{"id":33,"date":"2026-01-14T10:19:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T10:19:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thehilltopdental.com\/blog\/?p=33"},"modified":"2026-01-27T10:19:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T10:19:38","slug":"four-myths-about-root-canals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehilltopdental.com\/blog\/four-myths-about-root-canals\/","title":{"rendered":"Rooting Out Lies: 4 Myths About Root Canals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Root canals are quite effective, but it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if you looked down on them. Rumors and stereotypes have made these procedures<\/a> seem risky and frightening. With that said, you shouldn\u2019t believe in such gossip; the myths about root canals simply aren\u2019t true. Your Maplewood dentist can even prove this fact with relevant details and evidence. To that end, here are four common root canal myths you shouldn\u2019t trust going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoot Canals Cause Illnesses\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One pernicious idea holds that root canals cause illnesses. However, this view is complete bunk; it holds no truth whatsoever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201croot canal = illnesses\u201d belief originated with faulty, hundred-year-old research from the 1920s. In it, a dentist named Weston Price argued for a link between root canals and cancer. This finding wasn\u2019t completely and utterly bogus, though; it\u2019s never been supported by the wider scientific community. The American Medical Association has even shown that cancer risk doesn\u2019t increase after a root canal treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoot Canals are Painful\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pop culture implies that a root canal is painful. That said, the treatment is actually painless and easy for modern patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dentists take various steps to ensure a root canal doesn\u2019t hurt. For instance, they apply anesthesia before treatment that numbs your infected tooth. (Doing so ensures the dentist\u2019s work won\u2019t cause you pain.) A dentist will also act with as light a touch as possible, making sure they don\u2019t nick or prod sensitive areas. The dental team will also provide care tips to ease any post-treatment soreness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoot Canal Benefits are Short-Lived\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You might hear people say that root canals have short-lived benefits. Well, those figures are wrong; the perks of treatment last quite a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tooth given a root canal often remains safe for a lifetime. Indeed, it should continue working and avoid severe aches and pains in the future; treatment can \u201cpermanently\u201d address its infection. You just need to maintain these results by protecting your tooth\u2019s crown, keeping bacteria away from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoot Canals Only Help When Teeth Hurt\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While pain often points to an issue, that doesn\u2019t mean root canals only help when teeth hurt. Treatment can still be useful when a tooth is pain-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, a tooth could need a root canal even when it feels fine. The pearly white\u2019s inner pulp might be so damaged or infected that it\u2019s \u201cdead,\u201d failing to send pain signals to the brain. You\u2019d require a root canal in this case to save your tooth and prevent the spread of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From now on, don\u2019t put much stock in myths about root canals. Let your local dentist explain how these tooth-saving treatments work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hilltop Dental<\/em><\/a> is based in Maplewood, MN. Led by <\/em>Dr. Quintarias Lester<\/em><\/a>, our practice makes quality dentistry accessible for any and every patient. No matter your age, race, or background, we\u2019ll always provide your smile with top-tier preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments! The same goes for emergency procedures like tooth extractions and root canals. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on <\/em>our website<\/em><\/a> or by phone at (651)-488-2541<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Root canals are quite effective, but it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if you looked down on them. Rumors and stereotypes have made these procedures seem risky and frightening. With that said, you shouldn\u2019t believe in such gossip; the myths about root canals simply aren\u2019t true. Your Maplewood dentist can even prove this fact with relevant details […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nRooting Out Lies: 4 Myths About Root Canals - Hilltop Dental Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Due to rumors, many myths about root canals continue to persist. 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