16/10/2026
Is root canal treatment safe? The facts;
You may have read online that a root-filled tooth is “dead” and harmful to keep. This isn’t true, and here’s why.
The tooth isn’t dead. Root canal treatment only removes the infected nerve inside the tooth. The tooth stays firmly attached to living gum and bone, which keep it healthy and functional for many years.
The myth is over 100 years old. It comes from experiments in the 1920s that were poorly designed and never reproduced. Science moved on decades ago.
What modern research shows:
• The American Association of Endodontists confirms there is no valid scientific evidence linking root canals to any health problems.
• A large 2013 study found that people with two or more root canal treatments actually had a 45% lower risk of head and neck cancer.
• Untreated tooth infections may harm general health, including the heart, pregnancy and diabetes control, while successful root canal treatment reduces inflammation in the body.
• In a study of 1.4 million treated teeth, 97% were still in place after 8 years.
The bottom line: The real risk to your health is leaving an infected tooth untreated. Root canal treatment removes the infection and saves your natural tooth.
Some references for you to have a look:
1. American Association of Endodontists – aae.org/rootcanalsafety
2. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013;139(10):1054–60
3. Systemic health narrative review, 2022 (PubMed Central, PMC9319780)
4. Salehrabi & Rotstein, J Endod. 2004
