There aren’t any studies that show people who get root canals have a higher risk of cancer. In fact, research on the link between cancer and endodontic procedures like root canals shows that people who have had these treatments have a lower risk of certain cancers.
The danger of these claims is that these fears can crowd out other real cancer risks or health concerns. Viewers may focus on previously completed root canals while ignoring well known risk factors for cancer or infection, including smoking, weight gain, and failing to get the right cancer screening tests on time. To be blunt, even if there is some truth to this whole idea, your old root canal is probably not harming your body nearly as much as your bleeding gums, cigarette smoking, or undiagnosed sleep disorder. Illness is cumulative, so it’s important to focus on the bigger concerns first when working towards optimal health and well-being.
HOWEVER, there is one very important thing that the documentary ROOT CAUSE gets right! There are many patients walking around with active infection in their tooth roots and bone who have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA that there is any problem whatsoever. We know this is true because we have advanced 3D imaging that allows us to routinely see infections in the tooth and bone that simply cannot be seen in traditional dental X-rays and are asymptomatic.
Because of this, we have been able to help countless patients get rid of active infection in their body quickly and easily. The first step to health is accurate and actionable diagnosis!
In looking at documentaries and other health related information on the internet, it’s important to remember a phrase we often share with our patients:
“Everything on the internet is somewhat right for some people.”
BOTTOM LINE: The most important thing is that you find a provider that you trust who will help you navigate through all the conflicting information out there, and who will have an in depth understanding of your individual circumstances in order to provide you customized advice on how to get and stay healthy.
While root canals can’t save every tooth, leaving the natural tooth intact helps maintain the jawbone’s original structure. Without the original tooth, the surrounding jawbone that once supported it will eventually break down, affecting a person’s appearance and their ability to chew.
If you’ve ever had a root canal you probably appreciated how it fixed your pain … eventually. But you probably didn’t appreciate the root canal itself.
Today’s a day to change that, because it’s Root Canal Appreciation Day.
Yes, really.
Dr. Chris Kammer, a dentist, created the day back in 2005. Now you’re probably not surprised that a dentist would commemorate such a horrendous procedure. But Dr. Kammer isn’t just any dentist (and a root canal isn’t really horrendous—more on that later!).
He’s the “Rock and Roll Dentist,” who has performed with Deep Purple, Kiss, Garbage and others. He also wrote and performed the tooth brushing song Get Out the Brush at the Madison Mallards baseball park in Madison, Wisconsin. Apparently the 5,991 fans in attendance then all brushed their teeth simultaneously, setting a new record.
To kick off his newly created day he performed a root canal at the same park. Well, actually just the end of the procedure. But we give tons of credit to his patient for agreeing to that!
His goal with the day was to “hit a home run for the image of the root canal!” He wants people to understand that the old ideas of root canals no longer apply. They help save teeth, which is preferable to pulling them.
The day is unofficial, but in 2005 was recognized by then Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and Dave Cieslewicz, then the mayor of Madison.
A Few Bites of Root Canal Facts
How much do you really know about root canals? Are you sure? There’s a lot of myths floating around about root canals.
Let’s start with the idea they’re painful. Since they’re done with anesthesia, they’re no more painful than any other procedure, including getting a filling. Unpleasant maybe, but not painful. Ok, we admit you’ll probably have some pain after the anesthesia wears off, but it’s manageable (yes, really).
Root canals take much less time than you might think, too. A “normal” one can take as little as an hour & you’re done. Sometimes the dentist may have to put an antibiotic in your tooth to kill off a particularly bad infection. In that case it’ll be a two-part procedure, with each part a couple days apart.
If you think pulling the tooth is a better option than a root canal, think again. Most of the time saving your natural tooth is better than implants or a dental bridge. If the root canal is done right, and a good crown is put over the tooth, you don’t have to worry about what you eat.
Want to know more about root canal myths and facts? 