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.

X-Ray Example of an Amalgam Filling and Tooth Decay

I recently had someone ask me to evaluate an x-ray taken by another dentist. As you can see (in the image posted below), there’s clearly an amalgam filling (the bright white spot). You can also clearly see the cavity just to the left of the filling. What you can’t clearly see is what decay is developing below the mercury filling. That’s one of the problems with traditional x-rays.

You can’t see small decay on radiographs.  By the time you see it (as with the decay in this particular image), the decay is large.  X-rays really only see minerals, so only when the tooth has been decayed to the point there are no minerals, then the x-rays will look different.  Waiting until that happens results in more pain and possible extractions (or root canals if you go to a dentist that believes in those).

CT Scans will more clearly show decay under the filling and other small areas of decay (and the patient isn’t exposed to the large quantities of radiation an x-ray produces).

However, based on the decay next to the amalgam filling, and because decay under a poorly placed amalgam filling is very common, there is an above average chance that there is currently decay under the filling, as well.

What else can this one image tell us? Because there’s a large cavity in the tooth beside the silver filling, the patient probably has a diet that is conducive to decay (acidic carb diet). To reduce the chances of future decay, changing to a diet that’s lower in acid (water such as Essentia can help: Essentia Water Review), rinsing your mouth regularly after eating, and adhering to a proper dental care regimen can make a world of difference.

Dr. Marvin

PS: Thanks to the patient for allowing me to reprint this image and show a good example of decay around an amalgam filling. If you have particular questions about the x-ray, please leave a comment and I’ll do my best to get you a good answer.

The Bright White Spot is an Amalgam Filling. There is Significant Decay Next to the Filling.

FAQ: Are Root Canals Safe? What Options Do I Have?

We just had someone call and ask “What alternatives to root canal therapy do we offer?”

First of all, are root canals bad? YES!!!!

Root canals are bad because bacteria can remain and still colonize when root canal therapy has been completed.  When this happens, Dr. Weston Price has studied systemic effects from the bacteria originating from the root canaled teeth.

So if your tooth is abscessed or you have a massive tooth ache, what can you do?

Besides leaving it alone and suffering through the pain and consequences, one can choose to:

1:  Have the tooth taken out or extracted.  Doing this will eliminate the infection and many of the bugs.

2.  Have the root canal done but filled with Gutta Percha.  (what most dentists use).  This however does not reduce the bacterial load.

3.  Have the root canal done but filled with an alkaline material called Biocalyx.  This material does a much better job eliminating the bacterial load, however not completely and not forever.

Of course, the best way to avoid a root canal or this situation is to care for your teeth before you need to make this choice.

If I had a toothache and had to decide, I’d contemplate using Biocalyx or having the tooth extracted and a metal-free removable partial or bridge placed.

The number one reason to keep the tooth is that it may be one of your last teeth.  It may be important to keep this tooth as an anchor for a future partial denture, dentures, bridges, or for supporting anything… (not to forget… the tooth is available to chew with).

If you have the tooth extracted, you must decide what to replace the tooth with.  Leaving a space in the jaw usually ends up with bigger problems down the road.  (which I’ll leave for a separate blog post)

When the tooth is extracted you pretty much have 3 choices:

1)  Ideal choice:  A removable metal-free partial. Be sure it is made out of a biocompatible material because a lot of the partial dentures being made are made out of metal and the pink color of the plastic comes from another metal – cadmium. If you are sensitive to metals or fear of the possibility of being allergic, choose to have biocompatibility testing done.

2)  Bridge:  This option is good if you don’t want any metal in your mouth. Please go to a biological dentist to see if this is an option. Sometimes if this troubled tooth is the furthest back, this option may not be necessary.

3)  Titanium Implant: Not recommended because of its metal characteristics. In short, metal oxides are bad for the body. Metal-free implants are a much better option.

4) Ceramic Implant: These white, zirconia dental implants are a much option than their titanium counterparts for a variety of reasons, including color and biocompatibility, but they still aren’t perfect and aren’t for everyone (to learn more, check out our ceramic dental implants article)

When faced with a root canal and you are holistic, find a good holistic dentist to go over the options with you.  Don’t decide this on your own.  Being educated is good however leave the dentistry and recommending to the dentist.