Root Canal Toxicity & Biological Dentistry

Conventional view: Root canals are safe, effective, save teeth (alternative is extraction—lose tooth), billions performed, no proven link to systemic disease, ADA/AAE endorse root canals, Biological dentistry concerns: Dead tooth left in body (no blood supply—bacteria can persist in dentinal tubules, impossible to sterilize 100%), Chronic focal infection (some root canals harbor bacteria—produce toxins, may seed distant sites via blood/lymph—"focal infection theory," controversial, not definitively proven but clinical observations), Systemic effects (some practitioners observe chronic illnesses improve after root canal extraction—autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, cancer, heart disease; Weston Price research 1920s-30s showed bacteria from root canals caused disease in rabbits when implanted—controversial, research methodology questioned but never refuted), Cavitations (jawbone infection—sometimes develops after extraction or around root canals, dead bone harbors bacteria, difficult to diagnose, requires 3D imaging and biological dentist expertise), Biological dentistry approach: Evaluate root canals (3D imaging, thermography, bacterial DNA testing), Consider extraction (especially if chronically ill, multiple root canals, suspected focal infection), Proper extraction protocol (remove tooth, clean socket thoroughly, address any cavitation, ozone treatment, PRF—platelet-rich fibrin to aid healing), Biocompatible replacement (zirconia implant preferred over titanium), Controversy and nuance: Root canals likely safe for SOME people (healthy immune system, well-done root canal, no bacterial persistence, many people have root canals with no issues), May be problematic for OTHERS (immunocompromised, chronically ill, poor root canal technique, persistent infection, genetic susceptibility), Individual assessment needed (not one-size-fits-all—biological dentist can evaluate, patient decides based on health status, risk tolerance), Preventive approach best (avoid need for root canals—excellent oral hygiene, nutrient-dense diet, treat cavities early, minimize sugar/processed foods), If have root canals and chronically ill: Consider biological dental evaluation (especially if multiple root canals, suspected dental contribution to illness), Extraction is permanent decision (weigh carefully—may or may not improve health, creates need for tooth replacement, expensive), Some people improve dramatically (anecdotal reports—chronic illness resolves after root canal extraction, but no controlled studies, hard to know if causal or coincidental), Conservative approach: Optimize health first (diet, gut, detox, immune support), then reassess if dental work needed