Root Canal Safety

The relationship of our teeth and mouth to overall good health is indisputable. Endodontics plays a critical role in maintaining good oral health by eliminating infection and pain, and preserving our natural dentition.

A key responsibility of any endodontist is to reassure patients who are concerned with the safety of endodontic treatment that their well-being is a top priority. The American Association of Endodontists website (www.aae.org) is the best place for concerned patients to obtain comprehensive information on the safety and efficacy of Endodontics. While plenty of good information is available online from the AAE and other reliable resources, patients sometimes arrive in the dental office with misinformation. Please feel free to discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor during your consultation.

Doctor addressing the patient

Dentists are asked to use the following guidelines to address patients who inquire about a connection between root canal treatment and illness:

  • Acknowledge the patient’s concerns; stress that optimum health is the goal for every dental patient.
  • Provide the patient with written information about endodontic treatment, and discuss it. The AAE has a variety of patient education brochures available for purchase (www.aae.org/onlinestore).
  • Provide the patient with information from the AAE website about common root canal myths:
    www.aae.org/patients/treatments-and-procedures/root-canals/myths-about-root-canals-and-root-canal-pain.aspx#2.
  • Indicate that the patient is in control of his/her own decision to move forward with any dental procedure, and reiterate a commitment to the highest quality dental care.

References