5 Common Root Canal Myths, Debunked
Root canals have an undeserved reputation. Decades of outdated stories, internet misinformation, and a single discredited researcher from the 1920s have created a level of anxiety around the procedure that doesn’t reflect modern endodontic care. If you’ve been putting off treatment because of something you heard or read, the facts below may change your thinking.
At West Atlanta Endodontics, Dr. Norrington and Dr. Smithson perform root canal therapy in Marietta, GA using surgical microscopes, cone beam CT imaging, and biocompatible materials. Most patients are surprised by how routine the experience actually feels — and how much better they feel once the source of the problem is gone.
Myth #1: Root canal treatment is painful.
The truth: Root canal treatment doesn’t cause pain — it ends it. The pain patients associate with root canals comes from the infected tooth itself, not the procedure. With modern local anesthesia and, when preferred, nitrous oxide sedation, the procedure is no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed. At West Atlanta Endodontics, patients routinely tell us they were far more anxious going in than they had any reason to be.
The American Association of Endodontists reports that patients who have experienced root canal treatment are six times more likely to describe it as painless than patients who have not had it. Once the infected pulp is removed, most people experience significant relief within the first 24 hours.
Endodontists are trained extensively in pain management — it’s one of the core competencies of the field. Dr. Norrington and Dr. Smithson take the time to ensure the area is completely numb before beginning. Patients who have experienced dental anxiety in the past are offered nitrous oxide throughout the appointment. There is no rushing, no watching the clock — the schedule at West Atlanta Endodontics is limited intentionally so every patient gets the time they need to feel comfortable before treatment starts.
Myth #2: Root canal treatment causes illness.
The truth: There is no valid scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to illness or systemic disease. This claim originates from the work of Dr. Weston A. Price in the 1920s — research that was criticized at the time it was published and formally discredited by the early 1930s. In 1951, the Journal of the American Dental Association published a comprehensive review of the scientific literature and concluded that endodontic treatment is safe, shifting the standard of practice back from extraction to tooth preservation.
More recent research has reinforced this. A 2013 study published in JAMA Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery found that patients with multiple endodontic treatments had a 45 percent reduced risk of certain head and neck cancers. The procedure eliminates bacterial infection from inside the tooth — it doesn’t spread it. The safety protocols used today, including biocompatible sealers and sterile technique, are a far cry from anything Dr. Price could have tested a century ago.
- The presence of bacteria in teeth and the mouth has been an accepted fact for many years. But the presence of bacteria does not constitute “infection” and is not necessarily a threat to a person’s health. Bacteria are present in the mouth and teeth at all times, even in teeth that have never had a cavity or other trauma. Research shows that the healthy immune system takes care of bacteria in a matter of minutes.
- Tooth extraction is a traumatic procedure and is known to cause a significantly higher incidence of bacteria entering the bloodstream; endodontic treatment confined to the root canal system produces much less trauma and a much lower incidence and magnitude of bacteria entering the blood stream.
- There is no adequate replacement for the natural tooth – it should be saved whenever possible. Root canal treatment, along with appropriate restoration, is a cost effective way to treat infected teeth because it is usually less expensive than extraction and placement of an implant. In most cases, endodontic treatment allows patients to keep their natural teeth for a lifetime.
The truth: During root canal treatment, only the pulp inside the tooth is removed — not the roots themselves. The roots remain fully intact, holding the tooth in its socket and maintaining the bone structure of the jaw. Think of it this way: the procedure cleans out the interior of the house without touching the foundation. After treatment, the tooth is sealed and eventually crowned by your general dentist, restoring full function with your natural root still in place.
The truth: A tooth can require root canal treatment even when there is no pain at all. The pulp can become infected or die gradually without producing obvious symptoms, particularly in teeth where the nerve has been damaged over time by deep decay or repeated dental work. Your general dentist may identify a problem on X-ray — a periapical shadow or lesion — that has no symptoms yet but requires treatment before it becomes a larger problem.
At West Atlanta Endodontics, Dr. Norrington and Dr. Smithson use cone beam CT imaging to identify these silent infections that standard X-rays can miss. Catching them early means a more straightforward procedure and a better long-term outcome. If your dentist has referred you for evaluation after a routine X-ray, that referral is worth following up on even if you feel completely fine.
Myth #3: Extraction is a good alternative to root canal treatment.
The truth: Saving your natural tooth is almost always the better long-term outcome. Nothing artificial fully replicates the function and feel of a natural tooth and its root. Extraction removes the infection but creates a new problem — without a tooth root in place, the surrounding jawbone begins to resorb over time, which can affect the stability of neighboring teeth and change the shape of the jaw.
Replacing an extracted tooth with an implant or bridge requires multiple procedures over several months and typically costs more than root canal treatment and a crown combined. Root canal therapy, when performed by an endodontist and followed by a proper crown, has a high long-term success rate — many treated teeth last a lifetime. If your general dentist has recommended extraction, it’s worth asking whether root canal treatment is an option before making that decision.
If you’ve been putting off a referral because of something you heard about root canals, the reality of modern endodontic care is very different from the reputation. Dr. Norrington and Dr. Smithson perform root canal therapy in Marietta, GA with a focus on comfort, precision, and giving every tooth the best chance at long-term survival. Same-day emergency appointments are available. Contact West Atlanta Endodontics to schedule your evaluation.
Root Canal Myths: Frequently Asked Questions
Does root canal treatment cause pain?
No. Root canal treatment relieves pain rather than causing it. The discomfort patients associate with root canals comes from the infected tooth itself, not the procedure. With modern local anesthesia, the treatment area is fully numb before anything begins. At West Atlanta Endodontics, nitrous oxide sedation is also available for patients who experience dental anxiety. Most patients leave feeling significantly better than when they arrived.
Can a root canal cause illness or systemic disease?
No. There is no credible scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to illness. This claim traces almost entirely to discredited research from the 1920s that was formally rejected by the 1930s. The American Heart Association updated its guidelines in 2007 and found no evidence that endodontic treatment poses any systemic health risk. Root canal therapy eliminates bacterial infection from inside the tooth.
Is extraction a better option than getting a root canal?
In most cases, no. Saving your natural tooth is almost always the better long-term outcome. Extraction removes the problem but creates a new one: the gap must be filled with an implant or bridge to prevent bone loss and neighboring teeth from shifting. That process is typically more costly and time-consuming than root canal therapy followed by a crown. A successfully treated tooth can last as long as natural teeth.
Does a root canal remove the roots of the tooth?
No. During root canal treatment, only the infected pulp tissue inside the tooth is removed. The roots themselves remain fully intact in the jaw. The procedure cleans the interior canals, seals them with biocompatible material, and preserves the tooth's root structure. After treatment, a crown placed by your general dentist restores full function with the natural root still in place.
Do I need a root canal if my tooth doesn't hurt?
Possibly. A tooth can require root canal treatment even with no pain at all. The pulp can become infected or die gradually without obvious symptoms. Your dentist may identify a periapical lesion on X-ray before any symptoms develop. At West Atlanta Endodontics, cone beam CT imaging identifies these silent infections that standard X-rays can miss, allowing for earlier and more straightforward treatment.