Don’t Believe the Myths About Root Canals in Stillwater
When performed by a skilled specialist such as Dr. Ernest Reeh, root canals are a very beneficial treatment. He and our staff work hard to make sure that every patient receives the best and most gentle care possible. However, many patients focus on the myths about root canals in Stillwater. First of all, here are a few key benefits of having your root canal procedure performed at River Valley Endodontics:

There are lots of myths about root canals. All you have to do is Google root canals, and you'll find a variety of varied and interesting stuff. The biggest thing about root canals, the biggest misconception is that they're painful. In the hands of somebody who can get you totally numb, they are actually boring and uneventful. A number of my patients even will fall asleep during the course of care. We've even had people snoring in the midst of doing their root canals. Whether it's dentistry or any aspect of healthcare, when you're totally numb, the procedure is really rather uneventful.
That's basically what's going to happen with your root canal here. There are other myths that root canals don't work. Every procedure has different success rate. The success rate of root canals in the hands of a specialist is very high. A lot of it comes down to skill, experience, technique. That's what specialists are all about, is making sure that you get the optimum levels of care so that we can provide successful outcomes for you. And yet there are still a small percentage of cases that don't work, that there are still other means that we can use to still work to help you preserve your tooth.
- A dedicated team that will ensure your comfort
- Dr. Reeh’s board certification and three-plus decades of practice experience
- A modern facility with advanced technology like a 3-D CT scanner and digital X-rays
- Multiple methods of sedation, including laughing gas or a small, FDA-approved pill
If your tooth is aching, now is the time to do something about it. Call our office today at 651-370-9498 to schedule a consultation and exam.
Understand the Facts on Root Canals
Modern root canals are a beneficial service that helps patients get out of pain while saving their diseased tooth. During a root canal procedure, Dr. Reeh will clean out the diseased portion of your tooth, sterilize it, and fill it with a rubber-like material to prevent reinfection.
The bad news is that there are many misconceptions about root canals. Below are three of the most common:
Myth #1 – Root Canals Cause Pain
Rather than create more pain for you, modern root canals are actually designed to stop your dental pain. Removing the diseased part of the tooth, known as the pulp, will get you out of pain and help you feel better. With total numbing and our sedation options, our patients routinely report that their root canal procedure was completely pain-free.
Myth #2 – Root Canal Treatment Causes Illness
This myth is based on unreliable research from the early part of the 20th century. The research concluded that a root canal can allow bacteria to enter the body and cause other diseases, including heart disease and kidney disease. Over the last century, many trustworthy studies have disproven this theory.
Myth #3 – Extraction Is a Better Alternative to a Root Canal
During the period when it was believed that root canals led to bacteria reaching other parts of the body, teeth extractions were recommended over endodontic care. However, an extraction actually has a greater chance of allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream than a root canal does. Plus, when a tooth is extracted, it needs to be replaced with either an implant or a bridge so your other teeth don’t shift positions.
If you have any questions regarding these myths about root canals in Stillwater, don’t hesitate to give our team a call at 651-370-9498. To make an appointment, either call us or make one .