Why Are Root Canals Bad?
At The Center for Natural Dentistry, we do not recommend root canals or root canal therapy. Why? Because more often than not, root canals result in an infection. While that infection may never cause a noticeable health problem, a substantial number of people will suffer adverse affects. The risks of root canal therapy do not outweigh the “reward” of keeping a dead tooth in your mouth.
So why do so many root canals result in infection? Simply put, the roots aren’t fully sterilized and not 100% filled. This results in pockets of potentially harmful bacteria that are “sealed” into the tooth, away from blood-flow that fights infections. In short, it becomes a haven for bad germs.
Rather than write another article laden with facts on root canals (we’ve already written plenty of them, just check out under The Root Canal Controversy section of our website (we talk about Alternatives to Root Canals, Infections from Root Canals, Sargenti Paste, Ozone Therapy for Root Canals, and much more.), I want to give you some real-life examples of what we’re talking about. Below I’ve posted just a few of the pictures we’ve taken of extracted teeth. Most of these were taken in just the past few days… and we have plenty more to choose from. In some cases, the patient had some sort of pain or discomfort. In others, no symptoms were noticed by the patient. In our practice, about 9 our of 10 extractions performed on root canal treated teeth have obvious infections like the ones you see below.
Enjoy.
Dr. Marvin.
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Are “cool plasma torches” commercially-available yet?
They have already proven effective in lab tests for destroying biofilms and sterilizing dentinal tubules in root canals. If this is possible, then reinfections from root canals can be prevented – and it would become a viable option.
More on the “cool plasma torches”:
It’s estimated that 10%-15% of root canal patients return with reinfections. This is due to the difficulty in sterilizing all the dentinal tubules during the root canal procedure.
But:
“Cold plasma might do a more reliable job, according to researchers. The latest plasma devices are capable of generating thin plasma plumes that can fit into a tooth’s root canal, which typically has a diameter of 3 millimeters.
At the University of Southern California, a team of engineers and dentists led by Chunqi Jiang have been working on a cold-plasma jet capable of forming a plasma plume that’s 3 centimeters long and less than 1 mm in diameter and that can reach all the way into the root canal. Jiang has used her plasma jet to kill saliva-derived biofilm, a slimy layer of bacteria that has shown some resistance to antibiotics.”
Essentially, the plasma oxidizes all pathogens on contact (including biofilms). And since it is in the 4th plasma state…can penetrate into all crevices very quickly, easily & safely.
“The researchers placed temperature sensors on the extracted teeth before treatment and found that the temperature of the tooth increased for just five degrees after 10 minutes of exposure to the plasma, Jiang said.
“Atomic oxygen [a single atom of oxygen, instead of the more common O2 molecule] appears to be the antibacterial agent,” according to plasma emission spectroscopy obtained during the experiments, she said.
Sedghizadeh said the oxygen free radicals might be disrupting the cellular membranes of the biofilms in order to cause their demise and that the plasma plume’s adjustable, fluid reach allowed the disinfection to occur even in the hardest-to-reach areas of the root canal.
“We believe we’re the first team to apply plasma for biofilm disinfection in root canals,” Jiang added. “This collaboration is very unique. We’re attacking frontier problems, and we’re happy to be broadening our fields.””
I bet those RCT’s were performed by G.P’s! I get so frustrated with the non-quality of our referring dentist’s root canals. Done properly by a specialist, a good one, those infections are completly elliminated. G.P.s tend to think that they did “good enough” or that if they couldn’t reach the apex then no one can, well, they tend to be wrong. Also the obturation that I see from G.P.’s is very “weak” with the use of a single cone, you are right, that wouldn’t stop a recurrent abscess from forming.
I think I answered this question when I responded to your other question under the post Ozone Therapy as Treatment in Dentistry. If not, please let me know.
If you are given penicillin with root canal will that stop a second infection?
Antibiotics won’t prevent infections. It can be used effectively to eliminate current infections, but won’t prevent future infections, which is the problems with treating the problem instead of the cause.
My older brother almost died of a brain infection stemming from a root canal!!! Just wanted to post this in case there were any sceptics. The infection(s), there were 4 or more different ones, attacked his brain and he ended up having to have brain surgery. The medications could not even get to the infections. He can no longer do the work he used to because it did damage to his brain.
Thank you for sharing your story… I do think people underestimate the power of an infection and think “it can’t happen to me”. Your brother is a sobering reminder that it can and does happen. Thank you so much for sharing your story… wishing you and your brother the best of health.
Dr. Marvin
This is the most irresonsible bunch of ******** I’ve ever heard! All of it! You’re so full of it. The reason this is here is that you can’t make a living doing real dentistry, but have to scare people into quackery of the highest. Shame on you.
Wow Dave, this is a very well-thought out, educated response. I’ve left it on the site because I don’t think people should be censored within limits, but I did edit the foul language as there is no place for it in my site.
While I appreciate the fact that you disagree with me, Dr. George Meinig, Dr. Weston A Price, Dr. Tomas Rau, and many, many more, I think you’d find a new appreciation for dentistry — as would your patience — if you opened your mind and accepted that changing research shows that much of traditional dentistry has been bad for our patient’s health over the years. No one said it was malicious… we just didn’t know that there was a better, healthier way to do dentistry. Heck, yesterday the US government announced support for a phasing out of amalgam fillings, so now even the government is beginning to move toward a healthier approach to our craft.
I always appreciate constructive criticism and other view points, but please try to keep the language clean, as our website has tens of thousands of visitors every month and not all are okay with vulgarity.
Dr. Marvin
PS: I had a very, very successful traditional practice for many years. I sold that practice and had personal health problems, as did my family. Traditional medicine wasn’t helping so we sought other ways. As we learned more and opened our minds, not only did we become more personally enriched, our health also improved. Ultimately, it lead me to create my new practice. Now I see the positive effects every day with my patients. So please, before you throw insults about how I’m “full of it” and that I “can’t make a living doing real dentistry”, get the facts straight and understand where I’m coming from. The world is a better place when we’re all a bit more tolerant.
Dr. Marvin, thank you for a very interesting and informative website. I wouldn’t be surprised if your former health problems were in part caused by daily exposure to the mercury in the amalgam fillings you were using. Have you thought of that?
I’m just in the process of trying to find a good alternative dentist here in Auckland New Zealand (a bit north of Auckland). We have had a dentist that we really like – he’s given us many a good family deal on crowns, good price on root canals and now he’s done three implants on my husband. We’ve begged him in the past to use something other than amalgam for our fillings – he insisted they were fine. So only yesterday did my husband put his foot down and insist – and he got a crystal one. He’s younger than us, but he won’t seem to do the study and research to learn that his ways are toxic to him, his staff and his patients.
We’re now going to have to find another dentist to remove all our root canals and amalgam fillings – all on the pension, that my husband will be getting in a few months. Bummer!
i am an ayurvedic dentist from gujrat india i extarted the tooth without anestesia.this is theory of ayurved aand yoga thetrapy
i want to fiil the natural tree for dental carees
plase contact me
dr.jasyukh makwana+91-09428204089
I know many of my health problems are mercury-related. I get tested for mercury levels regularly and even with all the precautions we take, I still have elevated levels on occasion. I’m sure my levels were through the roof when I was working in a traditional practice.
Many dentists prefer amalgam because they are much easier to work with. Some dentists just like to stick with what they are most comfortable with. Some just don’t want to take the time to do the research. Others have done the research, but made their own decisions on how to practice. In any case, I’m glad you were able to stand up for what you believe in. Good luck moving forward!
Dear Dr.
I am 100% convinced that one of the cause of cancer is root canals. I have spoken to many patients and all of have amlagams and roots canals done. My wife had root canal about 20 years back and she got pancreatic cancer 4 years back. She is tough doing fine but seriously thinking to get rid of all amalgams and her root canal asap. We are in Pakistan and any advise will be very helpfull. Have bought noted books on this subject by Dr. George Meinig and Dr. Huggins. Instead of critising what harm in extracting and seeing the tooth and see results. I think all you are doing in good faith for the humanity.
Fiaz Akbar Jafri,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you are seeking more information on the topics of root canals and amalgam fillings. Do what is best for you and your wife’s health. And continue to spread the news about these important topics. Dr.Marvin
Hello, I am posting as a mother. My daughter suffered a traumatic fall last year on the school playground. She knocked out her two top permanent teeth. As the teeth were found and splinted in, her dentist recommended a root canal to save the teeth. She has been in constant pain in her joints since the root canals were perfromed. Sne is seeing a rhemutologist who says that her autoimmune system is attacking itself. She was a healthy child before the fall. She is 12 years old. I do not know what to do. She does not want me to have the teeth pulled and the medical professionals do not believe the pain stems from the root canals. I hate seeing her in pain and it has made me highly depressed. I am praying for a miracle. I don’t want my daughter to be in harms way with these root canals. PLEASE HELP!!!
I’ve researched some info online and found that there is a specific gel called emdogain that can regrow bones and tissues successfully here in the US and other countries. It would be nice if this gel is available to the public, but then again how can the dentistry make any money if we can regrow our bones. I’m wondering what others think. PerioPeak is the only practice in Washington that have done this since 2006 non surgically.
Tanya,
I too am a parent and I feel for you. A single incident on the school playground can affect a person for life. In this case, she will have to deal with the front teeth for the rest of her life!
First of all, you are not going to get much support for your argument that the root canals and her health issues are related. It’s just not accepted by mainstream health care professionals. On the other hand, if you are more holistic and open-minded, you’ll understand that the mouth and the rest of the body are related. If you want to know the truth, then you’ll need to know the ingredients of every material used in the root canal, see how your daughter reacts to those ingredients, and see if that elicits an autoimmune response. That’s very difficult to do as most dentists don’t go to those extremes before performing treatment.
At this point, your options are to extract the 2 teeth that were damaged. Somehow manage to temporarily replace the 2 teeth until her body stops growing (in her 20s) and then start looking at permanent solutions such as 2 ceramic implants at that time.
There’s no promise that the autoimmune issue will go away once the teeth are extracted and sockets cleaned out but you are on to something if her symptoms started right after the root canals were completed.
Keep praying.
Dr. Marvin
Dear Dr. Can you advice how one should get rid of root canals. What precautions we should take and questions be asked to dental dr. We went to a a renowned doctor in Pakistan and he says that it will be removed very easily !! I have doubts. Take care.
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Fiaz Akbar Jafri,
Great comment.
Be wary of dentists who are confident that they can take out teeth. Chances are they do not remove the infected bone surrounding the root canal treated tooth. It requires skills and experience to remove the bone properly. The hardest part is figuring out how much bone to remove and save.
Keep asking questions.
Dr. Marvin
Ask these questions:
Do you remove the PDL? (periodontal ligament)
If yes, then ask them how.
If they hesitate or if they look puzzled, then find another dentist.
Do they use a bone graft?
If yes, then ask if you are sensitive to the material.
If they don’t know how, then find another dentist.
I’ve found that most people are sensitive to bone graft materials unless it is their own bone.
Hope these questions help.
i’ve been treated for squamous(?) cell cancer. i’m 5 years out and considered cured. chemo was cisplatan and 33 radiation treatments to frontal and both sides of jaw. plus a radical neck dissection. anyway, after 10yrs or so i had ANOTHER root canal done on the same tooth #3. after 8 months i’m having problems again. next week i go back to endodontist to see what’s up. each root canal cost me one grand. the option of having tooth pulled has its own set of complications ( 36 treatments in hypobaric chamber with no guarantee of not having a dry socket). i’m on fixed income (my wife just recently lost her job to boot) and I simply do not have the money for a 3rd on the same tooth.
i guess, because of the cancer treatment, i just agonize over what to do. any ideas? oh, by the way i live in the greater kansas city metroplex.
having had three root canals I can honestly vouch that they have all been disasters and an going through my second implant as a result. Will mostly need an implant on the third tooth in the future. When my tooth was extracted it had the same infection at the base of the root as in your picture.
Unfortunately, your situation is all-too-common. I hope pictures like the ones we have shared and stories such as yours will make people think before they go down that slippery slope with root canals.
Best of luck to you. Thanks for sharing your story.