4 Encouraging Facts About Root Canals

Root canals get a really bad rap. When someone talks about needing a root canal, people around them tend to cringe — they think of root canals as some kind of painful punishment that will be a terrible experience.  

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The fact is that a root canal is a tooth-saving dental procedure that delivers many benefits. Consider yourself fortunate to live in a time when you have access to such an effective dental treatment.

If you cringe at the thought of having a root canal, it’s time to educate yourself about this procedure. Keith Bram, DDS, at Doc Bram in Lisle, Illinois, is happy to help. Here, he shares four encouraging facts about root canals. Instead of fearing your root canal, you can look forward to improved oral health.

1. A root canal saves your tooth

Doc Bram performs root canal treatment on teeth that have experienced serious damage, decay, or infection. The alternative to root canal is often extraction of the tooth — but it’s always best to keep your natural teeth whenever possible.

In other words, getting a root canal can save you from needing to have your tooth removed.

2. A root canal treats dental infections

If you have a serious dental infection, known as abscess, you can’t just cross your fingers and hope it clears up on its own. Tooth abscesses are usually caused by tooth decay, gum disease, or a crack in your tooth, which can allow bacteria to enter your tooth.

Left untreated, abscesses can cause pain, swelling, and tooth loss. Sometimes, antibiotics can treat an abscess. But when other treatments don’t work, a root canal can clear up the infection, relieve your symptoms, and save the tooth.

3. A root canal causes little or no pain

Talk about misunderstandings! Root canal procedures, which are sometimes thought about as the pinnacle of pain, cause little or no pain themselves. That’s because Doc Bram uses the latest pain-prevention techniques to numb the tooth and the area around it so you’re comfortable throughout the procedure.

In fact, patients often talk about how thankful they are after undergoing a root canal because they no longer experience the pain caused by the dental problem that brought them to Doc Bram in the first place. Rather than pain, they feel relief.

4. A root canal repair can last a lifetime

With proper care, your root canal repair can last forever. With daily brushing and flossing, regular dental care, and avoiding habits such as chewing on ice, your treated tooth can stay healthy and strong.

Don’t let misunderstandings about root canals hold you back from this beneficial dental treatment. To schedule a consultation, call Doc Bram at 630-963-9280 or book an appointment online.