{"id":151,"date":"2026-08-14T15:58:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/?p=151"},"modified":"2026-08-14T15:58:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T15:58:34","slug":"do-root-canals-cause-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/do-root-canals-cause-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Fact or Fearmongering: Do Root Canals Really Cause Cancer?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Internet rumors have a way of causing a lot more harm than good. Whether intentional or not, this misinformation can make it difficult for people to make informed decisions about their health and wellness, often to disastrous consequences. If you\u2019ve heard the malicious myth that root canals<\/a> cause cancer, the good news is that there\u2019s no merit to these claims. Here\u2019s the truth about this tooth-saving procedure and how preserving an infected tooth can be more helpful than you think!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is a Root Canal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of a root canal is to restore a tooth that has become infected and stop the infection from spreading to your other teeth and throughout your body. It is typically performed by a dentist or endodontist. During the procedure, the tooth is opened, the infected pulp is removed, and the inside is sanitized. Then, it is filled with a synthetic pulp that helps keep the tooth healthy and the infection from returning. Finally, your dentist will seal the tooth closed with either a filling or a dental crown, restoring its chewing capabilities and preventing it from needing an extraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Safe Are Root Canals?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although root canals have always been safe, several years ago a documentary was released where the filmmaker claimed that their procedure caused them to develop cancer. The dental community responded by researching this connection and was unable to find any evidence to support the claim. Sadly, however, the rumor spread and has been circulating and stoking fears ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are There Any Alternatives to Root Canal Therapy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although they are perfectly safe, patients often wonder if there are any alternative treatments to a root canal. Because oral infections cannot clear up on their own, intervention is necessary to keep it from spreading to other teeth and throughout the body. Sometimes, patients ask if they can clear it up with an antibiotic, however because they must travel through the bloodstream and blood cannot access the inside of your teeth, they cannot cure a tooth infection. Thus, the only alternative to a root canal is a tooth extraction, which is not ideal. That\u2019s because when you remove a tooth, it is important to replace it or risk suffering from jawbone deterioration. This will create additional costs and can take many months to complete. Conversely, a root canal can be done in one or two dental appointments and can preserve the appearance and function of the tooth for a lot less money, time, and discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, while you may have heard dangerous misinformation about root canals in the past, rest assured that they do not<\/em> cause cancer and are perfectly safe when performed by a qualified dentist. In fact, this treatment can not only save your tooth from requiring an extraction, but it can also prevent dangerous oral infections from spreading to your other teeth and throughout your body, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Dr. Saphner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Robert Saphner<\/a> earned his undergraduate degree at Edgewood College and his dental degree at the University of Minnesota. Since graduating, he has continued to pursue his education by taking hundreds of hours of continuing education. He is a proud Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, and a regular at the prestigious Spear Education. To schedule a root canal at All Smiles Implants and Family Dental, visit our website<\/a> or call us today at 608-668-6415.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Internet rumors have a way of causing a lot more harm than good. Whether intentional or not, this misinformation can make it difficult for people to make informed decisions about their health and wellness, often to disastrous consequences. If you\u2019ve heard the malicious myth that root canals cause cancer, the good news is that there\u2019s […]<\/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-151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=151"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153,"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions\/153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}