...like hypothyroidism & hashimotos.
Trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=4tLhsto...
And the moral of the story is, don't have root canal done. I wish I saw it years ago before I had my root canal, which caused a big abscess that would not go away, even after 3 lots of root canal, on my lower middle molar which is directly linked to the thyroid apparently. The infection is probably still stuck in there, even though I had my tooth pulled finally. Holistic dentist anyone?
The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.
This must be the all time record for quackology. Root canal is a procedure that should be done by a skilled endodontist. It saves a tooth, enhances oral health and eliminates complications of poor oral health. If one follows the logic of this video people with no teeth would be incredibly healthy!
It saved a bit of a tooth & it caused a large abscess, as I said. I literally had a puss filled ball on the side of it, I had to go back for more root canal & drainage. I also got an ear infection & panic attacks right after, as well as a fever. I got gingivitis frequently. I finally had the tooth pulled a couple of years back because it was still causing pain. The dentist said the tooth was knackered & there was still some infection in there, after he pulled it, it looked horrible. But before all that, he looked at the x-ray & said he was impressed with the root canal, he actually asked me which dentist did it. What an absolute waste of my money.
Also I suddenly developed enlarged bleeding tonsils with tonsil stones, this all right after that root canal, strange coincidence?
I forgot the inflamed adenoids too, I still have all these health problems now. If only I could travel back in time & make a different decision and/or look after my teeth better when I was young but I was not taught to floss & we never visted the dentist cos it was seen as an unnecessary expense by my guardians.
They probably are! Certainly they are better off than with hidden infections.
Jim .. How very rude in reply to Limbo ....!! I am shocked by your judgemental statement. I don't think that Limbolass had a DIY root canal.
"What if I could tell you that 98% of women with breast cancer have a root canal on the same side as their breast cancer". Just one of the dangerous quack statements in this film which is no doubt making the author very rich. I criticised the film not Limbolass, I don't shoot the messenger.
As I mentioned it's very important to get a skilled endodontist who is able to explain the benefits and risks. In my case it was a very difficult decision. I had a diseased molarh causing no pain but with an infection that had spread to the sinus (there is a 1mm - 2mm membrane between the molar and nasal sinus). My option was to have the tooth extracted which most likely eliminate the infection but with the disadvantage that I would have reduced ability to chew on one side (it's no good having a lower molar without the upper one!). The root canal would be difficult and he couldn't guarantee the infection would go away but it would preserve the tooth. After much deliberation we went ahead, it needed an extra session but it was successful. The important point is not to regard it as a simple operation like a filling. The patient is already in a bad way if they need a root canal. The risks and benefits need to be discussed with the specialist and you try and get someone who has the capability to do what is a complex operation. Some root canal procedures are simpler than others. The best answer is to look after your teeth. The good news is that I see so many young people with fantastic teeth, they do far better than my generation.
Thank you for your more courteous reply. You do however still insist on using the word 'quack' which is highly derogatory to the trained practitioners who have undertaken extensive further training to learn how to safely undo the kind of proceedures to which you refer. I urge you Jim to locate a Biological Dentist to keep an eye on this canal so that when it does fail (and they have a limited lifespan since obsolescence is built in) to remove it for you. The sinus area is very delicate and can be pierced by any kind of prosthesis in the vicinity. Eventually the infection, clearly not addressed, will spread again and frankly I am worried for you.
The sinus was pierced, by the dental decay. The root canal treatment sealed the breach of the sinus membrane. I don't think I will develop breast cancer as a result of having this root canal but I will keep a close eye on my left tit, just in case this guy is a genius.
Thing is the infection will still be there. That's what is worrying me.
There's a risk an infection could remain but the root is cleaned out, filled and sealed. I'm obviously not an expert on this but I don't see much difference between a root canal and a filling from an infection point of view. It is important to get good advice and treatment, which is easier to say than achieve. We are lucky in that UK in that our medicine is not as commercially driven as the USA and so are less likely to be duped into inappropriate surgery.
You make two very interesting points. One about the comparison between a filling and a root canal and the other about the political status of medicine in the UK.
HERE IS A NEUTRAL DESCRIPTION which I found (though not by an english author)
What is the difference between root canal and teeth filling?
You need to understand first tooth structure:-
Here, you can see that the living tissue of tooth ie pulp is formed most internally, followed by dentin and then enamel.
If just filling is done then it's something like this,
The filling is limited to enamel or dentin or maybe just coronal pulp only.
As you can observe in first figure if you is going for root canal treatment it extends upto pulp of root of teeth and it would be something like this,
Here, cleaning of infection to root of tooth is done,…..then ,
Now, radiographically it seems something like this,
I hope you understood the difference between just tooth fillings and root canal treatment.
Image source: google….
3.3k Views · View 14 Upvoters
OOps the diagrams haven't been displayed. I'll let you look up these details but the important difference is that a filling replaces more inert tooth material .... which apparently we can re-mineralise. It takes a lot of conscious effort with diet and lifestyle... and is where we've all gone wrong in the first place....!!!!! A root canal however involves the removal of the 'living' part of a tooth. Within the pulp zone are all the blood vessels and nerves....these are scraped out with a blade effectively killing the tooth. What is left is a dead piece of anatomy . Parts of the body not served with a blood supply not only wither but necrose. This process of infection leads to localised sepsis and the end result of uncontrolled systemic sepsis is death as we all by now have been made aware. The problem with a root canal is that the nerves have been taken out (in addition to the blood supply) thus we cannot feel the pressure from localised sepsis until its spreads to the next tooth and the next . We can end up losing three teeth instead of just one. The pulp canal is filled with material called the gutta percha a horrible mix which includes material that shows up on xray.
PubMed
US National Library of
Composition and mechanical properties of gutta-percha endodontic points.
Friedman CM, Sandrik JL, Heuer MA, Rapp GW.
Abstract
Gutta-percha endodontic filling points were found to contain approximately 20% gutta-percha (matrix), 66% zinc oxide (filler), 11% heavy metal sulfates (radiopacifier), and 3% waxes and/or resins (plasticizer). The mechanical properties were indicative of a partially crystalline viscoelastic polymeric material. They were found to obey Hooke's law and displayed a prominent upper and lower yield point when stressed beyond the proportional limit. The essential differences in mechanical properties of individual brands were found to be a function of the gutta-percha and zinc oxide concentration.
This is getting maybe too long for the post so I'll put it up and continue, if of interest to you?
It’s irresponsible scaremongering at its best. Millions of people have had root canal procedures undertaken. Any dentist worth his or her salt will tell you that they’re not a permanent fix but only save the tooth for a few more years - perhaps 10 at best. If they really were this dangerous then many many people would be affected - and they aren’t.
Poor dental hygiene on the other hand - a well-documented cause of ill health. And dare I say those with poor dental hygiene are more likely to get root canals. Correlation perhaps, not cause and effect.
The Guardian today has this article: theguardian.com/society/201...
I have two root canal fillings which have been there for, perhaps, 20 years. They appear still to be working perfectly well.
I am currently halfway through having another one done. My choice being a root canal or loss of one of my two front top teeth. The reason for its demise being very largely trauma from over 50 years ago. However, the accumulated damage did result in a horrible, huge and deeply unpleasant abscess a few months ago. Which is why the treatment now.
I do not believe there is any evidence of breast cancer. Most especially, that any that do occur are usually on the same side for causal reasons.
Yes - I too am concerned that the substances used are chosen to minimise or eliminate any possible issues. I am also concerned as to the quality of the whole process.
I’m also halfway through root canal, hence my rather more robust than usual response to this. I don’t have a problem with people presenting their views on root canal. I do however have a problem with people using very old and inaccurate research to justify their biased point of view and making films like this designed to scare the sh*t out of people.
Hope your treatment continues well, Rod.
Well, if the delicacy of the dentist is anything to go by, it will be brilliant!
Both the dentists in the practice have managed to inject my gum without me feeling anything worse than the slight increase in pressure. No pain whatsoever. (Many years ago, a dentist claimed that the sharp electric shock from the needle proved he had injected the right place. Rubbish. It definitely should not be necessary to cause that pain in order to reduce later pain.)
My first root canal was prepared by a trainee dentist in a dental hospital in London. As he did it, the professor came round and was very impressed by his care, attention and skill. I suspect he deservedly got a first class honours degree.
Just make sure there is no mercury in the filling that is used.
Mine is a mercury-free dental clinic. 😀
Although I am definitely over 15...
Europe is banning the use of amalgam fillings in pregnant or nursing women and children under the age of 15. The rule takes effect on July 1, 2018
Poor dental hygiene is not the only cause of root canals. I had an abscess caused by a partially popped popcorn kernel which cut my gum causing an infection whilst I was in Turkey. Ended up with root canal filling and eventually lost the tooth. Don't tar people who have had root canal fillings as having poor dental hygiene when you don't have the facts!
When someone talks about juice cleanses, chakra balancing, drinking his own urine, and meridian lines, to deal with his health issues, I'm unlikely to take anything else they say, very seriously.
Sorry to hear that MaiseyGray. I prefer to explore beyond the medical model which has let me and many others down. That said I hope to encourage change ... for the better!
Being receptive to other than the medical approach to good health and health care, is one thing; balancing one's chakras and drinking urine is entirely another. During the years I practised as a clinical therapist, I also studied and trained in a number of methods of what might variously be collectivized as 'healing' for instance, my intention being to offer different models to clients who sought alternatives to the more mainstream therapeutic approaches. Unfortunately the training served only to reinforce my view that it was all so many smoke and mirrors, and bottles of snake oil.
Oh Maisie I'm very sorry to hear that.
I remain optimistic about Functional medecine, Homeopathy, Traditional herbalism and Chinese herbalism... among many other long standing disciplines out there. Including 'Faith healing'.
There's absolutely nothing to feel sorry about, I don't feel it is in any way a loss or disadvantage. Each to their own, just so long as people don't mislead or con others with their beliefs, everything's fine and dandy.
It was also intended to add humour to the film! We don't know if he did drink his own urine. He might have done. I believe it is practise in Ayurveda which is an age-old traditional form of medicine. There's probably a good reason for it. It may become important to explore these things for the time when our pharmaceutical racket gets exposed and finally crashes.
OK the film itself isn't great, I admit that but it's message & information was very useful to me.
Not going to watch that video(squeamish & its only 8a.m)My experience was an absess that I believe made chronic fatigue of my thyroid condition worse.This was followed by a root canal proceedure which led to a smouldering absess which led to more chronic fatigue(dentist must have seen it on my X-rays) but it wasn't diagnosed until I changed to my present dentist,who pulled the tooth & made the previous dentist cough up.I know a lot of people who's root canal goes on to fail & the tooth is pulled in the end.I think it can be a money-earning proceedure not always in the best interests of the patient.
Having said that,quackery is alive & kicking on the internet!
Wow! I'm so impressed that your Dentist fought your corner and defended you from the negligence of the prior Dentist. Would you be willing to give us both their names? Both the good and the bad? This would be an extremely helpful resource for others. But may I ask if the second Dentist pulled the periodontal ligament out? Conventional Dentists are not trained to do this. Was yours a Biological Dentist? If so you'll be ok .... but if not you need to be aware that "Cavitations" can form at sites where teeth have been incorrectly removed. (Which is to say without the ligament being taken out ... and the site refilled with PRF or PGRF...which I'll let you look up...). These vital steps help to replace lost bone once any necrosis has been removed. Also if anyone is thinking of having a root canal extracted its important to ensure that this happens.... its not a case of just yanking things out!!
OMG!
If it was a recent extraction you'll be able to follow this up without detriment. Who was the 2nd Dentist? He may have been biological. I do hope so. Or he may be teaching himself these techniques. Many are nowadays. Its heart warming. We have Dentists coming on to learn the additional info that they need xx There are also biological Dentists on the site who come on and give advice or who come on to inform themselves.
Thanks for sharing your info. But why the reference to 'quackery'? It seems you've been lucky and had very effective help. Would you share the name of your Dentist? And the one which you do not recommend?
I watched it, and didn't know what to make of it. If it's all true, then it's pretty worrying. But the show was presented in a way that reminded me of other documentaries I've watched, that spouted whatever unproven information they liked, because no one would challenge them, and which I've then later gone on to find out were complete nonsense.
I have hashimotos, but have never had a root canal, if that helps.
Now you mention it...
I haven’t seen the film but read all the comments here. I do know a lot of people who have really suffered with simmering abscesses that can’t be readily detected because the root canal treatment means the infection has got very bad and this can really impair health. Do root canals save teeth? Absolutely. I’ve got two to prove it. But I also take what most mainstream dentists with a pinch of salt because they are still putting amalgam fillings in people (honestly - my friends 19 yr old daughter came back from the nhs dentist last week none the wiser til her mum informed her she had two mercury laden fillings in her teeth). I won’t even go there with fluoride. So I’m personally happy to keep my mind open about what might be best or not to put in my mouth and not necessarily believe what the so called professionals tell me.
I have Sjögren’s and Hashis plus atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia and advanced small fibre neuropathy throughout my body.
I have had very weak teeth from a young age despite my late mum being scrupulously careful about what we ate. When I was 19 I had my first root canal in a lower molar with five roots. I had an appalling abscess because the dentist missed 3 of the roots but to be fair it was like looking for a needle in haystack.
Now I have just had the root canal next to it removed and cleaned out and replaced by my dentist and this large one with 5 roots will be redone in the university dental hospital by an endodontist. I quizzed the endodontist/ doctor of root canal on alternatives but there are none apart from extraction and large gap of two front molars because of surrounding teeth being too weak for implants or dentures. He said extraction would be final, visible and probably cause a lisp as these molars are front ones.
I wouldn’t watch this Root Cause for love nor money because there are no credible alternatives for me. I would only consider watching it if there were.
But for what it’s worth I’m sure my autoimmunity began before most of the dental work started so my weak teeth may be the result of a crazy immune system but I don’t think my dental issues caused it.
Also I really dislike the assumption that bad teeth are always the result of poor dental hygiene and I am feeling upset enough at the idea of having to have 6 root canals this year without conspiracy theory programmes like this being pointed out by people here and on Facebook.
My Auto-immunity started at least 25 years before root canals, so I cannot connect the two either. I was/am also a grinder which creates tons of issues, even tooth loss! So, even though I do some “wholistic” things, very basic, this area is on the fringe for me!
There are night guards that can be worn to protect your teeth from grinding. They also very gently help to correct the bite (braces on the other hand cause problems). Both of these important issues can be addressed by a biological dentist. xx
Thank you!!! I do and have worn a night guard for years. Tried probably 4 styles. Bitten through two😳😳😳😳 Clearly, I am stressed😂 There have been studies on grinding being both stress and/or allergies. I have both😬
I am however, in a state that does not have a plethora of advanced dentistry....😭
The other thing that will heal this is a 6 month minimum course of Mimosa Pudica. It treats worms. They cause teeth grinding at night xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Seriously!???? ! I am also having skin issues that can be related to virus/parasite/or “whatever” Perhaps your suggestion is the answer!
Hi Pearl, really glad that I could be of help. There are groups which offer support for parasite cleansing. I'd love to know what you decide to do and how you will get on. What is your first step going to be????? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello again! I did kook up the herb you suggested., It looks promising, but I will have to check eith my Dr.
So glad! It is completely natural and very effective. You can add in other anti helmintics such as black walnut and others but mimosa pudica.... the sensitive plant is great xx Don't forget that if we still have amalgams if candida and worms are not completely over-running us they are helping by eating our excess mercury !
Unfortunately...allergic to black walnut 🤷🏻♀️
Don't worry. You are probably the very sensitive type. Just keep it really simple and stick with the Mimosa Pudica. You will find that it works very effectively but gently. It scrapes clean the bowel wall. Without actually scraping. Lovely job....!! xx
PS have always loved sensitive plants!!
(Totally an aside😂)
I apologise for the “poor dental hygiene comment” as it does seem to have touched a nerve (root canal pun intended 
) - I truly didn’t mean to insinuate that people somehow deserved to have tooth problems. “Poor dental health” is probably what I should have said - because, sometimes, through no fault of your own (illness, genes, accidents etc) your teeth may not be as healthy and strong as you might like. And sadly, poor dental health is correlated with other heath conditions—there’s quite a bit of evidence for that. But the assertion “root canal equals cancer” is a step too far, which is why I think posts like this can be incredibly unhelpful, especially as you say, without proposing any kind of alternative.
Apology accepted by me anyway - it was the post itself that, for me personally - was the unhelpful issue here. In our ancestors’ days folklore had it that rheumatoid arthritis was the result of poor dental hygiene and teeth were pulled out to rid people of their RA. This didn’t improve the prognosis at all from what I’ve learned but maybe the folklore lives on to be exploited?
So the connection with autoimmunity is pretty tenuous and I suspect more serious research comes in other forms than Netflix (ie for entertainment) documentaries.
There may indeed be something in the connection between chemicals used such as fluoride and allergies/ mast cell changes. My dentist and my endodentist say off the record that my Trigeminal neuropathy could be related to the damage caused in the bone from a root canal abscess formed after root canal when I was 19.
I have had constant burning in my lips and gums relating to damaged small nerve fibres and very rare Sjögren’s ganglionopathy and the pain makes me very tetchy where half baked theories are concerned. So much is about the quality of dentistry and how effectively we can keep on top of dental issues. I keep on top of mine brilliantly considering how dry my mouth is - but old damage and root canals always need to be vigilantly addressed
Meanwhile many latch on to poor quality dental work and form a connection between amalgam and root canals where there may well be none- and the makers of this documentary have a profit motive if its on Netflix.
After all long before root canals existed people died young from the direct consequences of rotten gums and teeth causing systemic infections. Root canals do need to be performed by very good practitioners because they are very fiddly and can easily go wrong in bad hands.
So yes there is some risk associated - but this needs to viewed in a much wider context of overall improvements in mortality and health by progress in dentistry over the decades.
I quite agree.
Well, second step of my root canal tomorrow. Here’s hoping my dentist is competent enough - I *think* he is.
But could I have done without seeing a thread about all this? Oh yes.
Profit motive? Oh don't be so ridiculous. The film (though for me over dramatic) is clearly intended to provide much needed public information.
How unpleasant you must be to call my comment ridiculous when all I have said was the same as many others here have said.
And I’ve explained that I’m feeling vulnerable enough with autoimmunity attacking my teeth and actually am about to have an invasive procedure by endoscopy. So there really is no call to be personally rude when I’m merely stating my opinion about a Netflix documentary - not commenting on the various, very differing opinions expressed here - as you are.
"....leads me to the reasonable assumption that there is probably a profit motive in books to be sold and fear mongering going on".
This is what you say about something you haven't even viewed. Would it be fairer to say your comment is 'uninformed' .....? I apologise if 'ridiculous' was a bit harsh.
I am extremely concerned about the route you are choosing to go down. I cannot help myself. I always speak up for my patients.
As I have said several times on this thread I’m extremely well informed about my own conditions and chose not to watch it for personal reasons.
I have read enough comments from those who have watched it here and elsewhere and can make an educated guess about the rest from what you and others have said and the fact that it’s on Netflix at all - to feel clear that I don’t need this kind of unnecessary fear mongering in my life.
I’m not one of your patients but I know plenty of nurses, including my daughter in law, who choose to smoke and make other bad lifestyle choices, not to be remotely influenced by your understanding of medicine compared to my own. Instead i choose to trust my highly trained and skilled NHS dentist and his endondontist doctor-supervisor to determine the best of very few options. None of this is is ideal at all - but nor is having chronic autoimmune diseases or cancer. Doesn’t mean we should blame mainstream dentistry for them though.
Why not? Dentistry is conspicuously to blame.
As you suggested I just googled your Biological Dentistry to see what it was and this paragraph was the one that seemed to confirm my perspective about possible profit motive.
Even if I was enthusiastic about alternatives, which I might well be if I thought they would help me avoid major dental work, I’m not in the income bracket for this option as I’m not well enough to earn.
For what it’s worth I avoid sugary foods, acid foods, eat lots of veg, have tried mouth guards but I chewed through them and am a nose breather not a grinder now anyway. Still my teeth are awful because I have an autoimmune disease that makes them bad and because my parents didn’t give me the MMR vaccine when I was little so I got measles, mumps and German measles plus very severe chicken pox.
It’s no one’s fault I’ve have had weak teeth from infancy but it does mean some people like me really do need and value very good mainstream NHS dental care:
Wiki - alternative dentistry: “Many practices and opinions among alternative dentists are criticized as not being evidence-based by the mainstream dental community and skeptics of alternative medicine in general. Generally speaking, such dentists charge far more for the same dental treatment compared to mainstream dentists, as they consider themselves to be providing special care”
Yes they are providing 'special care'... which is clearing up after Conventional Dentist's mess up people's mouths. Look I seem to be upsetting people on here. Its not my intention at all. I sincerely wish you all luck. And you know were to find help in the group I've mentioned below if we can be of any assistance. xxx
This entry has clearly been updated by a Conventional Dentist to obfiscate. So its not very reliable. I am so sorry but I recommend avoiding hospitals and conventional medicine at all costs. And I trained as a nurse. Its an abusive system. We are paying for them. Not the other way around.
Twitchy, I've had loads of unpleasant dental experiences which I won't list here. As o said before... "I'm also upset about a lot of things, but I'm glad that there are documentaries out there covering a diverse range of issues which people can choose to either watch or miss."
I do dislike online patient communities where insensitivity prevails. For example I haven’t had breast cancer fortunately but would feel just the same way if a post title popped up suggesting unhelpful and unverifiable causes of breast cancer in the post heading.
I guess what I am just saying is that I do wish people here would stick to posting what they do know about and do understand and can discuss intelligently - not what they can’t. Some people will be scared off going to their dentists to get important dental work done and end up with abscesses (which can even lead occasionally to sepsis) and rotten teeth!
So each time this wretched heading, “Root Cause”, pops up in my email alerts I feel more hacked off and worried about getting something done that I have no real choice but to go ahead with, whether I choose to read the post or respond to it or not.
Cheerio.
But of course you have a choice. If you are concerned it would be wiser to halt for a period of re-consideration that to force yourself (bravely) to continue in the face of reasonable questions based on other people's experience. If you, or others, would like more information why not visit the "NICO" forum on Facebook. Neurological Inducing Cavitation Osteonecrosis. The Group opposes Root Canals and we explore alternatives.
"....going to their dentists to get important dental work done and end up with abscesses (which can even lead occasionally to sepsis) and rotten teeth! " Exactly. This is precisely what going to a conventional dentist does to people. They get root canals which cause abscesses that lead to sepsis .... and other apparently unrelated health conditions.... including autoimmunity which is merely a label. Actually what autoimmunity is is the efforts of the body to fight infections. Usually multiple hidden infections. Such as those generated by root canals.
What so you would like this forum to be censored then? Goodbye forum in that case.
Yes well perhaps you aren’t facing the prospect of major dental work throughout the year due to a systemic autoimmune disease then! Frankly, links to serious research are one thing but discussion amongst the medically untrained on communities such as this one should be intelligent and supportive - not flagging up pseudoscience that presents us with no real alternative.
Pseudoscience....??? I'm shocked by your observation. Do please research Biological Dentistry. It is in this domain that true science and caring patient orientated medicine is practised. The current medical model in the USA (which threatens to come here if we don't appreciate and stand up for those who are truly fighting for our health), is a business practice. It is not medicine.
I have not watched it because the title was too off putting and the fact that it offers no viable alternatives for me and is to be found on Netflix and apparently points to connections with breast cancer - leads me to the reasonable assumption that there is probably a profit motive in books to be sold and fear mongering going on.
If I’m wrong then I trust my Senior NHS endodontist - who leads endodontestry in a university teaching hospital with a PhD in root canal research - would have told me.
I regret that your trust might be misplaced. I would urge you to seek alternatives.... which do not include having devices in your mouth.
Biological dentists are an alternative. I just asked if there is a list on here, or try Google. I found an ecological thyroid doctor on Google & he's very near to me, he's private of course so I would have to use my credit card when I can afford it.
Did you watch the video? There are medically trained doctors & dentists in it.
You know nothing about me Londinium?! For all you know I’m just as qualified as these people you are talking about. People with PHDs are ten a penny - I only haven’t completed one myself because I wasn’t well enough to.
I could as easily say that people who are qualified endocrinologists all know more about the thyroid than any of us here. Maybe they do but I bet lots of people here who don’t think so!
And I’m not saying no one should post here about anything they feel to be relevant - but I’m exercising my right to say that I don’t like titles like this with awful images attached to them popping up insensitively in my inbox!
Inflammation and autoimmunity - was I arguing with you about these? No I don’t think so. I was just saying I think this post and the attached video are rather scare mongering and I have Sjögren’s which causes a lot of dental decay and related issues, as do others here. So give us alternatives to root canal before hitting Netflix!
IMHO, as with most things, the success of a procedure is largely based on the expertise of the individual performing the it.
I have had several root canals and luckily, all but one was performed by a skilled dentist or endodontist. The lone root canal that was not did cause many issues for me that were eventually resolved once in the hands of a skilled endodontist.
Given the choice of losing a (salvageable) tooth or having a root canal procedure (done by a skilled person), I would choose the root canal every time.
So, for anyone following this topic and are concerned, my recommendation is to consult an endodontist in the event you are told (a), your tooth needs to be extracted or (b), you are in need of a root canal.
I would like to see the science behind this - 98% of people with breast cancer have root canal on that side I call bull - it's just too high a number to be legitimate.
There are some teeth that have a poor prognosis with root canal if the abscess has been festering for too long in the bone for example...but I wouldn't then blame the root canal for immune problems, it could be the case of your body not being able to clear that last bit of infection from the bone. However not all teeth get to that point and if root canal is done promptly then I don't see how once the canals have been cleaned out and irrigated thoroughly and sealed how can this cause problems? No more than say getting a metal implant put straight into the bone, mercury fillings or white fillings which pump out fluoride?!
Anecdotally I know a lot of people with autoimmune problems and none of them have root canals.
Because the roots have been cut off, the autoimmune system cannot reach the infection & kill it so the infection lives in the jaw & spreads. One dentist mentioned injecting ozone gas to kill it instead.
I haven't actually seen the article but have already read about the dangers of root canal treatment.
The last time I visited the Hygienist for a clean she was very rough with my treatment and I landed up with a very bad sinus infection for 6 weeks on the very side that I complained about.
I have used a private dentist for over 30 years but never visit the Dentist if I can help it and certainly never a Hygienist.
I've not seen the film and I'm not sure I want to as I dislike the dentist trip quite enough already and have had some really very unpleasant root canals in my time. Actually my visit to the dentist often results in some sort of sinus infection for me. The other issue I have with the dentist is the repeated X-rays. Apparently there is a thing called a Thyroid Collar which can be used to protect during an X-Ray but my dental practice has decided it's not necessary for them to offer it to their patients.
Anyone have any knowledge they can share on this?
That is interesting. I had several root canals and then suffered Hashemotos. Had my thyroid removed four years ago.
Hmmm, which came first, the tooth or the other health problem? Something i've been pondering for a while since many people seem to be absolutely fine with root canals. And others of us are very clearly not. (I've had all mine removed.) And then there are those whose problems start so long after the root canal they can't connect them. I can only think that poor dental health (as described above) goes along with poor physical health .... and when you think about it, why wouldn't it, the teeth are in the body. And maybe some people get one first, and others the other.
It's an interesting one isn't it. My daughter insisted on an 'apron' to protect the ovaries when she had a leg X-rayed whilst in a sitting position in a wheelchair and the (male) radiographer was openly irritated by her request. We put that down to sexism at the time but now I wonder if it's more sinister.
I note both dentist and assistant leave the room whenever I'm having X-rays and the dentist likes to X-ray routinely virtually every year. I've often thought over the 20+ years i've been going there that it seems excessive but it's only very recently that I actually thought to ask if there was "something we could use to protect what's left of my poor old thyroid".
To now know that there is something officially designed for this very purpose, which I have never been offered but that a group of Dentists have discussed and decided collectively is not "necessary" has really shocked me.
It suggests to me that although they know there are risks (by virtue of the fact that a Thyroid Collar exists) they've collectively decided, in true patriarchal, medical-profession fashion, that to offer it to patients is to acknowledge to us muggles that a risk does exist.
I am a retired radiologist (physician). The doctors and technologists doing these procedures are doing sometimes dozens every day, and if they did not use protection would be exposed to far more radiation than a patient having xrays maybe once a year, or less.
It’s a very different level of exposure.
In the US, all these safety measures are mandated, with exposure badges monitored, and facilities inspected routinely by a Bureau of Radiation Safety for each state.
When I first went into practice ( > 40 yrs ago) we still encountered older doctors, and technicians, who had not taken these safety procedures very seriously, and ended up with radiation damage to their hands, eyes, etc.
Limitation of exposure is required by law, and is no small thing when you consider the amount of exposure that accrues to people doing these procedures many times a day, for years.
I would bet that all of these doctors and techs are making sure that your exposure is limited to the smallest possible dose.
Hi Sled
I get that the frequency of exposure dangers to the doctors and dentists raises the stakes for them and I am in no way suggesting they should not be protecting themselves. They absolutely should. However if your last sentence were true surely patients would be offered protection if protection exists such as it does with the recent shocking revelation that there is a thing called a thyroid collar.
A lot of protective devices were developed before updated X-ray film and machines were developed and widely used.
Exposure is much lower today ( in up-to-date facilities) than it was years ago.
However, I don’t think a patient who requests additional protective measures should be refused, or made to feel that they are being unreasonable.
In my own case, I doubt that radiation was a factor in developing Hashimoto’s, since all 3 of my sisters ( who were not exposed to any more radiation than most people) all have Hashimoto’s as well .
A family who lived 1/2 block away from me, when we were children , has 3 daughters with Hashimoto’s, too. Another girl ( 1/2 block away) had a daughter who developed Graves’ disease.
It makes you wonder about how little we really know!
They should be ... yes absolutely. I agree with you (if that's what you advocate). Thank you. xx
Where did your reply to me go Unlocky? I can’t find it but it’s on your profile and in my email box so I’ll reply to you for clarity even if you deleted it or it was deleted by admin.
I don’t have a choice about redoing my root canals although I have lived with decision about it for a year or more. I chose extraction until I realised how big the gap would be with two front molars.
Then I learned from my endodontist that the 6 suboptimal root canals (very old or badly done) are a ticking time bomb with full blown abscess(es) inevitable at some stage over the next few years.
Meanwhile I have neuropathy from Sjögren’s Syndrome and Trigeminal Neuralgia and am very hypermobile so have TMJ and sublaxing jaw and live in constant pain around my mouth and the rest of me is semi numb. I would not necessarily be able to distinguish between abscess and Trigeminal Neuralgia. So, as I say, I don’t have the luxury of waiting.
All of the things you describe above could be explained by Conventional dentistry. I URGE YOU for goodness sake to make an appointment to see a genuine biological dentist. They will confirm use of ozone, PRF, PGRF. removal of the periodontal ligament after any tooth extraction. The admin of oxygen during amalgam removal and the administration of IV Vitamin C afterwards. Advice on bite and TMJ dysfunction and many other issues. This is your best route to health if you would care to take it. You may also find a product called Alka-white to be helpful with the dry mouth and teeth issues generally. Look them up including the 5 day alkaline cleanse. It might help. xx If you do value your health you will find the money ... or borrow even. 'Free' NHS care is misleading. It means a 'free for all' to your conventional Dentist. They only do harm. Please re-consider your current strategy. I've put up the latest evidence on the connection between infection around the tooth root and heart disease. There is a proven correlation. Its just that conventional dentists don't want to change their ways. They are lazy and unconcerned. They attack critism instead of re-educating themselves and keeping up with the latest research. Please take care of yourself. It should be your body.
Working in dentistry for many years we could be taking X-rays all day long so accumulation of doses would be way higher than a patient would ever get, that's why we vacate the X-ray room each time !
Hi bantam I think this is widely understood. What’s at issue here is why if there is such a thing as a thyroid collar are patients not offered it’s protection when being X-rayed especially when the patient already has a sick/damaged/irradiated thyroid.
There are considerations as to the effectiveness of things like thyroid collars.
Also, in the best machines, the beam of x-rays is very well controlled.
Appears that they can be a good idea with some panoramic x-ray machines:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
And a more recent review paper:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Thanks for this helvella. Unless I'm joining the wrong dots (which is likely with my current brain fog) it seems that since the 90's there has been an acknowledged association between some head/neck cancers and some types of dental X-rays. Regards Thyroid cancers specifically and dental X-rays it also seems there's yet to be a comprehensive study on which types of X-Ray might be associated. Have I overstated that?
I had many teeth removed as I had a lot of infection. Sounds weird, but my head felt a lot lighter afterwards even though I have to wear plates as I only have front teeth left. I used to have so many abscesses it's a relief not to have any more, and not to have all those antibiotics which have no doubt contributed to my health problems. It is drastic, but at the end of the day my health was more important than my teeth.
Hi Londinum, I don't know of another group outside FB but you can create an impersonal profile to join us. You may want to make it a real one, or, put up a picture later if you feel comfortable. We are a lovely group.... even if I say so myself. Haha! See if you can guess who I am there xx Currently we are discussing implants. Not something I would consider. But we have members who do have them and successfully so. But not Titanium... xx
Not personally but there are group members who do. I can't discuss things further (given confidentiality) beyond the sincere invitation to you and all others seeking support or questions to come and join us.
Copy of a very recent study:
Association of Radiographically Diagnosed Apical Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Disease: A Hospital Records–based Study
Gregory K. An, DDS, MPH'Correspondence information about the author DDS, MPH
Douglas E. Morse, DDS, PhD
Marc Kunin, DDS, MA
Robert S. Goldberger, DDS
Walter J. Psoter, DDS, PhD
PlumX Metrics
Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between oral health status and systemic diseases. However, reports examining apical periodontitis (AP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are few. This study investigates whether an association exists between AP and CVD.
Methods
The present study was a pair-matched, cross-sectional design that used medical and dental chart review. The AP group (n = 182) was defined as subjects with radiographic AP, and the non-AP group (n = 182) was defined as subjects without any radiographic AP. Samples for both groups were pair-matched by age and gender. Diagnosis for CVD, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes were identified by using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification and collected from electronic medical records. Documentation of alcohol use, smoking, race, and body mass index within the electronic medical records was also collected. Presence or absence of AP, missing teeth, teeth with root canal treatment, caries experience, and history of periodontal disease were collected from the electronic dental records. Analysis was performed by using Pearson χ2, the paired t test, and conditional multivariate logistic regression.
Results
AP was significantly associated with CVD, hypercholesterolemia, race, missing teeth, caries experience, and number of root canal treatments in our bivariate analysis. Our final adjusted conditional logistic regression model showed statistically significant positive associations between AP and CVD (odds ratio, 5.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.5–18.4).
Conclusions
Subjects with AP were more likely to have CVD than subjects without AP by 5.3-fold. However, further research is needed to elucidate temporality and reinforce association between CVD and AP.
Key Words:
Apical periodontitis, cardiovascular disease, endodontics, root canal treatment, systemic disease
I had a friend who developed a large abscess after root canal, it was so large it spread close to his brain!
I do wonder if the US FDA & other medical agencies & big pharma are on here...
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