People should not be afraid of having root canal treatments, because they can help to save teeth that would otherwise have to be taken out.
This is the advice of Dr Clara Spatafore from the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), who said patients avoid them because they fear potential pain, even though having root canal treatment will help them to sustain the ability to bite and chew.
"Many patients do not realise that, just like any other medical specialty, significant advances in technology have enabled endodontists to perform root canals safely and comfortably," she commented.
Dr Spatafore also cited AAE research which showed that patients who have had root canal treatment are likely to describe it as painless.
This follows similar advice from endodontics specialist Julian Webber, who told Medical News Today earlier this month that teeth fixed using this form of treatment can last for many years afterwards, sometimes even for a lifetime.