The Truth About Root Canal Therapy
Many dental myths persist, even in this age of modern technology. This is especially true with root canal therapy. According to the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), misconceptions about this branch of dentistry and its most common procedure remain. Too many patients fail to realize that the goal of this treatment is to preserve the teeth for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, missing or incomplete information prevents some people from attaining the dental health they deserve. Here are some common myths that you may have heard about root canal treatment compared with the facts.
Myth 1: Root canal treatment is painful.
The only pain generally associated with root canal therapy is not the procedure itself but the underlying reason for the treatment: tooth decay or infected or diseased tissue. Root canal treatment removes damaged tissue from the tooth, relieving pain in the process.
Myth 2: Root canal treatment can spread infection.
Not true. Root canal procedures generally have a much lower incidence of bacteria entering the bloodstream than tooth extraction, and they cause much less discomfort for the patient. Another myth links root canal to cancer, but multiple studies show no such cause; in fact, research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) also found that patients who have had multiple endodontic treatments have a 45 percent lower risk of cancer than patients who have not.
Myth 3: It’s better to just extract problem teeth.
By saving the natural tooth whenever possible, endodontists help patients preserve their teeth and avoid further treatments in the future. Root canal treatment has an extremely high success rate and can often allow the natural tooth to last a lifetime. Pulling a tooth, while sometimes necessary, is linked to a higher incidence of bacteria entering the bloodstream.
If you still experience anxiety about the prospect of root canal treatment, there is another option you may consider: sedation dentistry. Whether you have sensitive teeth that make treatment difficult, prohibitive anxiety that keeps you out of the dental chair, or multiple treatments that need to be done in one sitting, sedation dentistry can remove the worry from dental care.
Don’t let dental anxiety prevent you from receiving the quality care you deserve. Our qualified endodontic team is fully certified to offer sedation dentistry. Turn a potentially stressful trip to the dentist into a relaxing experience while receiving the care you need. To learn more about our sedation offerings, contact our Louisville Endodontist today!
Scott A. Norton, DMD of Louisville
Phone: (502) 899-5559
Url: https://www.drscottnorton.com/
4010 Dupont Circle, Suite #276
Louisville, KY 40207