Maybe you have heard your grandparents recount painful stories of getting root canals. Or perhaps, you have had to listen co-workers lament about the fears of having the procedure and missing days of work. Myths about root canals are not in short supply. As a result, 67 percent of Americans fear the procedure according to the American Association of Endodontists (AAE).
If your dentist informs you that you would benefit from a root canal procedure, fear not. There are several reasons why you should not be afraid of getting a root canal to improve your oral health.
You Will Not Experience a Great Deal of Pain
The dental professional who performs your root canal will have two years of additional training beyond dental school in endodontics, the study of the treatment and causes of diseases in dental pulp. Your endodontist will treat you with a local anesthetic so you will not even feel what is going on during the procedure. As a result, a root canal should be no more painful than getting a routine filling.
In addition, endodontists now use titanium dental instruments instead of other types of metal dental tools that were used in the past. Titanium tools are more flexible and less prone to breakage.
Root Canals Will Not Increase Your Risk for Alzheimer's Disease or Strokes
Many people also fear root canals due to inaccurate news articles that have linked the procedure to Alzheimer's disease and strokes. For whatever reason, news reporters interpreted the results of a study published in a scientific journal as proof that Alzheimer's and root canals were somehow linked. However, the claims have been debunked by the AAE.
Unfortunately, some reputable publications have also inadvertently spread myths about root canals including misinformation that the procedure is related to strokes in elderly patients. The AAE also dispelled this myth.
The bottom line is that you should not give a second thought to any popular negative information about root canals and only trust what your endodontists tells you.
You Will Not Need Additional Procedures to Keep the Tooth Healthy
A successful root canal can be completed in just a few visits. After your root canal, you will only need to one of two follow-up visits so your endodontists can monitor the progress of your healing tooth.
Some people opt for dental implants instead of root canals. However, with an implant your tooth will not be saved and you will need to have more follow-up care to make sure the implant procedure was a success. In fact, only one percent of root canal patients require extensive follow-up care compared to 12 percent of dental implant patients.
To learn more, visit a website like https://www.jpdentalgroup.com/.
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