Root Canal in Colorado Springs, Colorado

YOU HAVE JUST LEFT your dentist’s practice, where you’ve been informed that all that pain you have been experiencing is because you are in need of a root canal. Chances are you started scrolling through the world wide web the moment you got home to pick up as much information as possible. 

The internet is an incredible place to gather information in today’s world. Still, let’s be honest, it can also be plagued with dangerous misinformation from unreliable sources.

Elevation Endodontics would like to break these outdated stigmas. The root canal procedure has advanced for years and is nothing to fear. The following are common questions associated with the root canal procedure that we would love to debunk:

Is a Root Canal Painful?

Thanks to Hollywood, there is a stigma that root canals are an excruciating dental procedure. But what you need to understand is that root canal therapy aims to relieve severe tooth pain, not create it. The treatment procedure itself should not cause any pain at all.

Endodontists use local anesthesia to numb the tooth and its surrounding areas before the procedure. The anesthetic turns off nerve signals that tell your brain something is hurting. However, mild pain and discomfort are typical for a few days after the procedure that can be relieved with over-the-counter pain killers.

Root canals are needed when a cavity spreads to your tooth’s pulp and causes an inflammation or infection. This inflammation is where the pain comes from, not the procedure itself. A root canal saves your natural teeth and avoids extraction.

Is Tooth Extraction a Better Option?

Sometimes, patients opt for a tooth extraction to avoid spending extra time and money on a root canal procedure. Unfortunately, a patient may not understand that a tooth extraction will eventually require more extensive dental work and costly tooth replacements. 

It is always better to try and preserve the tooth. Even though there have been significant advances in dental implants, there is still no equivalent replacement for the natural tooth. Also, extraction and implantation are way more expensive and significantly more painful than root canal treatment. 

Often, dentists recommend dental extraction when root canal treatment is still an option. For this reason, it’s essential to consult an endodontist for a second opinion. Doing this will ensure the best possible endodontic treatment plan for you.

Can a Root Canal Cause Cancer?

There is a myth circulating the internet that claims 90% of cancer patients have had a root canal treatment in the past. Even though it has gained popularity, absolutely no research supports this claim. Root canal treatments save the tooth structure. 

The correlation is most likely that cancerous infections and inflammation lead to a need for root canals instead of the other way around. Plenty of research shows a link between chronic infection, inflammation, and cancer.  

We hope debunking a few myths will help you make a better decision about the future of your smile. At Elevation Endodontics in Colorado Springs, we have your best interest at heart. Call us if you have questions or concerns about saving your teeth.