Debunking the Myths: Why Root Canals Don't Actually Hurt

For decades, root canals have been the punchline of jokes about pain and misery. The mere mention of the procedure sends shivers down many patients' spines. But is this reputation deserved in 2025?

The short answer is no. Modern dentistry has transformed root canal therapy from a dreaded ordeal into a routine, comfortable procedure that is often no more painful than getting a filling.

This is the biggest myth of all. In reality, root canals **relieve** pain. The severe toothache you feel is caused by the infection inside your tooth attacking the nerve. The root canal procedure removes that infected nerve, instantly eliminating the source of your pain.

With modern local anesthetics, the area is completely numbed before the dentist even starts. Most patients report feeling nothing more than pressure during the treatment.

Some people think extraction is a faster, cheaper solution. While pulling a tooth might be quicker initially, replacing it is not. An extraction leaves a gap that can cause other teeth to shift, affecting your bite and smile.

Replacing a missing tooth with an implant or bridge is significantly more expensive and time-consuming than saving your natural tooth with a root canal. Your natural tooth is always the best option for chewing and biting.

You might expect days of downtime, but most patients return to school or work the very next day. You may experience some tenderness in the jaw or mild sensitivity for a few days, but this is typically manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen.

This debunked theory dates back to research from the 1920s (long before modern medicine understood the causes of disease). There is absolutely no valid scientific evidence linking root canal-treated teeth to disease elsewhere in the body. In fact, removing the infection from your mouth improves your overall systemic health.

Don't let fear of an outdated myth stop you from saving your tooth. If you have a toothache, a root canal is the quickest path back to a pain-free life.