More than 40,000 root canals are performed every day in the United States affecting more than 25 million people annually.

What most people haven’t yet come to realize is that root canal procedures can lead to serious life threatening or chronic health issues including cancer and heart disease.

Chronic Disease Linked to Root Canals

Dr. Weston Price, a well-known dentist and researcher noted for extensive research conducted in the early part of the 20^th Century, was able to demonstrate that a high percentage of chronic degenerative diseases can and do originate from root canal therapy. The most frequent are heart and circulatory diseases. The next most common diseases were those of the joints, arthritis and rheumatism followed by diseases of the brain and nervous system.

In one of his studies, Dr. Price transferred diseases harbored by humans into rabbits, by implanting fragments of teeth from root-canals. He found that root canal fragments transplanted from a person, who had suffered a heart attack, when implanted into a rabbit, would cause a heart attack in the rabbit within only a few short weeks. The heart attack study was conducted with 100% effectiveness while other diseases were more than 80% transferable by following this same method.

Through Dr. Price’s research we now know that nearly every chronic degenerative disease has been linked with root canals, including:

• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Arthritis, joint, and rheumatic diseases
• Neurological diseases such as ALS
• Autoimmune diseases
• Various types of cancers
• Musculoskeletal diseases
• Irritable bowel diseases such as Crohn’s Disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Depression

People with healthy immune systems can generally ward off most bacteria that stray away from the infected tooth. But as the immune system weakens, over time or due to an accident or illness or other trauma, a person’s body may not be able to keep the infection from advancing. A weakened immune system will then allow bacteria to grow unchecked and migrate out into surrounding tissues and into the blood stream, where they are then transported various sensitive locations of the body such as an organ or gland or tissue.

The Breast Cancer Connection

More recently, Dr. Robert Jones, a researcher, discovered an extremely high correlation between root canals and breast cancer. His five-year study of 300 breast cancer cases indicated that 93 percent of women with breast cancer had root canals and seven percent had other dental issues. Interestingly enough, in most cases tumors manifest on the same side of the body as the root canal(s) or other dental restoration. Dr. Jones deems that toxins from the bacteria in an infected tooth or jawbone inhibit the body’s natural ability to suppress tumor development.

The Demon Bacteria

Since there is no foolproof way to clean out the narrow tubules of a dead tooth, it will eventually become an incubator for highly toxic anaerobic bacteria. It has been found that literally billions of bacteria live in and around root canals, where they generate some of the most toxic organic substances, 1,000 times more toxic than botulism toxin. As the bacteria mutate over time into more and more virulent forms, they eventually migrate from the root of the tooth into the bone where they cause infections, called cavitations. Inside these bone cavities the bacteria begin to produce the more highly toxic poisons – including mercaptans, thioethers and others.

Dr. Jones relates the presence of toxins in the cells to the onset of cancer. His study indicates that the toxins thwart the production of key proteins and, without these proteins; there is nothing to stop cells or clusters of cells from becoming cancerous. Studies conducted at North Carolina Institute of Technology (NCIT) using toxins from 900 extracted root canal teeth and over 4000 biopsies of infected bone, have demonstrated extreme inhibition of the production of these important proteins. Their studies have led researchers to believe some cases of cancer are the result of chronic exposure to these toxins.

Although the American Dental Association and the American Association of Endodontists reject the research indicating that the bacteria found in and around root canals can cause disease, we know that they base this misguided assumption on the idea that the bacteria in diseased teeth are the SAME as normal bacteria in your mouth—and nothing could be farther from the facts.

Bacteria Linked to Disease

Bacteria can be identified using DNA analysis, whether they’re dead or alive, by looking at their DNA signatures. The Toxic Element Research Foundation (TERF) used DNA analysis to examine root canal teeth, and they found bacterial contamination in 100% of the samples tested. They were able to identify more than 40 different species of anaerobic bacteria in each sample. In cavitations, 67 different bacteria were identified among the 85 samples tested, with 19 to 53 types of bacteria each individual sample. The bacteria found by similar tests conducted by independent laboratories reveal the following types:

• Acinetobacter baumanii – linked to Pneumonia and Periodontal disease
• Gemella morbillorum – linked to invasive endocarditis, Meningitis & Arthritis
• Klebsiella – linked to pneumonia Lung infections, infections of the Urinary Tract, biliary tract & Osteomyelitis & Meningitis
• Porphyromonas gingivalis – Protein metabolism, Biofilms, leads to Bone destruction and Premature labor
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa – linked to Central Nervous System disorders, Endocarditis, Brain abscesses & increase in liver enzymes, Prosthetic heart valve invasion
• Streptococcus mitis – found in Strep Throat, Scarlet fever and linked to heart failure –

And this is just a sample of the more common types of bacteria. The following bacteria found in root canals of the TERF study are also known to affect the heart, nerves, kidneys, brain, and sinus cavities. They include:

• Rhpumatir fpvpr
• Capnocytophagaochraceavi
• Fusobacteriumnucleatumvii
• Leptotrichiabuccalis
• Porphyromonasgingivalis ix

Bottom Line: Root Canals Create Toxic Bacteria

Up to 400 percent more bacteria are found in the surrounding tissues of the root canal tooth than in the tooth itself, indicating that the dead tooth works as an incubator for bacteria that feed on the periodontal ligament where they mutate, grow in number and eventually invade the bone surrounding the root canal.

If you have been told you need a root canal your best option is to get a second opinion. In some cases your holistic dental practitioner will be able to find an alternative to root canal treatment or extraction. If that is not possible, we can work with you to make sure that the root canal treatment is done in such a way as to minimize toxicity of the tooth for a longer period of time. However, surgical extraction using biological method is still the most complete way to rid the body of this problem.

References:

Root Canals Dangerous

http://nmtpractitioner.com/doc/article/2008/RootCanal.html

97% of Terminal Cancer Patients Previously Had This Dental Procedure… http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/18/dangers-of-root-canaled-teeth.aspx?e_cid=20120218_DNL_art_1

The Dental Connection to Chronic Illness

http://www.naturalhealinghouse.com/articles_dental-connection.php

Today there is an increasing amount of people who choose to have their teeth replaced with dental implants. In some cases the replacement is immediate meaning that once teeth are removed, during the same surgery implants are placed to replace those previous teeth. The advantage of replacing a tooth with an implant at the time of extraction is that the amount of bone loss at the site of extraction is greatly minimized.  However for most people the decision or option to have their teeth replaced comes long after their teeth were lost, and after years of wearing removable partials, dentures or having fixed bridges anchored to adjacent teeth. The problem often encountered in  such cases is that the bone in the area where the teeth have been missing shrinks and there is significant loss of volume and height making it challenging to place implants . A bone augmentation or reconstruction procedure is then necessary and occasionally must be done prior to and in preparation for implant placement, this is what is commonly called a bone graft.

When situations of bone loss or long term absence of teeth present themselves the first step is to obtain the proper information for accurate diagnosis. A clinical and ultra low radiation 3D X-ray is taken of the jaw to be treated, the x-ray unit we use in our practice is called a Cone Beam CT Scan (CBCT) and it provides an accurate view and analysis of the problem. The slide show below shows how by means of clinical pictures and  dental CT scan we are able not only to plan the volume of bone that needs to be augmented but also with a second scan assess the success of the bone graft.

If I Have Titanium Implants, Should I Have Them Replaced

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A root canal is the hollow that exists in the middle of the tooth where the nerve is seated.

There is a soft part of the root canal which is referred to as the pulp or pulp chamber. When a tooth is diseased from decay or distress often a root canal dentist also called endodontist is called in to repair or remove the center of the tooth removing the nerve and pulp, but leaving the now dead tooth behind.

Having a dead or dying tooth remain in the mouth can cause serious concerns. There are healthier and more predictable alternatives to root canal treatment, but if the dentist is not holistic or biological in his/her approach to oral health there is a good chance that the patient is not given a choice about what procedure should be performed.

There are three  important facts to know before you make that appointment for your root canal:

1. A root canal is in essence the mummifying of a dead tissue or organ left inside your mouth. If you had an organ failing would you have it preserved and left in your body?
2. Despite the best efforts of modern technology there is absolutely no way to remove all of the infected material in an embalmed tooth.
3. With the infected material left behind eventually the bacteria will leak out of the root canal and attack your immune system.

Step one…

A small hole is drilled into the middle of the tooth which allows some access to the inner chamber. Once inside the chamber the nerve, lymph and blood vessels are accessible.  A tiny path or canal runs to the tip of the root where the canal receives its blood supply.  The front teeth or anterior teeth have a single canal and the back teeth or posterior teeth for two to four canals, depending on where the tooth is located.

The main canals can be partially cleaned using a very small file, but each tooth has miles of very minute tubules that cannot be reached or entirely cleaned. However the smallness of the tubules does not stop dozens of bacteria from living comfortably inside. This is unfortunate because not even one white blood cell (our own natural defense system against bacteria) can enter the tubules.  Since the blood supply to the tooth is gone antibiotics are ineffectual because they need the blood stream to be carried throughout the body.

Step two…

The tooth is sealed off creating essentially a tomb. Soon this mini-tomb is filled with a type of bacteria that thrives in an oxygen free environment called anaerobic bacteria. As a matter of fact they multiply at an alarming speed and soon seek a vent to escape the confines of the tomb.  Sometimes the root canal seal is ineffective or perhaps there is a micro-fracture in the wall of the tooth. Either of these scenarios is perfect as an escape route for the anaerobic bacteria.

Additionally root canal treatments contribute to infection or sickness in the body because of the toxic gases that are emitted by the now contaminated root canal tooth or teeth. These toxic gases are actually neurotoxins and over time the buildup of gases creates a strain on the immune system.

Sealants and Microbes

The substance most dentists use to seal a root canal is gutta percha. Gutta percha comes from a tree in SouthEast Asia. It is a natural rubber which has been used for many years in dentistry. When warmed up it is very pliable and easily packs or fills the root canal space.  However, when the sealant cools is shrinks which allows bacteria to leak though the top of the tooth.

Another substance used as a sealant is Biocalix.  Research has shown that this man made sealant breaks down within 12 to 18 months allowing bacteria to invade the bloodstream and potentially infect the entire body.

Energy Blockage

Teeth are connected to the body through meridian pathways.  Energy flows through these meridian pathways throughout the body, but when a tooth dies a blockage occurs which thwarts the flow of energy to all the systems on that meridian. For example: an infection in a maxillary first molar may block the flow of energy to the stomach or breasts as they are on the same meridian pathway. In a recent study out of 60 women with breast cancer; 57 had a root canal on a tooth situated on the breast meridian.

The root canal procedure cannot effectively seal or prevent the leakage of toxic bacteria into the body. Even if the root canal could be sealed completely the flow of energy would be interrupted and the flow of energy for that system would be gone thus leaving it open to infection and failure.

Root Canal Failure

The growing colony of anaerobic bacteria finds an escape route and invades the bloodstream and an infection begins.  In many cases the patient does not know there is a problem until it is too late.  By then the infection has spread and the patient is in danger of sustaining bone loss and a lack of support for the teeth involved.

The patient now must undergo a second invasive procedure called an apicoectomy. The procedure comprises of an incision in the gum near the tip of the root and the debriding (scraping) of the infected area. Then the tooth is retro-filled with an amalgam filling which is placed directly into the tip of the root. The material used for the procedure is often an amalgam of silver and usually contains other metals including mercury which is another serious issue.

A Healthier Choice for Treating a Dead Tooth

It is often better for patients to extract or remove a tooth rather than undergo root canal therapy. The removal of a failed root canal can be a costly and uncomfortable procedure: Because the tooth is already dead there is a danger of the tooth becoming brittle and as a result often break or chip into pieces during the extraction. Removal of the dead tooth and the placement of a clean compatible appliance can ultimately be the healthiest and most cost effective option to the invasive root canal re-treatment and apicoectomy procedure.

At Miles of Smiles Implant Dentistry, we often recommend patients who have had a tooth extracted get it replaced with a biocompatible ceramic dental implant. For more information about these new implants, you can read more at Zirconia Implants.