Root canal awareness week is March 22-28
The American Association of Endodontists does a great job providing education and resources to endodontists, general dentists and patients. Among their efforts to provide accurate information about root canal treatment is spearheading Root Canal Awareness Week, a national effort to raise awareness of endodontists, so that patients and general dentists know to contact a specialist when a root canal is needed. It is an excellent time to explain the important role endodontists play in dental health, and to help dispel the myths that surround root canals. Primarily:
- The pain myth is the biggest root canal myth, but in fact the opposite is true. In most cases severe tooth pain is relieved through root canal treatment.
- Many people believe root canals lead to serious illness or infection. There is no valid, scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to diseases elsewhere in the body.
- Some people think extraction is a viable option instead of a root canal, but saving natural teeth, whenever possible, is almost always the best option. Nothing can completely replace a natural tooth.
Check out the AAE’s Root Canal Awareness Week page for more information and resources.