Root canals get a lot of bad press. Even President Obama, in his first State of the Union address, said that the bank bailout was “as popular as a root canal.” While I’m sure that no one actually looks forward to getting a root canal, they don’t deserve all this negativity. Let’s look at some common myths about root canal therapy to try to separate fact from fiction.

Myth #1: Root Canal Therapy is Painful

The reality is that most root canal treatments are done because a tooth is already painful. For many people needing a root canal, eating foods that are hot or cold can send searing pain up and down their face. The result of a root canal is a pain-free tooth, enabling a person to enjoy food again. In fact, with dental anesthetics, most people do not experience any pain during root canal treatment.

Myth #2: Having a Root Canal Requires Several Dental Appointments

Most root canals can be completed in one to two appointments. The number of appointments needed is determined by the amount of infection present and the difficulty of the tooth anatomy. The dental crown or cap that is needed to put on the tooth after a root canal is necessary, but is not considered a part of the root canal treatment.

Myth #3: Root Canals Cause Illnesses

In the early 1900s, Dr. Weston Price reported that if bacteria is trapped in the tooth after a root canal is completed, then diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease, and arthritis may result. Recent research has not been able to duplicate Dr. Price’s findings. In fact, there are hundreds of different kinds of bacteria that can be in our mouths at any time. Even a healthy mouth free of cavities and gum disease has bacteria present! Researchers believe that Dr. Price’s (almost 100 year old) findings may be due to an unsanitary lab and inaccurate research techniques.

Myth #4: Teeth Should Hurt Before You Have a Root Canal

A tooth may not hurt and still need a root canal. The nerve in the tooth may be already dead from a past injury. If this is the case, a person will not feel pain even if the tooth is infected. In such cases your dentist will diagnose the need for a root canal with X-rays, and hot/cold tests during your dental exam. If a tooth starts to get darker, or you notice a “pimple” on the gum, see your dental professional right away. The pimple is a sign of a draining infection, that if not treated can damage the gums of adjacent teeth.

Myth #5: Root Canals Do Not Last Long

This myth comes from the possibility of a tooth breaking months after root canal therapy. After a root canal is completed, a crown/cap should be placed on the tooth to protect it from getting brittle. If a filling is put on the tooth instead, over time the forces of chewing will weaken the tooth, causing it to crack or break. If this occurs, it is not the root canal that has failed, but the improper restoration on the tooth that has failed.

Myth #6: It is Better to Pull the Tooth Than Get a Root Canal

Dentists want to save teeth, not pull them. Your real tooth, even one with a root canal and a crown, requires less treatment (and less money) than replacing a pulled tooth with a dental implant or a bridge. If taken care of properly by daily brushing and flossing, a tooth that has had a root canal can last a lifetime.