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

June 15, 2007

Hi Kris,

I mentioned to my endodontist that I would like to leave the calcium hydroxide in my mouth for a month and his response was that long term calcium hydroxide (over 1 week) - is not indicated in adult teeth. He says that current research shows that there is no long term benefit to using calcium hydroxide for a long time. He says that long term calcium hydroxide weakens the dentin making it more likely to fracture, leading to loss of the tooth. The purpose of calcium hydroxide is elimination of bacteria in the root canals and comparable techniques eliminate the need for multiple appointments which increase risks of fracturing the tooth and increased postoperative pain.

I have a periapical lesion which my endodontist says is the one kind that is the hardest to heal statistically. He says that no instrumentation technique, number of visits, long term calcium hydroxide, or contemporary filling material has been shown to make a statistically significant difference on the inflammatory process going away after treatment.

I definitely feel better now that the tooth has been cleaned out. I could feel that it was affecting me. I am concerned that my tooth still feels that when I chew. I notice it most when I first chew after several hours. It’s almost like the tooth reseats itself and then chewing feels normal again. I’m wondering how the bone lesion will heal itself.

Did Mr. Clements publish his research? Is there any way to read his extensive dental studies? What did Brian find out in his research that made him change his position on having a root canal done? What are the names of the natural medicines that Brian mentioned are good to put around the tooth?

Yes, I would be most interested in what your dentist uses.

Did you use the same dentist each time for your root canals? Was it a regular dentist or an endodontist? How did you convince your dentist to let the calcium hydroxide sit in your mouth? Was the dentist open from the start or did you have to produce some kind of documentation to support your position and convince the dentist? I didn’t have any material to back myself up with other than your letter. I gravitated towards what you wrote because I too had interacted with Dr. Goldman and I liked his realistic approach to taking care of root canals. I also appreciate the effort you made to contact Brian Clements.

I’m hearing that a root canal, which seals off the pulp chamber of the tooth, doesn’t heal the infected periodontal ligament outside the tooth. I’m wondering if the periapical lesion that I have is still infected and that’s the spongy feeling I’m having. Does your dentist have any other ideas on healing a periapical lesion after a root canal has been done? Mine was filled with Resilon.

Thanks again,

Lynn
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