There is much literature on the internet that root canals should be avoided at all costs because they can cause all kinds of problems...systemic illness as well.  They contend that the infection is never completely cleaned out and one winds up with a perpetual infection in your jaw that lingers in and around your tooth to give you all kinds of health problems.  And also, that you should never leave something dead in your body.  

The literature by practicing dentists say that root canals are safe and wonderful.

Does anyone know what Dr. D. thinks about them?

Thanks all!

http://www.bing.com/search?cp=1252&FORM=FREESS&q=root+canals&q1=site%3Adadamo.com


years of compliance have definitely been a blessing to my teeth and gums


without a doubt I can say, the guidelines have stopped my tooth decay and receding gum issues dramatically

in the cancer book, Dr D makes very clear how the state of your teeth is key to healing and prevention.....

in other words, prevention and oral hygiene go hand in hand

No matter what...


If you have INFECTIONS under your tooth, then the body is telling you something is wrong with your immune system.. It needs to be dealt with, there are two to four options.. 1) antibiotics, or 2) pulling your tooth to prevent contamination of the tooth next to it.

This 3. option then requires to implant a tooth replacement made out of titanium I think /forgot. IT is costly and if the gums can be seen then there is a good chance that the gums will shrink back and all will look ugly in time.  there is nothing you can do about that.  IF the gums are not seen when talking then it is a ok procedure, but in my case, I was miserable for years of suffering from gum shrinkage.. over that implant one needs crowns and sometimes a bridge.. (Lucky for me my gums don't show or I would need a set of false teeth by now) I have bridges all over my teeth already.. they never look as good as your own teeth.  

The 4. and oldest option, is to save the tooth by root canal. (considered the least invasive).

I had most of my teeth root canaled, BUT NOT because I ever got on infection, I never allowed the situation to progress to that level.  In my toot I always felt it when the nerves where going bad, with pain on heat, which is the classic sign that there is 'gas' from 'fermentation' forming under or around the tooth root.  Cold will take that pain away.  Classic test heat then cold ..

Doing root canal saves the tooth structure.. yet in time one ends up needing crowns to prevent the tooth from splitting..

There is no other option.. the best option is to never go to that 'low immune system response' health wise, but most people have no control over that. BTD helps..

You do not need to wait until you get on infection, if you see your dentist upon pain on heat, the dentist should be able to prevent the infection from ever becoming visible on x ray by doing root canal work.  

If you can see a dark space under any tooth on xray, then it is because you waited toooo long... risking a serious infection (dark space) that will spread.  It most often can not go away by medication nor by it self. It is a serious situation by then. In the olden days only extraction saved life.

OR... if you are prone to overall gum disease, you have more wrong with your body immune system showing a need to address overall health.   BTD helps..

Sometimes gum disease can be helped by gum surgery, but that has to happen long before infection sets in.. Infection is a serious issue, loosing a tooth is also.  Replacing a lost tooth is most important to prevent further losses by teeth 'shifting' out of place.

The material used to fill a root  canals does not infiltrate the bone, as it is placed just to the end of the root.  / has been used for many decades.  

To prevent a tooth from going bad under the root, it is most important to never allow a high painful spot -on biting- after a filling to develop on any tooth.. take on emery board and file down the high spot slowly and very carefully!!

Root canal is never necessary and creates disease.

fillings are rarely necessary and create more disease.

commercial tooth paste is not necessary and creates disease.

need I go on?

If you have cavities or PAIN you do need HELP..

maybe not good for you buit there are times,,,  the end results with good teeth hygienics you live a healthier life!

Yet this is not addressing her question..

I had a root canal done 7 years ago.  I have not had any issues with it, but I have been reading recently that these things are poisonous to have in one's body.  Therefore, I am asking.

I have been feeling great since getting on the BTD 2.5 years ago.

About 4 years ago or so, I had all of my silver (mercury amalgam) fillings replaced with white composite. It did help my energy some but the damage had already been done. Over 34 years of those things had done their deed. I grind my teeth a lot at night. I had a sleep study done 2 weeks ago-they said I grind so hard and long it causes muscle pain which keeps me from fully sleeping and wakes me at night. Which would explain my sole root canal with porcelain crown breaking off at the gum line. I currently have temp with post in place until my new porcelain crown is made. I am very sensitive to metals and I have even reacted to titanium. (I got the ring at Jared and brought it back less than 24 hours later with a rash on on my finger.) So porcelain it is. My kids get nothing but composites for fillings. The kids are not as bad as I was, my dental work started at 3 years old. Theirs was closer to 5-6.

If you can avoid it do. But pray about your options and go from there. I know that sounds funny. But believe me it is the only way I know to get a confirmation on the right thing to do. With my health every time I see a doctor, I am at odds with 'good' medical practice it has taken awhile for me to find doctors whoa re willing to listen to me and work with me. Being as I have to live with the treatment.

Good luck-feeling your pain literally.

Yay!  I just found a holistic dentist!  She referred me to an electro-dermal screener to see if anything is going on with the root-canaled tooth!!  She can tell whether or not there is bacteria, virus, etc.  She will also do a dental materials bio-compatibility test!!

I am so excited that now I can work with someone who cares about my whole body health!!

Oil Pulling has had "reported" oral health benefits, earthclinic.com is a pretty good resource for testimonies.  Some have claimed enamel regrowth.

Ok, so my dog has a hole/dark spot in a  bottom front tooth- he has an underbite- and the vet cleaned all the teeth and said he might have 6 months to a year left on the tooth. I am now brushing it daily and gums are less inflammed and tarter spots are going away and it's looking better. Is it bad to let it stay? I haven't had a chance to research this.

Quoted from narnia

What does Dr. D. think about root canals?

I don't suppose he likes them any more than anybody else.

I first heard about this from Dr. Mercola (I don't get his info any more.).
Some of us feel he is a little bit of an alarmist who is trying to sell products.

I have one root canal that I got in 1980-1(Dec.-Jan.!). I don't feel pain in the root area. But after hearing that root canals may have problems, I assume the only thing to do short of removing the tooth is to make sure the immune system is good to avoid infection.

There will be many scares, but it reminds us to take care of ourselves & is a good reminder to stay compliant!

Narnia, I have no idea what Dr. D would say, but I can tell you what my holistic dentist(s) have said.  And that is that it all depends.

For instance, while out of state at college, my 20-year old son slipped and fell on a wet floor last year and came down and broke three of his front teeth.  One of two front teeth was broken so badly that the root was just about exposed.  All of this happened around the time when I had found a holistic dentist to safely remove all of my amalgams because I am toxic in lead and mercury.  Fearing what might be put in his mouth or done to him, I located a local holistic dentist in the state he is in and made an appointment for him.  The dentist stated that he would probably need a root canal on the front tooth in question.  I spoke with both her and my local holistic dentist at length and both gave me similar answers:  because he is young and they are his front teeth, every effort should be made to make sure that his teeth look good and are as healthy as possible.  I ordered a blood test which can tell which dental products he can tolerate so that all of his dental work would be done with products that should not cause problems.

So I guess the answer is that even holistic dentists sometimes believe that root canals are necessary.