Dispelling Root Canal Treatment’s Bad Rap

Lady Dentist Making To Lady Patient After Treatment

Before you read any further, let’s get something out of the way. Root canal treatment – an amazing dental technique that repairs and saves teeth – gets a bad rap.

And lately, there’s been even more of a stigma around this treatment, most likely due to a documentary that was recently pulled from Netflix.

I want to assure you that you have nothing to fear when it comes to root canals. But you don’t have to just take it from me … together, the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) and the Canadian Academy of Endodontics (CAE) recently issued a statement that confirms there’s no reason to panic.

“The CDA and CAE caution that misinformation about root canal treatment is circulating in the public domain,” it reads. “Patients are advised to discuss any questions or concerns about root canal treatment with their dentist and endodontist to ensure that unnecessary anxiety or fear of developing other health problems does not result in treatment delays which could further compromise the integrity of the tooth.”

Just so you know … The CDA’s top priorities are “patient safety, quality oral health care, and knowledge about oral health and related procedures.” Despite its proven success, amazing outcome, and modern-day technique, I still hear patients ask me when treatment is completed, “Wow, is that it?!” This is because the pain associated with root canal treatment is usually that which occurred pre-treatment – not from the treatment itself.

At Dental Care Group, our team has performed hundreds, perhaps even thousands of root canal treatments, as a Danforth and East York dentist. You can feel confident putting your trust in us.

Why are root canal treatments necessary?

Most people don’t think of teeth as living tissue, but they actually are! Each tooth contains channels (root canals) that extend from the crown (the protective covering) to the roots. They house nerves and blood vessels that transport vital nutrition your tooth requires to stay healthy.

When teeth become infected, badly decayed, or damaged due to an injury or blow, root canal treatment may be required to eliminate the risk of swelling, abscess, or the spread of infection.

With our knowledge, skills, and technology we can remove the infected pulp, clean and fill the empty channel, and save the tooth. The treated tooth functions normally, although a crown is usually required to protect the damaged tooth from fracture or improve the aesthetics should the tooth discolor after treatment.

After your first appointment, you’ll experience the wonderful relief that root canal treatment provides, and take great comfort knowing you will never experience pain in that tooth again.

After your treatment, we’ll help you keep your regular dental checkups, so that we can proactively detect concerns early on, saving you time, effort, money … and your beautiful smile!

If you’re experiencing sudden pain in your tooth, immediately call us at Dental Care Group, your Danforth and East York dentist. We want to do everything possible to preserve your tooth, with minimally invasive techniques and warm, friendly, compassionate care.


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Dr. Chris Binert graduated from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry, 1983 with honors. She has been a member of the Ontario Dental Association and the Canadian Dental Association since her graduation.

Dr. Binert is currently an instructor at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, and has taught there for over 25 years. She is currently the Director of the Dental Care Group.