Questions to ask your dentist
when they suggest you need a Root Canal Therapy.
Here is a quick hit list of questions you should ask and feel good
about the answers. The answers supplied here are all verifiable
with published references.
Consider printing this page and taking it with you on your next
dental visit.
How do you plan to remove all of the dead tissue from my
tooth?
It is not possible to remove tissue from the dentine tubules or
the accessory canals.[i],[ii],[iii] It is not even possible to remove
all tissue from the inside of the canal.[iv] Thus infected gangrenous
tissue will always remain in the tooth, the breakdown products of
which have potentially serious consequences.
How do you plan to sterilize the tooth?
As long ago as 1925, Dr Weston price demonstrated the inability
of dentistry to sterilize teeth. Note that materials used today
are the same or similar to those used for the last 100 years. Current
research supports these findings.[v],[vi]. Current publications from the Australian Dental Association also supports these findings.
Why do I need antibiotics?
Unless the infection has spread from the tooth to the surrounding
tissue or systemically throughout the body, there is no relevance
in the use of antibiotics. If the blood supply to the tooth does
not exist (either because the tooth is dead or because it has been
removed during the root treatment procedure), it is not possible
for antibiotics to reach the depth of the tooth. Antibiotics cannot
affect the organisms in the tooth.[vii]
Antibiotics are commonly placed inside the tooth to try to kill the bacteria. Unfortunately they reach the bacteria in suboptimal levels and instead of killing the bacteria, promote antibiotic resistance in these organisms. Dentistry is thus a cause of a great medical problem facing humanity at present.
Are the materials you will use in any way toxic? Will they
remain in the tooth?
All materials used to ‘sterilize’ a tooth are toxic.
Some are Neurotoxic and effect nerve tissue. They interfere or stop
nerve transmission, in some cases irreversibly.[viii],[ix] Some
are mutagenic and carcinogenic.[x],[xi],[xii],[xiii],[xiv] All can,
and usually do leak out of the tooth. There is direct blood and
neural transport of all materials form the tooth to the brain. "Virtually
any irritation of the dental pulp or ‘amputation stump’
has the potential of transporting alegesic toxins throughout the
Trigeminal system whether they be of chemical or bacterial origin"
[xv],[xvi], [xvii], [xviii],[xix],[xx],[xxi],[xxii]
What happens to the bacteria, which remain alive in the
tooth?
Most organisms isolated from dead teeth are anaerobic.[xxiii] They
live quite happily in an oxygen-depleted environment such as a tooth.
These anaerobes will quite happily multiply and continue to produce
serious toxins, which will leach out of the tooth. The bacteria themselves can easilly spread from the tooth and infect other organs and tissues. This is called Focal Infection.
Can the toxins from these organisms affect my health?
The dental profession at large claim that Focal Infection from
dental causes does not exist, except in the case of patients with
heart problems. This attitude flies in the face of the volumes of
published research, which considers dental infections as a major
source of focal infection processes throughout the body.[xxiv] Organisms
and their toxins do escape from the tooth and may cause infections
and disease processes in remote parts of the body as well as causing
a more generalized allergic response.[xxv]
How do you know that the tooth is sterile before you fill
it?
Very occasionally you may find a dentist or endodontist who will
take a culture swab from the inside of a tooth and test for the
growth of organisms. Even if this is done they are only testing
for aerobic organisms. Culturing anaerobes (the most common organisms
in a dead tooth) is so difficult that it is usually only done for
research purposes. Even if these approaches were routinely done
they would still give false results, as they would only be taking
a swab from the canal surface, which is doused with sodium hypochlorite
or equivalent disinfectant, and not from the depths of the dentinal
tubules where most of the organisms reside.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to sterilize a tooth unless it is boiled for 30 minutes or autoclaved!
Most often the dentist will take a guess that the tooth is sterile.
There is no other scientific test available.
What materials will be used to fill my tooth?
Usually the root filling material used by most dentists is Gutta
Percha and some form of thin cement to ‘lock’ the points
in place and fill the gaps between them. Note that all materials
used as root fillings (including Gutta Percha) are cytotoxic. Some
contain formaldehyde and other toxic materials and some break down
to formaldehyde or ammonia or other dangerous substances. These are carcinogenic! Be aware
that whatever is placed inside the tooth will be transported throughout
your body within a matter of minutes. [xxvi],[xxvii],[xxviii],[xxix],[xxx],[xxxi],[xxxii],[xxxiii],[xxxiv],[xxxv]
Do the materials you plan to use either contain or breakdown
to Formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is cytotoxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, embryotoxic,
and teratogenic. It is often used in children’s teeth. NEVER
allow this material to be placed in your body or that of your children.
Formaldehyde is distributed throughout the body from a tooth within
minutes. [xxxvi],[xxxvii],[xxxviii],[xxxix],[xl],[xli]
Formaldehyde is found in some root filling cements (N2) and others such as AH26 will produce formaldehyde as part of their breakdown process.
Can you guarantee to completely occlude the canal?
There is not one root filling technique, which will completely
seal a root canal.[xlii],[xliii],[xliv],[xlv],[xlvi],[xlvii],[xlviii]
The blind faith demonstrated by the dental profession is sadly lacking
in scientific support.
How do you measure the success of a Root Canal Therapy?
Lack of pain and supposed resolution of a dental abscess is not
a guarantee that serious systemic consequences will not occur. Dentists
do not include systemic diseases as a consequence of dead teeth.
They will tell you that if it stops hurting or if the x-ray looks
OK than they have done a good job. These parameters are far too
limited to really assess the success of a root therapy.
Weston Price says that the belief that comfort is a sign of successful
treatment “...constitutes one of the greatest paradoxes and
one of the costliest diagnostic mistakes through injury to health.”
What happens if the Root Therapy Fails?
You will usually be recommended to re-do the treatment and/or to
have a procedure called an Apicectomy. This involves a surgical
approach to cut off the end of the root and physically clean out
the abscess. The whole procedure is untenable as it ignores that
the tooth is the source of the infection, which will of course remain.
It is NOT the bone.
This procedure will often incorporate placing a filling material
at the end of the root (Retrograde Root Filling) in an attempt to
seal the canal further. All Retrograde fillings leak. The worst
is amalgam.[xlix],[l],[li],[lii],[liii],[liv],[lv],[lvi],[lvii],[lviii]
Never allow amalgam to be implanted into your bone at the end of
the root. This is literally an implant of mercury directly into
the brain.
Can you supply me with references to support the claims of safety
of Root Canal Therapy?
Just as there is no reason to believe what is written here, there
is also no reason to trust the opposing views if they cannot be
substantiated with peer reviewed scientific papers. You do have
a right to information, which can be verified.
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References
[i] U. Schellenberg et al J. Endo 18:3 1992
[ii] Samulson H., Sieraski S "diseases of the dental histopathology
and pulp" ed/ Franklin S weine endodontic therapy 1989
[iii] Stanley H "Pulpal responses to ionomer cements"
JADA 1990
[iv] E. Mandel Scanning Electron Microscope Observation of Canal
Cleanliness. J. Endo. 16:6 1990
[v] Philip Delivanis Oral Surgery 1981 Vol 52 No 4
[vi] E. Berutti et al J. Endo 23:12 1997
[vii] Philip Delivanis Oral Surgery 1981 Vol 52 No 4
[viii] [Brodin P Roed A Aars H Orstavik D Neurotoxic effects of
root filling materials on rat phrenic nerve in vitro. J Dent Res
(1982 Aug) 61(8):1020-3
[ix] Serper A Ucer O Onur R Etikan I Comparative neurotoxic effects
of root canal filling materials on rat sciatic nerve. J Endod (1998
Sep) 24(9):592-4
[x] R. Gerosa et al J. Endo 21:9 1995
[xi] Geurtsen W Leyhausen G Biological aspects of root canal filling
materials-- histocompatibility,cytotoxicity, and mutagenicity. Clin
Oral Investig (1997 Feb) 1(1):5-11
[xii] Arenholt-Bindslev D Horsted-Bindslev P A simple model for
evaluating relative toxicity of root filling materials in cultures
of human oral fibroblasts. Endod Dent Traumatol (1989 Oct) 5(5):219-26
[xiii] Chong BS Owadally ID Pitt Ford TR Wilson RF Cytotoxicity
of potential retrograde root-filling materials. Endod Dent Traumatol
(1994 Jun) 10(3):129-33
[xiv] Peltola M Salo T Oikarinen K Toxic effects of various retrograde
root filling materials on gingival fibroblasts and rat sarcoma cells.
Endod Dent Traumatol (1992 Jun) 8(3):120-4
[xv] Price DL., Griffin J., Neurons and ensheathing cells as targets
of disease processes.
[xvi] Ed. P.S. Spencer. Experimental and Clinical Neurotoxicology
(Schaumburg: Wilkens and Wilkens 1980
[xvii] Kristensson K., Olssan Y., Diffusion Pathways and Retrograde
Transport in Peripheral nerves" Prog. In Neurobio. 1 (1973)
[xviii] Stortebecker. Mercury Poisoning from Dental Amalgam 1985
p38
[xix] Patrick Stortebecker - Dental Caries as a cause of nervous
disorders.
[xx] nArvidson J. Gobel S. “An HRP study of the Central Projections
of Primary Trigeminal Neurons which innovate tooth pulps in the
cat. Brain Res. 210 (1981) 1-16
[xxi] Marfurt C. Turner D Uptake and transneuronal transport of
Horseradish Peroxidase - Wheat Germ aglutinin by Tooth Pulp Primary
Afferent Neurons’ Brain Res. 452(1988) 381-387
[xxii] Capra N. Andersopn KV. Pride JB. Jones TE simultaneous “Demonstration
of Neuronal Somata that innovate the tooth pulp and adjacent periodontal
tissues using two retrogradely transported anatomic markers.”
Exp. Neurol 86(1984) 165-170
[xxiii] Wu, Moorer, Wesselink. Capacity of anaerobic bacteria enclosed
in a simulated root canal to induce inflammation. Int. Endodontic
Journal (1989) 22, 269-277
[xxiv] http:www.bcd.com.au Lists over 300 references
[xxv] Mechanism of Focal Infection J Am Dent Assoc Vol 42 June
1951(619-633)
[xxvi] Material Safety Data Sheets on each material. Available
from suppliers.
[xxvii] B. Briseno J. Endo. 16:8 1990
[xxviii] N. Economedes et al J. Endo 21:3 1995
[xxix] R. Gerosa et al J. Endo 21:9 1995
[xxx] Ersev H Schmalz G Bayirli G Schweikl H Cytotoxic and mutagenic
potencies of various root canal filling materials in eukaryotic
and prokaryotic cells in vitro. J Endod (1999 May) 25(5):359-63
[xxxi] [Pascon EA Spangberg LS In vitro cytotoxicity of root canal
filling materials: 1. Gutta- percha. J Endod (1990 Sep) 16(9):429-33
[xxxii] [Chong BS Pitt Ford TR Kariyawasam SP Short-term tissue
response to potential root-end filling materials in infected root
canals. Int Endod J (1997 Jul) 30(4):240-9
[xxxiii] [Chong BS Ford TR Kariyawasam SP Tissue response to potential
root-end filling materials in infected root canals. Int Endod J
(1997 Mar) 30(2):102-14
[xxxiv] [Peltola M Salo T Oikarinen K Toxic effects of various
retrograde root filling materials on gingival fibroblasts and rat
sarcoma cells. Endod Dent Traumatol (1992 Jun) 8(3):120-4
[xxxv] Geurtsen W Leyhausen G Biological aspects of root canal
filling materials-- histocompatibility,cytotoxicity, and mutagenicity.
Clin Oral Investig (1997 Feb) 1(1):5-11
[xxxvi] Hata G. et al. "Systemic distribution of 14 c-labelled
Formaldehyde applied in the root Canal following pulpectomy"
J. of Endo 15 No11 1989 539-543
[xxxvii]Capra N. Andersopn KV. Pride JB. Jones TE simultaneous
“Demonstration of Neuronal Somata that innovate the tooth
pulp and adjacent periodontal tissues using two retrogradely transported
anatomic markers.” Exp. Neurol 86(1984) 165-170
[xxxviii] Marfurt C. Turner D Uptake and transneuronal transport
of Horseradish Peroxidase - Wheat Germ aglutinin by Tooth Pulp Primary
Afferent Neurons’ Brain Res. 452(1988) 381-387
[xxxix] Arvidson J. Gobel S. “An HRP study of the Central
Projections of Primary Trigeminal Neurons which innovate tooth pulps
in the cat. “ Brain Res. 210 (1981) 1-16
[xl] nMarfurt C. Turner D ‘The central Projections of tooth
pulp afferent neurons in the rat as determined by the Transganglionic
transport of Horseradish Peroxidase" J. of Comp.Neuro 223 (1984)
535-547.
[xli] [Lewis BB Chestner SB Formaldehyde In Dentistry: A Review
Of Mutagenic And Carcinogenic Potential J Am Dent Assoc (1981) 103(3):429-434
[xlii] C. Budd J.Endo 17:6 1991
[xliii] F. Goldberg et al J. Endo 21:1 1995
[xliv] M. Magura J. Endo 17:7 1991
[xlv] J. Simons et al J. Endo 17:3 1991
[xlvi] lChong BS Pitt Ford TR Watson TF Wilson RF Sealing ability
of potential retrograde root filling materials. Endod Dent Traumatol
(1995 Dec) 11(6):264-9
[xlvii] lAdamo HL Buruiana R Schertzer L Boylan RJ A comparison
of MTA, Super-EBA, composite and amalgam as root-end filling materials
using a bacterial microleakage model. Int Endod J (1999 May) 32(3):197-203
[xlviii] lPeters LB Harrison JW A comparison of leakage of filling
materials in demineralized and non- demineralized resected root
ends under vacuum and non-vacuum conditions. Int Endod J (1992 Nov)
25(6):273-8
[xlix] AK Olson J. Endo 16:8 1990
[l] K. King Et Al J. Endo 16:7 1990
[li] S. Dorn J. Endo 16:8 1990
[lii] F Gerhards et al J. Endo 22:9 1996
[liii] C. Lee et al J. Endo 23:4 1997
[liv] J. Welch et al J. Endo 22:11 1996
[lv] F. Goldberg et al J. Endo 21:10 1995
[lvi] J. Smith et al J. Endo 18:4 1992
[lvii] M. Torabinejad et al J. Endo 21:3 1995
[lviii] D. Smith et al J. Endo 18:1 1992
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