Truth about Root Canals

 

Netflix, Amazon, and Apple recently started streaming a movie claiming that root canals are linked to numerous medical issues. These claims, which derive from research done nearly a century ago have been disproven by decades’ worth of peer-reviewed, scientific evidence.

The American Association of Endodontics has written a letter describing how 8,000 endodontists; 163,000 dentists; and 3,300 dental researchers believe these companies are doing a disservice to their subscribers by hosting this film. “We are concerned its baseless claims may cause unwarranted alarm among your viewers to the point where they might avoid a very necessary dental procedure.”

The statements in the film relating to a correlation of root canals to breast cancer prey on the public’s fear of cancer and are not supported by any medical evidence.

If you are concerned about root canals, how to take care of them post-op, and how they can affect you in the long run, the AAE offers a wealth of resources available at the click of a mouse to help you combat misinformation. Visit their Root Canal Safety page for more information.

The AAE, ADA and AADR are spotlighting root canal safety and the importance of peer-reviewed, scientific evidence in light of these charlatans’ claims. We’re here to serve you, and protect the public’s health.

A few things to keep in mind if you have seen this movie:

  • Approximately 25 million new endodontic treatments, including root canals, are performed safely and effectively each year. There is absolutely no scientific correlation between RCT and systemic disease.
  • The only alternative to endodontic treatment is extraction of the tooth. Extraction is a traumatic procedure and is known to cause a significantly higher incidence of bacteria entering the bloodstream.
  • The success of root canal treatments is based in science, and a multitude of studies and peer-reviewed materials support the safety of root canal treatments.
  • The doctors and so-called experts in the movie are extremists and outliers within the broader medical community.
  • There is absolutely no credible scientific evidence pointing to root canal treatment being the source of any chronic disease.