With so much information out there geared towards people striving to be more health conscious these days, it can sometimes be difficult to separate fact from fiction.  If you’ve done your research (or not), you may have heard a vicious rumor out there that root canals can cause cancer. While thankfully this isn’t true, the rumor is doing a lot of damage. Here’s the truth about this procedure, and why it may be more beneficial than you think!

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a dental treatment that is performed to save an infected tooth and prevent the infection from spreading to your other teeth. The procedure is done by a dentist who will open the tooth, drain the infected pulp, and replace it with synthetic material called gutta percha. This keeps the tooth alive and infection free. After it is filled, your dentist will close the tooth back up and you will be able to use it again without incident.

Are Root Canal Treatments Safe?

The rumor about root canal treatment began a few years ago when a documentary was released alleging that this procedure caused cancer in the filmmaker who created it. This spurned a lot of research into the topic, but no evidence was ever found to support the claim. Unfortunately, however, many people still believe this myth and it continues to spread online.

Root Canal Alternatives

You may be curious about any alternative treatments to root canals. Unfortunately, tooth infections don’t heal on their own. If left untreated, they could even spread to your other teeth or cause a fatal infection somewhere else in your body. Thus, the only real alternative to a root canal is tooth extraction, which is not preferred.  In some cases, your dentist may still need to extract an infected tooth if a root canal will not work, however this is only done as a last resort.

Remember, despite the negative rumors out there about root canals, this procedure has not been found to cause cancer. Root canals are completely safe and can even help prevent you from losing your natural tooth or teeth. If you have any questions or concerns about the treatment, please don’t hesitate to speak to your dentist for more information.

About Our Practice

At Dix Hills Family Dentistry, your safety is our number one goal. That’s why Dr. Gaur and Dr. Soni-Guar are proud to offer a variety of oral health treatments that will help save your teeth and keep your body and mouth in great condition. If you have been prescribed a root canal, we want you to feel confident that this treatment is safe and necessary, so please feel free to speak to your dentist with any questions or concerns.

To schedule a root canal treatment, please visit our website or call us today at 631-673-8040.