Meyer & Johns Dental Blog

Advice and Education on Your Dental Health

The Truth About Root Canals

3d renderings of endodontics - root canal procedure

The dreaded root canal.

The truth is, although the procedure generally takes a bit longer than a standard filling, they aren’t that bad, and are far better than the alternative: losing the tooth entirely.

Why Would I Need a Root Canal?

When the pulp of a tooth—the nerves, blood vessels, and other soft tissue at the center of your teeth—becomes infected, that infection must be removed to prevent it from spreading to the jaw, and potentially other teeth. Infections usually reach this area through injury or deep cavities.

Before root canal procedures became common, removing infection meant removing the infected tooth entirely.

But by carefully removing the pulp and replacing it with a hard, permanent filler, your dentist can save infected teeth and fit them with a crown. After a root canal, treated teeth can last decades, or even a lifetime, if properly cared for.

We try to do everything we can to maintain your healthy, natural teeth whenever possible, and although there are alternatives to root canals, all of them begin with extracting the infected tooth, and that’s not any fun either.

How Can I Avoid Root Canals?

Of course, the best way to avoid the necessity of this kind of restorative work is to maintain good dental hygiene: brush & floss daily, and see the dentist twice each year.

If, however, you’ve noticed swelling in the gums or cheek around a tooth, have developed a sudden sensitivity to heat or cold, or are experiencing tooth pain (while chewing or otherwise), it’s best to let us have a look. We’ll investigate and advise you on the best course of action to take for you and your mouth.