The propaganda that has been spreading through the media and internet for decades is that root canal therapy is the most efficient and risk free dental treatment that is out there, but is it though? The answer is actually no. The truth is that root canal risks are basically countless; however, most of them are not likely to surface in the short-term and hence they are either being clouded or neglected by a large number of professionals.
To be honest, it is one of the most favored treatments in the dental world, not because it is easy to (because it is not), but rather because it is so well-presented in the mind of the patients that professionals often do not need to go through the headache of explaining minor details, the ones a holistic professional such as Dr. Maryam Horiyat does, to their patients. Dentists can simply sit their patients down and get on with the work.
At Aria Dental Care, we believe in a holistic approach to dental treatment, and so do our best to spread and raise awareness about such overlooked matters such as root canal risks. Now, having said that, let us get to some of the root canal risks that no one told you about but first, we would highly suggest you watch the video below to hear the facts from Dr. Horiyat herself.
Root Canal Risks? Why Are There Risks?
Here is what you are thinking: a root canal essentially means that the dentists will remove the roots and nerves of my tooth right? So if there are no nerves, why would there ever be risks? Well, that is actually common sense, but common sense that is wrong nonetheless.
When a root canal is performed, the biological connection of the tooth, which is a living organ, is lost with the rest of the body. This means your tooth will no longer have access to your body’s cleaning services or blood flow, which in turn means that any tiny amount of bacteria or other harmful microorganisms that come into contact with your tooth will stay there silently carrying out with their evil doings.
While the progress might be slow, it is imminent. As soon as the process begins, the patients will start experiencing unexplained health issues, such as brain fog. Unfortunately, this is only diagnosed by a holistic dentist. When you think about it, you realize that conventional dentistry is the only field in medicine in which a dead organ, a.k.a dead tooth, is left inside of the body. That tooth must be removed!
Risk #1 Reinfection
There have been some not-so-rare cases where the root canal was not as successful as it was thought to be, and so will lead to reinfections within the tooth, which will in turn require further treatment.
Also, in many cases, it is almost impossible to fully remove the infection or bacteria that has taken you to your dentist in the first place. And what does that mean? You guessed it right: it means that part of the infection will remain in your tooth and will be buried there under the bonds and filling material, and the crown will become even more inaccessible than it originally was.
By the time a holistic dentist discovers the infection, it may be too late prescribe medication, and they might have to remove the tooth and work out the infection, which will be painful, costly, and uncomfortable.
Risk #2: Tooth Cracking
The truth is that a repaired tooth will just never be as strong as the original one, especially if it is dead inside. You may now argue that in some cases, dental implants are way stronger than the actual tooth, and you may be right, but remember, a dental implant is not a repaired tooth but rather a tooth that has been entirely replaced with bio-compatible material such as zirconia.
We have already established that all of the parts and tissues of the tooth are removed during a root canal session. It is true that later the tooth is filled with specific filling material, but even that still leaves the tooth in a rather brittle state and so prone to cracking and even breaking.
Risk #3 Discoloration
Following up on the list of root canal risks comes the issue of discoloration. Again, as all the tissues of the tooth, including the pulp, are removed. That is the main part responsible for keeping your tooth white and pretty from the inside.
It is true that removing the pulp will hopefully help you with the pain, prevent the spread of the infection and supposedly save your tooth from being extracted, which is actually the necessary procedure. However, the loss of the pulp means the living tissue is now gone and so what is remaining of the tooth will go black
This can sometimes go as far as showing the dead roots on the surface of the remaining dentin of your tooth! This condition needs to be aesthetically treated with crowns or veneers, which not only means more cost but more importantly, another visit to the dentist!
Risk #4 Inflammation and Chronic Diseases
The root canal risks we have discussed so far are only the mild ones. The truth is that there are countless studies that show root canal risks are not limited just to the teeth, the bone around the area, or even your oral health; rather, there can be some very serious life-threatening illnesses that will follow.
As we mentioned in pretty much all the previous root canal risks, the major problems arise from the residue bacteria and other microorganisms that are left behind inside of the tooth. So let’s say you are done with our root canal therapy; naturally, your doctor is going to prescribe some forms of antibiotics, which cause their own vast array of problems. But you are still going to feel severe swelling and pain.
The remains of the infection can lead to extreme conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases. There have been countless cases of strokes with perfect cholesterol, lipids, and blood pressure that were later discovered to be ignited by residue infections in a root canal.
Curious Fact
Did you know that infected root canals have been known to be one of the underlying causes of oral cancer? Over the course of medical history, there have been a number of cancers, that were diagnosed at the later stage, with no possible causes found. However, later on it was discovered that the initial cancer site was lying between two teeth, which both had undergone root canal therapy!
A number of these rare cases were simply cured by removing the root canaled teeth and were fully healed through a number of ozone therapy sessions.
Risk #5 Autoimmune Disease
We have a whole other article coming up later about the connection between a root canal and autoimmune diseases. Take a look at the video below, where Dr. Horiyat opens up on the topic.
This is also backed by a large number of studies spanning from the 1920s all the way to the present day. One study published in the National Library of Medicine states that one of the major root canal risks is the rise of numerous autoimmune diseases within the bodies of patients. Here’s what they wrote in their abstract:
“The oral cavity has a specific microenvironment, and structures such as teeth are constantly exposed to chemical and biological factors. Although the structure of the teeth is permanent, due to exposure of the pulp and root canal system, trauma can have severe consequences and cause the development of local inflammation caused by external and opportunistic pathogens. Long-term inflammation can affect not only the local pulp and periodontal tissues but also the functioning of the immune system, which can trigger a systemic reaction.
This literature review presents the current knowledge on root canal infections and their impact on the oral microenvironment in the context of immune system disorders in selected diseases. The result of the analysis of the literature is the statement that periodontal-disease-caused inflammation in the oral cavity may affect the development and progression of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or Sjogren’s syndrome, as well as affecting the faster progression of conditions in which inflammation occurs such as, among others, chronic kidney disease or inflammatory bowel disease.”
Having said all that, do you still think root canal therapy is suitable and safe for you? What we recommend here at Aria Dental Care is that once you hear the word “root canal” from your conventional dentist, walk in the opposite direction and head over to a holistic dental center like ours. Or at least ask for a second opinion from a holistic dentist of your choice. You can always give us a visit for a consultation by getting in touch with us. You can do so by clicking here, on the call button at the top right of this page, or on the banner below.
