![root of the tooth graphic](/thedentalsitecontent/1001955/blog/medium_The-Surprising-Truth-about-Root-Canals.jpg)
What if you found out that everything you thought you knew about root canals was wrong? For instance, what if we told you that getting a root canal isn't painful? Or that it’s a procedure that saves infected teeth from extraction?
We’ve all been conditioned to believe certain things about root canals, and while scary stories are great punchlines for jokes, they’re not reality-based. Your root canal dentist in Winston-Salem wants to separate fact from fiction so that you can see this critical, tooth-saving procedure for what it is.
Fact: Root Canals Don’t Cause Pain, They Relieve It
A common symptom of a root canal infection is pain. And not just any pain—an infected tooth can cause intense, throbbing pain that makes it difficult or impossible to function.
Getting a root canal removes the infection, which is the source of your discomfort. Unfortunately, the memories of pain linger, so when people think about their root canal, they usually remember the pain they were in before treatment. The fact is that root canals don't cause pain; they relieve it.
Fact: A Root Canal Procedure Is Not Painful
Before proceeding with your root canal in Winston-Salem, the first step is to administer a local anesthetic that numbs the area that your dentist is treating. Once you're numb, your toothache will disappear, and you won’t feel any pain at all during the procedure.
Fact: Root Canals Save Teeth from Extraction
A tooth infection won’t go away on its own. If your dentist doesn’t remove the infected root canal, the only option left is to extract the tooth to relieve your pain and prevent the infection from spreading and compromising other teeth.
Gentle Root Canal Treatment in Winston-Salem
At Tibbs Dental, we understand that you may be worried about an upcoming root canal, but we want to put your mind at ease. Your comfort is our priority, and Dr. Jeffrey Tibbs has performed hundreds of comfortable, successful root canals for our Winston-Salem, NC patients.
If you’re in pain, we will do our best to see you that day to provide the relief you need. Please call us at (336) 765-7477 to schedule an appointment