You have a toothache that won’t quit. It throbs when you drink coffee. It aches when you try to sleep. Deep down, you know something is wrong. But the moment someone says “root canal,” your brain shuts down.
You start bargaining. Maybe it will go away. Maybe you can just take more ibuprofen. Maybe you can wait until next month, next year, or never.
This is how myths about root canals cause real harm. They keep people in pain for weeks or months when relief could come in a single appointment.
Let’s break down the seven biggest root canal myths and replace them with what actually happens in 2026.
This is the big one. It’s also the most outdated.
The idea that root canals hurt comes from a time before modern anesthetics and dental technology. Decades ago, the procedure was rough. Today, it’s not.
Here’s what actually happens: Your dentist numbs the area completely before starting. Most patients say the procedure feels like getting a filling. Some feel nothing at all. The pain you felt before the root canal? That came from the infected tooth. The procedure itself removes that pain.
A 2021 study in the Journal of Endodontics found that patients rated their pain during root canal treatment as mild. Many said it was less painful than they expected.
The truth is simple. The infection hurts. The treatment stops the hurt.
Some people think extraction is the easier choice. Why save a tooth when you can just remove it?
This logic misses what happens next.
When you lose a tooth, the teeth around it start to shift. Your bite changes. Chewing becomes harder on one side. The bone where the tooth used to be starts to shrink. Over time, this can change the shape of your face.
Replacing a missing tooth costs more than saving it. A dental implant or bridge requires multiple appointments and a bigger investment. A root canal with a crown keeps your natural tooth in place. Your natural tooth is almost always the best option when it can be saved.
This myth comes from research done in the 1920s by a dentist named Weston Price. He claimed that root canals left bacteria in the body that caused diseases like heart problems and arthritis.
His research was flawed. It used methods that no scientist would accept today. No peer-reviewed study in the past 100 years has found a link between root canals and systemic disease.
The American Association of Endodontists, the American Dental Association, and researchers worldwide have all rejected this claim. Root canals are safe. Millions of them are performed every year without causing illness.
If you see this myth online, check the source. It’s usually a website selling “natural” alternatives or promoting tooth extraction as a health cure. Neither claim holds up to science.
Pain is not always a reliable signal.
Sometimes a tooth dies slowly. The nerve stops sending pain signals even though infection is spreading. You might feel fine while bacteria are damaging the bone around your tooth root.
This is why regular dental exams matter. X-rays can show infection that you cannot feel. A dentist can spot problems before they become emergencies.
Waiting for pain is a risky strategy. By the time a dead tooth starts hurting again, the infection may have spread. Treatment becomes more complex. Recovery takes longer.
Modern root canal treatment is faster than most people think.
Many root canals are finished in one visit. The appointment typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Complex cases with curved roots or multiple canals might need a second visit, but this is less common than it used to be.
Advanced imaging and rotary instruments have changed the process. Dentists can now see the entire root structure clearly and clean it more efficiently. What once took three or four visits can often be done in one.
If time is your concern, know that delaying treatment usually means more time in the chair later. An infection that spreads may need emergency care, antibiotics, and additional procedures.
Some people believe that a tooth with a root canal will fail within a few years. This isn’t accurate.
Studies show that root canal treated teeth can last a lifetime with proper care. A 2022 review in the International Endodontic Journal found success rates above 95% for teeth that were properly restored after treatment.
The key word is “restored.” A root canal removes the infected pulp and seals the inside of the tooth. But the tooth itself becomes more brittle over time without its living tissue. That’s why most teeth need a crown after a root canal. The crown protects the tooth from cracking.
When a root canal “fails,” it’s often because the tooth cracked from chewing forces, or because decay formed around an old filling. These problems are preventable with good follow-up care.
Antibiotics fight infection. They do not fix damaged teeth.
If you have an infected tooth, antibiotics can reduce swelling and pain temporarily. They can help you feel better for a few days or weeks. But they cannot remove the dead tissue inside your tooth. They cannot clean out the bacteria living in the root canals.
Once the antibiotic course ends, the infection returns. It always does. The bacteria are protected inside the tooth where your immune system and medications cannot reach them.
Antibiotics are a tool to manage infection before or after treatment. They are not a substitute for root canal therapy.
Fear is powerful. When something scares us, we look for reasons to avoid it. Myths give us permission to delay.
The internet makes this worse. Search for “root canal dangers” and you’ll find alarming articles written by people with no dental training. These articles spread because fear gets clicks.
Meanwhile, the people who had easy, painless root canals don’t write blog posts about it. They just go back to their lives. You don’t hear their stories because there’s nothing dramatic to tell.
Dental anxiety is real and valid. If you’ve been avoiding treatment because you’re scared, here are some practical steps:
Tell your dentist how you feel. A good dental team will adjust their approach. They can explain each step before it happens. They can check in with you during the procedure. They can offer breaks if you need them.
Ask about sedation options. Many practices offer nitrous oxide or oral sedation for anxious patients. You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through treatment.
Focus on the outcome. One appointment can end months of pain. One appointment can save a tooth you’d otherwise lose. One appointment can stop an infection before it spreads.
Root canal myths cause real suffering. They keep people in pain. They lead to lost teeth that could have been saved. They turn simple problems into complex ones.
Modern root canal treatment is nothing like the horror stories. It’s a routine procedure that relieves pain, saves teeth, and prevents serious complications.
If you have a toothache that won’t go away, don’t let old myths make the decision for you.
Ready to get answers about your tooth pain? Contact Luka Dental Care to book a consultation. We’ll explain exactly what’s happening and what your options are, with no pressure and no judgment.
