If that’s your first thought when your dentist mentions root canal treatment, you can stop and think again. Root canal treatment isn’t really as bad as you might think. You may have heard horror stories years ago about root canals or seen something on a sitcom, but root canals aren’t any worse than getting your tooth filled. Take the true and false quiz below to find out how much you know about root canals and if you really need to say “A root canal? Really?”
True or False?
- True or False: Eight-nine percent of patients who receive root canals are dissatisfied.
- True or False: Many people avoid the dentist because they fear root canals.
- True or False: A tooth cannot survive without the pulp.
- True or False: All you need is a tiny crack and the pulp of your tooth can become damaged.
Answers:
- False: Quite the opposite is true. Actually 89 percent of patients who receive root canals are satisfied with their treatment. When you consider that there are 41,000 root canals performed on a daily basis, that is a lot of people.
- True: The root of the tooth is commonly referred to as “the nerve,” because it contains the pulp of the tooth. The pulp is the only living part of a tooth and consists of nerves, blood vessels, and live tissue. It is extremely sensitive. Maybe that is why people are afraid of root canal therapy.
- False: Once the tooth is fully developed, it can survive without the pulp. Sometimes the pulp of a tooth can become irritated, inflamed or infected. If this happens a root canal is necessary to remove the pulp and save the tooth.
- True: Pulp can become infected if bacteria enter through a chip or a crack. Pulp can also become damaged due to trauma, decay, or repeated dental procedures.
ABOUT YOUR GRAND PRAIRIE DENTIST:
Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, restorative, and family dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you and your family are new or returning patients, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.
