Root Canal Myths

If you’ve ever heard someone talk about getting a root canal, you get the feeling that this endodontic procedure is a nightmare. However, a root canal is a tooth-saving dental treatment that can dramatically improve your oral health if you have severely damaged teeth, or even a tooth infection. Don’t let anxiety over a dental treatment prevent you from getting the care you need. We bust some popular myths about root canals below:

• Root Canals are Complicated Oral Surgery – A root canal is a dental procedure that requires the use of special instruments, controlled by skilled dentist or endodontist, but it is not a complicated surgical procedure, like some might think. In order to treat a damaged tooth with a root canal, Dr. Moscattini will remove infected tooth pulp (the material inside the tooth) by creating a small opening in the dental crown. This process is not much more invasive than getting a filling, crown, or other treatment that requires modification of dental enamel.

• Root Canals are Extraordinarily Painful – This is likely the biggest lie told about root canal treatment. While some may think that root canals are complex and uncomfortable, many patients report that it feels no different than receiving a filling. Dr. Moscattini will apply a local anesthetic before beginning treatment, so you remain comfortable and relaxed.

• Root Canals Damage your Teeth – Quite the opposite, a root canal is specifically intended to save teeth and does not “kill” a live tooth. Before root canal treatment was honed, the standard course of action for an infected or damaged tooth was extraction. But extracting teeth creates a host of other oral health problems that root canals can prevent. By removing affected material from inside your tooth, Dr. Moscattini can save your tooth’s structure and further protect your oral health by capping off your treatment with a dental crown.

• If You Get Another Tooth Infection, It’s Better Have the Tooth Extracted – Extraction is always a worst-case scenario. Dr. Moscattini takes every tooth-saving measure possible to ensure that you get to keep your natural teeth as long as possible. If you’ve previously had a root canal and experience another infection at the same site, your tooth can be successfully re-treated with root canal therapy.

Root canal therapy is a great way to save teeth and prevent the need for tooth extraction, or other, more extensive oral health treatment. Patients in need of root canals can trust their oral health to the Duluth, GA dental office of Dr. Roy Moscattini. Dr. Moscattini takes the time to go over your treatment plan and answer any questions you may have about getting a root canal. For more information, contact our dental office to set up your consultation.