Re: Root Canals: Please Read Before Having an Extraction!

Hi folks,

I am very pleased this forum is here, and I am glad that people such as Kristian so thoughtfully post. I have also procrastinated 3-4 weeks (but not several months!) on a root canal in order to do dental research, but perhaps my situation is more dire. I had an abscess flare up 5 weeks ago, and did not even start Antibiotics for almost 2 weeks when the other various natural remedies failed to help and my cheek began to grow and grow. I took the Antibiotics (Amoxycilin) for 2 weeks and it made my infection asymptomatic, but now I have almost a week off of them and I need to act fast!

I have been doing ceaseless research and the question is very complicated. I am someone who is pretty healthy by my measure and those of my health practitioners- "alternative" and mainstream. I agree that most of the anti- root canal information comes from a handful of skeptics whose research has been seldom replicated. There have been multiple studies, however, showing the presence of bacteria in root canaled teeth. It's true though that there have been no studies to my knowledge (and I called Hal Huggins' institute and talked to someone on the phone) specifically comparing teeth with the different types of root canals. There is just not enough research or funding on the issue, and that is one of the biggest problems here- the lack of good data, knowledge, and more informed debate.

I agree with most things that Kristian mentioned, except that I believe what I hear- the people who USE endocal have seen no "excess fractures". That means no more fractured than with standard gutta percha techniques. It also appears that if you don't know how to use the stuff and pack it too tight you can cause fractures, so part of it is in the hands of the dentist/endodontist. This video from the past president of IAOMT (who advocate Endocal- previously named Biocalex) is very informative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_2S_R5kG7Q


in the video he describes the errors with the SINGLE study of 30ish EXTRACTED teeth that were packed with filling material and incubated. This is different than the chemical/biological properties of the tooth in the mouth. Clinically, according to Koral (on the video) this is not the shared experience of practitioners. In addition, the AAE (endodontic society) position paper on the matter is not against this material, but rather to use caution when applying because of the threat of overfilling.

I have also heard from laser practitioners that the lasers do not work by direct laser light on the tubules (also criticized by Goldman, but by creating photoacoustic explosions and disturbances in bacteria which kill them and otherwise disinfect the tubules. So the idea that the light is the only source of disinfection- in a straight line- is not in keeping with how the technology functions.

It seems the mama of all root canals, which I very well may be receiving- is by Dr. Hansen in LA: http://www.laserdentalcenters.com/


He uses lasers, ozone, and calcium oxide (probably endocal but doesn't say on website). I haven't found anyone besides Koral and Hansen who do all three. I talked to a laser dentist in NY who said that lasers and ozone is overkill because both achieve sterilization, but if it is so difficult to kill all the bacteria as many claim then- as Koral argues- you've got to throw everything at it that you can. The arguments for endocal seem very persuasive to me- increasing pH,, being drawn into tubules, penetrating all the way to the ligament, reacting with bacteria to kill it, regenerating bone, etc.There need to be a lot more studies on this but alas- most researchers I guess don't seem to care or won't be able to find funding.

I agree about practicing CONSERVATIVE dentistry. I don't believe you should be so scared that by the time your anaerobe-filled tooth shows impact on your body IT'S TOO LATE (insert halloween scream)!! It's more scare tactics like Kristian mentioned. In the same breath they say that, they also say that all these chronic conditions respond favorably to yanking infected teeth and people show signs of recovery. Which is it?! I believe if you are in touch with your body (one of the tenets of being healthy and natural medicine) then you will know well before you have passed the point of toxic no return. I can always get my tooth pulled later, but I can't put it back in! And perhaps in 10 or 20 years there will be more testing for these types of anaerobes, or more ways to sterilize your tooth from the outside with lasers or other treatments. Also, if you keep the pH in your mouth up then a lot of bacteria won't be in your mouth, able to get into that tooth. Or perhaps we may even learn how to regenerate them!:

http://singularityhub.com/2012/05/10/toothless-no-more-researchers-using-stem...


Another interesting perspective is that the tooth is not really "dead" if it is treated by the body like a live tooth: with healthy ligament and bone around it, and a largely intact calcified structure. A tooth is very unique in the body so it's not right to compare it to another dead organ necessarily.

Don't let yourself be scared by the doom and gloom, but take it into account. I know personally I am unwilling to live without my canine tooth- I am 31, and I don't want to wear a denture the rest of my life, or grind down teeth for a bridge, and I don't know that implanting into my jaw would be successful in the long term, or would hurt my immune system any less than a holistic root canal! Tweet