While root canals have allowed millions of patients to regain their comfort and achieve excellent oral health after severe dental infections, there are many popular misconceptions floating around that might discourage people from receiving the treatment. This is especially unfortunate since neglecting a necessary root canal can lead to serious oral and overall health problems. Here’s a quick look at a few common falsehoods about root canals as well as the truth about these effective procedures.
Falsehood One: Root Canals Are Agonizing
If you’ve ever seen a root canal portrayed on television or in a movie, it was probably depicted as a horrible ordeal that left the patient in terrible pain. While these portrayals can be quite funny, they are not accurate representations of the procedure. The truth is that root canals are rendered completely painless with anesthetic treatments, and patients can also receive sedation treatments if they need extra help staying calm and still throughout the procedure.
Falsehood Two: Root Canals Cause Cancer
In the 1920s, Dr. Weston A. Price published his theory about root canals causing cancer and recommended that patients have infected teeth removed instead. While this claim has been thoroughly debunked from every conceivable angle, there are still some people spreading similar claims on the Internet. The truth is that root canals do not cause cancer and can prevent serious oral health issues by eliminating destructive oral infections that may spread to other parts of the body.
Falsehood Three: Only Painful Teeth Need Root Canals
While it may be easier to accept that you need a root canal if you have a miserable toothache, you may question whether you need the procedure if your mouth seems perfectly comfortable. The truth is that teeth sometimes require root canals even if no pain is present. This can be because severe pain is imminent due to advanced dental decay, injury exposing the pulp of the tooth to the oral environment, or the infection causing a toothache killing the nerve ending in the tooth.
Don’t let a few tired misconceptions dissuade you from receiving a treatment that can preserve your tooth and eliminate a destructive oral infection. If your dentist recommends a root canal, you can rest assured that it is in your best interest.
About the Practice
Petty Dental offers exemplary oral healthcare to the community of Tullahoma. Led by Drs. John and Jackson Petty, the staff treats each patient with courtesy, respect, and compassion. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry such as root canals. To learn more about the benefits of root canals, contact the office online or dial (931) 454-9499.