Root Canal Myths
The procedure has a reputation it no longer deserves. Here is what is actually true.
Myth: root canals are painful
The pain people remember is the infection, not the treatment. With modern anesthetic, a root canal feels much like getting a filling and usually relieves pain immediately.
Myth: it is better to pull the tooth
Nothing functions as well as your own tooth. Extraction leads to bone loss and shifting, and replacement with an implant or bridge costs more.
Myth: root canals cause illness
This claim traces to discredited research from the 1920s. Decades of evidence show no link between root canal treatment and systemic disease.
What to actually expect
One or two visits, numbing, cleaning of the canal, a seal, and then a crown to protect the now-hollow tooth from fracture.
Written by the team at Uptown Dentistry, led by Dr. Nicki Tajalli, DDS, in Uptown Houston. This article is general information, not a substitute for an exam.