• Myth #1. Root canal treatment is painful.

False. A root canal does not cause pain. In fact, root canals are performed to relieve pain caused by inflammation of the pulp chamber (where the nerve is located) or a dental infection. The belief that a root canal hurts goes way back in the past. With modern anesthesia, this procedure is no more painful than doing a filling.

• Myth #2. Root canal treatment causes illness.

False. Root canal treatment is a safe and effective procedure. It was once thought that root canal treatments contributed to the occurrence of illness and disease in the body. This claim – which emerged in the early 1900s by Dr. Prince – has since been proven to be untrue. Root canal treatments carried out by experienced Endodontists, using the latest techniques and materials, do not cause illness, and there is a wealth of clinical evidence to support this claim.

• Myth #3. A good alternative to root canal treatment is extraction (pulling the tooth).

False. Saving your natural teeth, if possible, is the very best option.

Nothing can completely replace your natural tooth. An artificial tooth can sometimes cause you to avoid certain foods. Keeping your own teeth is important so that you can continue to enjoy the wide variety of foods necessary to maintain the proper nutrient balance in your diet.

Endodontic treatment, along with appropriate restoration, is a cost-effective way to treat teeth with damaged pulp and is usually less expensive than extraction and placement of a bridge or an implant. Placement of a bridge or an implant will require significantly more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to adjacent teeth and supporting tissues.

Endodontic treatment also has a very high success rate. Many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime.

Millions of healthy endodontically treated teeth serve patients all over the world, years and years after treatment. Those healthy teeth are helping patients chew efficiently, maintain the natural appearance of their smiles and enhance their enjoyment of life. Through endodontic treatment, endodontists and dentists worldwide enable patients to keep their natural teeth for a lifetime.