Few dental treatments carry as much unearned fear as the root canal. The stories are decades out of date - modern root canal treatment (RCT) is a routine, comfortable procedure that saves your natural tooth. Let's bust the biggest myths one by one.
Myth 1: “Root Canals Are Extremely Painful”
The truth is the opposite: the pain people remember is the infected tooth before treatment. The RCT itself is done under local anesthesia and most patients feel nothing beyond pressure. Many fall asleep in the chair - genuinely.
Myth 2: “It's Better to Just Remove the Tooth”
Nothing artificial matches a natural tooth for chewing feel and jawbone health. Extraction also creates a gap that needs an implant or bridge - usually costlier than the RCT that would have saved the tooth. We extract only when a tooth truly can't be saved.
Myth 3: “RCT Takes Many Long Appointments”
Most root canals at The Smile's Centre finish in one or two visits of about 60–90 minutes, thanks to modern rotary instruments and precise imaging. A crown appointment follows to protect the treated tooth.
Myth 4: “The Tooth Is Dead and Useless After RCT”
A root-canal-treated tooth, protected with a crown, chews everything a normal tooth does and can last decades - often a lifetime. You'll forget which tooth it was.
When Do You Actually Need One?
- Lingering pain after hot or cold food (not just a quick zing).
- Spontaneous toothache that wakes you at night.
- A pimple-like bump on the gum near a tooth.
- A tooth darkening after an old injury.
- Deep decay reaching the nerve - sometimes with no pain at all.
Have questions about your own case? A consultation at The Smile's Centre gives you a personal answer - book below or call 95812 10394.