Let’s face it - majority patients visit their dentist only when they’re experiencing severe toothache. And in most cases, decay that causes the pain has already caused extensive damage to the tooth. This damage may be resolved by root canal treatment, a procedure that involves the removal of all decayed or infected tooth structure which, in turn, relieves pain. But despite being a very effective dental treatment, root canal therapy is one of the most feared procedures.
According to the American Association of Endodontists, most of these fears are based on horror stories and misconceptions about the treatment. If you among those who need root canal treatment, might as well read on and learn more about the procedure before considering other options.Below are the most common misconceptions about root canal treatment. Myth: Root canal treatment is a painful procedure.Truth: It relieves pain, not cause it. Root canal treatment is a safe and effective procedure that can help alleviate pain in a extensively-decayed tooth. The procedure is designed to remove eliminate the bacteria that causes the infection, and therefore the pain. Now, the procedure itself is not painful and only feels as though you’re having a filling done, because your dentist will use local anesthetic to numb the area. Myth: Root canal treatment can make you sick. Truth: There is no evidence that links root canal treatment to disease anywhere in the body. Some websites all over the internet claim that root canal-treated teeth may cause, or at least contribute, to the development of illness and disease in other parts of the body this claim is based on the research done by Dr. Weston A. Price about a century ago. Dr. Price advocated tooth extraction instead of endodontic treatment. Tooth extraction, the most traumatic dental procedure, actually causes significantly greater risk of bacteria entering the bloodstream, whereas in endodontic treatment, this risk is much lower because the treatment is confined only to the root canal system of the involved tooth. Myth: Root canal treatment requires many appointments. Truth: The number of appointments depends on several factors, but most cases only need one to two appointments to be completed. Factors that influence the number of appointments required to complete root canal therapy include the extent of infection, difficulty of the case, and the skills of the dentist who will perform the procedure. If the procedure is performed by an endodontist (a.k.a. root canal specialist), the number of appointments is minimized. Myth: Root canal-treated teeth will fail eventually. Truth: Root canal treatment enjoys a very high success rate of as much as 95%, according to studies. Many cases of teeth that were saved by root canal treatment lasted for years, and even a lifetime. This is in conjunction with a properly-made final restoration. With proper maintenance, these teeth have helped patients chew more comfortably, smile more confidently, and enjoy their teeth as if they weren’t treated at ll. And if even you experience pain or reinfection years later, your dentist can always redo the treatment until the tooth gets better again. Also, an extremely important factor in ensuring the longevity of your root canal-treated teeth is to practice meticulous oral hygiene and visit your dentist on a regular basis for follow-ups. As always, when considering any medical procedure, you should get as much information as you can about all of your options. Your dentist or endodontist can answer many of your questions, and if you still have concerns, it is often wise to seek a second opinion. Comments are closed.
|