{"id":1521,"date":"2024-12-05T21:30:50","date_gmt":"2024-12-05T21:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/blog\/?p=1521"},"modified":"2025-01-22T21:31:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T21:31:05","slug":"myths-about-root-canal-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/blog\/myths-about-root-canal-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Popular Myths About Root Canals, Debunked!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Smiling-dentist-talking-to-patient-during-exam-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Smiling dentist talking to patient during exam\" class=\"wp-image-1522\" style=\"width:315px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Smiling-dentist-talking-to-patient-during-exam-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Smiling-dentist-talking-to-patient-during-exam-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Smiling-dentist-talking-to-patient-during-exam-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Smiling-dentist-talking-to-patient-during-exam-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Smiling-dentist-talking-to-patient-during-exam-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Over the years, you may have heard a lot about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/root-canals.html\">root canal treatment<\/a>, like that it\u2019s painful, that it can make you sick, or that it\u2019s better to have the tooth extracted. But is that fact or fiction? Read on to learn five myths about root canal treatment that simply aren\u2019t true!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Myth #1: Root Canal Treatment Hurts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is one of the most prevalent myths about root canals. The truth is that the pain patients experience is actually the result of the infection. Plus, although every treatment plan is unique, the first step is always the same: numbing the patient\u2019s mouth so they don\u2019t experience any discomfort in the treatment chair. So, if you\u2019ve been putting off scheduling an appointment because you\u2019re worried getting a root canal will hurt, you don\u2019t have to worry \u2013 it won\u2019t!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Myth #2: Root Canals Make You Sick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This misconception stems from research conducted in the early 20th century by a dentist named Dr. Weston Price. However, this study was poorly conducted, his findings have been disproven on several occasions, and there is currently no scientific evidence supporting the idea that root canals can make you sick. In fact, the opposite is true: if you don\u2019t get the care you need when you need it, the infection can spread throughout your mouth and to the rest of your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Myth #3: It\u2019s Better to Have the Tooth Extracted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal is always the same: to save your natural teeth. That\u2019s why extractions are reserved for only the most extreme cases, like when the tooth is damaged to the point where it can no longer be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also important to note that tooth extractions usually aren\u2019t cheaper (although it may seem like they are at first) because you need to factor in the cost of the dental bridge or implant needed to fill the open space in your smile moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Myth #4: You Only Need a Root Canal If You\u2019re in Pain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While pain is a common warning sign of a badly damaged tooth, it\u2019s not the only one. That\u2019s why patients are encouraged to keep an eye out for other abnormal dental symptoms, like dark discoloration on a tooth, swollen gums, or persistent sensitivity. If you\u2019re unsure if you need a root canal, the best thing to do is schedule a consultation with your dentist so they can conduct an exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Myth #5: You Can\u2019t Prevent Root Canals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is: preventive care is crucial. So, if you haven\u2019t already, commit to good oral hygiene habits at home, like brushing for two minutes each time and flossing every night before bed. Scheduling a dental checkup twice a year, wearing a mouthguard during sports, not using tobacco products, and limiting sugary and starchy foods is important as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our team at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/\">EMA Dental<\/a> is here to help patients when they need it most. So, if it hurts to bite down, you\u2019re struggling with considerable sensitivity, or you\u2019re dealing with any other abnormal dental symptoms, don\u2019t hesitate to contact us via our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emadental.com\/contact-us.html\">website<\/a> or give us a call. We\u2019re open five days a week, and we do our best to schedule same-day appointments for patients in pain!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the years, you may have heard a lot about root canal treatment, like that it\u2019s painful, that it can make you sick, or that it\u2019s better to have the tooth extracted. But is that fact or fiction? Read on to learn five myths about root canal treatment that simply aren\u2019t true!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5 Popular Myths About Root Canals, Debunked!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When it comes to something as important as your oral health, it\u2019s important to know what\u2019s fact and what\u2019s fiction. 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