The thought of a root canal treatment may make some people fearful or anxious if they aren’t familiar with the procedure.
The most common reason for a root canal treatment is to clean an infection in the pulp.The most common reason for root canal treatment is to remove an infection from the pulp. If left untreated, an infected tooth may develop an abscess, cause progressive bone loss around the root, spread to surrounding tissues, and ultimately require extraction. According to Dr. Tien Jiang, Assistant Professor of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, untreated infection can also create pressure on the surrounding bone and ligaments that support the tooth, which is why it can be so painful.
There is a common misconception that root canal treatment causes pain or illness and should be avoided at all costs, and that the tooth should be extracted to relieve the pain. The truth is quite the opposite. The pain and cost of avoiding endodontic treatment in favor of tooth extraction can be easily avoided.The longer you postpone treatment, the more you risk the chance to save your tooth.
Is root canal treatment actually painful?
That may have been the case decades ago, but with modern technology and anesthetics, you won’t feel any pain.In addition, endodontists are professionals in pain management, and most cases can be treated comfortably in a short time. Even some dentists will prescribe antibiotics before the procedure to soothe the infection, since a severely infected tooth is a little harder to numb.Antibiotics are not routinely required before root canal treatment. They may be prescribed in selected cases, such as spreading infection, swelling, or systemic involvement.
Who needs a root canal treatment?
Common symptoms that may indicate the need for root canal treatment include persistent toothache, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks, pain when chewing, swelling of the gums, tooth discoloration, or the presence of a pimple-like swelling on the gum.Sometimes the patient may not have any symptoms, but an x-ray will show deep decay or an infection in their tooth.
Can root canal treatment cause illness?
This false claim was based on long-debunked and poorly designed research conducted in the early 1950s, long before modern medicine understood the actual causes of many diseases. There is no valid, scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to cancer or disease elsewhere in the body. In reality, a study by Tezal et al. in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery investigated the relationship between dental caries and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). It found that there is an inverse association between HNSCC and dental caries: individuals with higher rates of tooth decay(caries) were actually less likely to develop cancer. While this finding does not suggest that tooth decay is protective, it demonstrates that the relationship between oral health and cancer is more complex than commonly assumed and does not support claims that root canal treatment causes cancer.there is no scientifically established link between root canal treatment and cancer or systemic disease.
Is extracting the infected tooth a better option?
In modern dentistry, saving teeth is the number one priority because nothing artificial can replace the appearance or function of a natural tooth, so it’s important to always consider root canal treatment and dental restoration as a better option.Endodontic treatment has a high success rate. It takes less time than extraction and replacing the tooth with a bridge or an implant. Wigsten et al did a study about the cost-effectiveness of root canal treatment compared with tooth extraction in a Swedish Public Dental Service and found that tooth extraction was more cost-effective in the short term than preserving a tooth by RCT. However, in the long term, the need for future replacement of extracted teeth, by implants, fixed prostheses, or removable partial dentures, may change the balance in favor of RCT.
Does Root Canal Treatment Remove the Roots of the Tooth?
No, dentists just remove the dead tissues from the tooth, then they do effective cleaning and disinfection inside the tooth, and finally they seal the space with restorative material to prevent bacteria from entering the tooth. The roots of the tooth are not removed.
In conclusion, root canal treatment is a safe, effective, and highly successful procedure for saving infected teeth. When performed properly and followed by appropriate restoration, such as a crown when indicated, treated teeth can function for decades or even a lifetime. Preserving a natural tooth is generally the preferred option because natural teeth provide the best function, sensation, and aesthetics. Mild tenderness for a few days after treatment is normal and can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers, allowing most patients to return to their normal activities the same day or the following day.
Reference:
https://www.aae.org/patients/root-canal-treatment/myths-root-canals/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/need-a-root-canal-heres-what-to-expect
Tezal M, Scannapieco FA, Wactawski-Wende J, Meurman JH, Marshall JR, Rojas IG, Stoler DL, Genco RJ. Dental caries and head and neck cancers. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Oct;139(10):1054-60. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2013.4569. PMID: 24030728.
Wigsten, E., Kvist, T., Husberg, M., & Davidson, T. (2023). Cost-effectiveness of root canal treatment compared with tooth extraction in a Swedish Public Dental Service: A prospective controlled cohort study. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research, 9(4), 661-669. https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.759
