Augmenting quality of life and mental health through the promotion of accessible root canal therapy.

Abstract

Root canal therapy (RCT) is an extremely safe, effective, and painless procedure that is crucial to save a tooth that would have been otherwise extracted. As patients with tooth infections present with severe pain and inability to carry out routine oral functions, RCT plays a vital role in improving the quality of life of the patients. The RCT procedure not only plays a crucial role in the relief of physical pain but also significantly contributes to mental well-being. After realizing the benefits of RCT in improving the quality of life and positive impact on the mental well-being of the patients, we anticipate that all patients must timely receive the therapy, but then that is not the case due to the presence of various challenges and factors. The presence of these barriers envisages the need for the formulation of comprehensive policies, expansion of community outreach activities, and education of patients to improve access to RCT. In conclusion, RCT has been associated with multiple benefits. There arises the need to overcome the identified barriers to ensure that RCT becomes more accessible for a wide range of patients needing essential dental services.