is usually a sign that things have reached a critical point but root canals can still be necessary well before that!

Don’t Avoid Treatment!

A root canal can be the difference between pain and dental restoration and a healthy, happy smile. If you’re concerned that you might have a seriously decayed tooth don’t put off treatment because you’re scared! Call our Indianapolis dentist office to schedule an appointment today!

You can reach us at 317-451-4050 or by filling out our online appointment request form. We look forward to helping you!

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