Root Canals:
 "The good, the Bad & the Ugly"

 The Good: Root canal treatments save the teeth.

 The Bad: Root canalled teeth never remain sterile, and harbor bacteria.

 The Ugly: These bacteria create toxins that can affect the body systemically according to ADA sponsored research.

My position concerning the root canal issue is 180 degrees from the traditional viewpoint. I concur with the position of Dr. Levy, MD, a board certified cardiologist and lawyer, who states: " it is unfortunate but the procedure of root canal therapy is simply flawed".

The problem is no matter how well the canal part of the tooth is debrided and sterilized by the dental practitioner, there still remains a myriad of bacterial forms trapped within literally miles of inaccessible dentinal tubules. These tubules are a safe haven creating warm, dark, moist, oxygen free environment. Anaerobic bacterial forms set up housekeeping and their toxic byproducts diffuse into the microvascular system of the adjacent periodontal ligament, and from there venture to distant regions of the body, affecting different susceptible genetically predisposed tissues of the host.

Patients need to know this; they need to be informed of this information.

Early research by Dr. Weston Price, sponsored by the ADA, showed a direct cause and effect relationship between root canal filled teeth and systemic disease. This research was done prior to 1940. Current research by Dr. Boyd Haley at the University of Kentucky concurs with Price's findings and demonstrates extreme supertoxins generated from these supposedly sterile root filled teeth.

What are the treatment options for a patient when a dead or abscessed tooth is diagnosed by their dentist?

1- Have traditional root canal therapy utilizing gutta percha technique (does not reduce bacterial load).

2-Use alternative Biocalyx instead of gutta percha. Biocalyx  greatly reduces bacterial load by creating a highly alkaline environment. The material diffuses into the dentinal tubules. Neither aerobic or anaerobic bacteria can live in this alkaline milieu (reduces bacterial load but does not completely eliminate toxicity)

3- Extract with thorough socket debridement to avoid cavitations formation( completely eliminates toxic load).

Each patient should be given this information to enable them to make an INFORMED CHOICE concerning their health.

Questions with which the patient will wrestle are:

1. Should I extract or have root canal therapy with Biocalyx?

2. Should existing root filled teeth be extracted?

3. If I extract, what will happen to my bite?

Each patient will need to make an individual decision, an informed choice with feedback and support from their dentist. Do not allow yourself to be talked into any treatment for which you have unanswered questions!!

As you know, the root canal is  not  essentially conical in nature as seen in the final Endodontic radiograph. numerous dye studies have shown the actual " Root Canal" to be much more: a system - a series of webs, fins, lateral canals, deltoids and dentinal tubules with organic debris and bacteria in them. This complicated anatomy makes thorough debridement of the canal though traditional instrumentation alone even more difficult. At best we are  disinfecting the canal system. With laser assisted endodontics we come much more closer to actual sterilization of the canal. Attaining such a high level of sterilization significantly improves  the long term prognosis for the laser treated teeth. Moreover, from a holistic medicine perspective, achieving such a high level of sterilization promotes the patients overall well- being.