Dental Myths We Hear Every Day: Root Canals, Wisdom Teeth & X-Rays

Dental treatment is surrounded by stories passed from one person to another. Let's clear up a few common misconceptions.

MYTH: “Root canal treatment causes diseases elsewhere in the body.” Modern root canal treatment is performed to remove infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth, disinfect the root canal system and preserve a tooth that may otherwise need extraction. Claims that properly performed root canal treatment routinely causes systemic disease are not supported by current mainstream dental evidence.

MYTH: “If a wisdom tooth is impacted, remove it immediately.” Not every impacted wisdom tooth automatically needs removal. Its position, symptoms, surrounding gum and bone, effect on the neighboring tooth, pathology and future risk all need to be considered. Some impacted teeth require removal, while others may simply require periodic monitoring.

MYTH: “I don't want a dental X-ray because radiation is dangerous.” Dental X-rays do involve ionizing radiation, so they should be prescribed only when clinically justified. Modern dental imaging uses relatively low radiation doses, and dentists aim to keep exposure as low as reasonably achievable while obtaining the information needed for diagnosis and treatment.

X-rays can reveal information that cannot always be seen during a routine examination—including decay between teeth, root conditions, bone changes, developing teeth and the position of impacted teeth.

One important clarification: mobile phones and televisions are not equivalent to dental X-rays. They involve non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, while X-rays are ionizing radiation. Comparing them directly can therefore be misleading.

The better question is not simply, “Is there radiation?” It is: “Is this X-ray necessary for my diagnosis or treatment?”

When in doubt, ask your dentist why an investigation or treatment has been recommended. Good dentistry starts with understanding—not fear.