Few dental words cause as much anxiety as root canal. For many people it is automatically linked with severe pain. The truth is very different, and often the opposite. Root canal treatment does not cause the pain: it stops it, while saving your natural tooth.
In this guide we separate the most common myths from reality, as we explain it every day to our patients at DentLux Clinic in Aglantzia.
What root canal treatment really is
Inside every tooth is the pulp, a tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, because of deep decay, a crack or an injury, it causes pain and a risk of abscess. Root canal treatment removes the affected pulp, cleans the inside of the tooth and seals it, so you can keep your own tooth instead of losing it.
Myth 1: it hurts terribly
This is the most widespread myth, and the most unfair. The treatment is done under local anaesthetic, so you do not feel pain during it. The real pain is usually what brought you to the dentist, and the root canal is what relieves it. The sensation during treatment is much like that of an ordinary filling.
Myth 2: it is better to have the tooth out
An extraction seems like a quick fix, but the gap left by a lost tooth creates new problems: neighbouring teeth drift, chewing becomes harder, and a more complex restoration such as a bridge or an implant is often needed later. Saving the natural tooth is almost always the better choice when it is possible.
Myth 3: once you have had a root canal, you will always have problems
A tooth that has had proper root canal treatment and is suitably protected, often with a crown, can work normally for many years. It is not a damaged tooth. It is a tooth that has been saved.
When not to wait
Some signs mean you need to be seen promptly:
- Persistent pain that does not go away or wakes you at night.
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold that does not fade quickly.
- Swelling or tenderness in the gum around a tooth.
- Dark discolouration of a tooth, or a pimple-like bump on the gum.
The earlier the problem is treated, the greater the chance of saving the tooth simply and without complications.
What about GESY
Root canal treatment, as a specialised treatment for adults, is not covered by GESY, which focuses on basic check-ups and cleanings. At DentLux we explain the cost clearly before any treatment starts, so there are no surprises.
Do not live with the pain
If you recognise any of these signs, do not wait for it to get worse. Pain that is ignored rarely goes away by itself and usually gets worse. Contact DentLux Clinic in Aglantzia, Nicosia, to book an appointment as soon as possible, and let us see how we can relieve you and save your tooth.
