Patients might experience some stress when they're going through a root canal treatment. The more informed patients are, the less stressful it will be to address their dental problems and restore their dental health. 

There is unfortunately some misinformation out there about root canals. The following are six things you shouldn't assume about undergoing a root canal. 

You're better off having your tooth pulled and replaced rather than having a root canal done.

Some patients think that having a tooth pulled will be easier and more comfortable than undergoing a root canal. However, it's always best to save your natural teeth whenever possible.

Having an infected tooth removed rather than repaired with a root canal can have a negative impact on your dental health by causing the positioning of your teeth and bite to shift. A root canal is the best solution to restore your dental health. 

You have to go to numerous dental appointments that take a long time as part of having a root canal done.

With modern dental technology, a root canal can be carried out remarkably quickly. In some cases, you might even be able to get the entire procedure taken care of in only one appointment. 

You don't really need a root canal if you're not experiencing any tooth pain at the moment.

If your dentist tells you that you need a root canal, you need to listen to your dentist even if you're not experiencing any pain. A tooth can be severely decayed to the point of needing a root canal even in situations where the patient hasn't experienced any pain or discomfort. 

You're still going to lose your tooth even if you have a root canal done.

The root canal procedure is the best way to save a severely infected tooth. A tooth that is properly restored through root canal treatment can last for the rest of a patient's life if he or she practices good oral hygiene. 

You don't need to worry about your affected tooth anymore after your root canal procedure.

Patients need to pay attention to the tooth on which they had a root canal performed in the days and weeks after the procedure. Patients should focus on carefully brushing and flossing around this tooth to make sure that it has been fully restored to a healthy condition. 

Root canals leave you susceptible to illness.

There is a common myth out there that getting a root canal is unhealthy and leaves a patient susceptible to infections that can cause various types of illness. Fortunately, this is a myth that has long been debunked. Undergoing a root canal won't have any adverse impact on a patient's overall health.  

For more information about root canals, contact a local dentist.