YOU HAVE JUST LEFT your general dentist’s practice, where you’ve been informed that you require a root canal. Chances are you started scrolling immediately through the world wide web to learn as much information as possible.
The internet is an incredible place to gather information in today’s world. Still, it can also be plagued with dangerous misinformation from unreliable sources.
Whitby Endodontics would like to break these outdated stigmas. The root canal procedure has been advancing for years and is nothing to be afraid of. The following are common questions associated with the procedure that we would love to debunk:
Is a Root Canal Painful?
There is a stigma that root canals are an excruciating dental procedure. But what you need to understand is that the therapy is performed to relieve severe tooth pain. The treatment procedure itself should not cause any pain at all.
Dentists or endodontists use local anesthesia to numb the tooth and its surrounding areas before the procedure. So, you should feel no pain at all during the process. The anesthetic turns off the nerve signals that tell your brain something hurts. However, mild pain and discomfort are typical for a few days after the procedure.
Root canals are needed when a cavity spreads to your tooth’s pulp and causes an inflammation or infection. This inflammation is where the pain comes from, not the procedure itself. The procedure saves your natural tooth and avoids extraction.
Is Tooth Extraction a Better Option?
Sometimes, patients opt for a tooth extraction to avoid spending extra time and money on a root canal procedure. Unfortunately, a patient may not understand that a tooth extraction will eventually require more extensive dental work and costly tooth replacements.
It is always better to try and preserve the tooth. Even though there have been significant advances in dental implants, there is still no equivalent replacement for the natural tooth. Also, extraction and implantation are way more expensive and significantly more painful.
Often, dentists recommend dental extraction when root canal treatment is still an option. For this reason, it’s essential to consult an endodontist for a second opinion. Doing this will ensure the best possible endodontic treatment plan for you.
Can Root Canals Cause Cancer?
There is a myth that claims 90% of cancer patients have had a root canal treatment in the past. Even though it has gained popularity thanks to the internet, no research supports this claim. Root canal treatments save the tooth structure.
The correlation is most likely that cancerous infections and inflammation lead to a need for root canals instead of the other way around. Plenty of research shows a link between chronic infection, inflammation, and cancer.
We hope debunking a few myths will help you make a better decision about the future of your smile. At Whitby Endodontics, we have your best interest at heart. Call us if you have questions or concerns about saving your teeth.
We look forward to meeting you in the new year.