Root Canal FAQ’s

As with any other health related topics, there are many common myths that seem to follow root canals around, so we are here to set the record straight!

Here are five of the most common questions we hear in our practice every day:

1. After a root canal is my tooth dead?
No. Many people believe that root canal therapy kills teeth, but it’s quite the opposite!. During a root canal procedure, we remove only the infected tissue inside of the tooth, leaving healthy nerves and blood vessels to grow and heal from within.
2. Are root canals very painful?
While many people think the procedure itself is the source of the pain, it’s actually caused by the inflammation from the infection. The root canal procedure is ultimately relieving that pain! However, it is true that you will still experience some discomfort as the site heals after the therapy, sometimes lasting a few days to a few weeks.
3. I’ve heard that the pain will never go away completely, is that true?
No. A successful root canal will eliminate the underlying pain. If you are still experiencing pain after the normal healing time, we will investigate other causes such a fractured tooth. It’s important that you let us know if you’re still feeling pain after the allotted recovery time!
4. Does root canal therapy take more than one visit?
Sometimes, but more often than not we can complete the procedure from start to finish in one single visit to our office!
5. Are root canals expensive?
The cost varies depending on many factors, including how bad the infection is, whether it is the first treatment or a retreatment, and your insurance options. However, root canal therapy is less expensive than extraction and replacement down the road.

Simply put, a root canal allows us to save a tooth that is otherwise headed for extinction. Once decay and infection enter the interior of the tooth where the nerves and blood vessels are, it is only a matter of time before the infection takes over those nerves and the tooth dies. When a tooth dies, we have no alternative but to extract and replace it, either with a dental implant, spacer or denture.

We want you to keep your natural teeth as long as you can during your lifetime! Natural teeth look, feel and function better than artificial teeth and protect the jaw from bone loss. In order to save a tooth that has reached this inner level of decay, we always recommend root canal therapy, during which we go in and clean the infected area out and seal it off to allow it to heal and prevent further infection. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact our office today!