The Truth About Root Canals: What You Need to Know

I believe in providing the most accurate information possible. Although I would not personally choose to have a root canal performed on any of my teeth for health reasons that I will share, there are some advantages to root canals. In all fairness, I want to review the pros and cons of root canals and provide what options you have if you are told “You need a root canal.”

Why are teeth treated with root canals? If a tooth is injured, infected, or dead, dentists are trained to perform root canals. The process removes the nerve and blood supply inside the tooth and fills the inner canal with a material called “gutta percha”. A root canal treated tooth is a dead tooth. Within approximately 30 days the entirety of the dentin (the 2nd layer of the tooth) becomes saturated with microbes including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.

What is the advantage of keeping a dead tooth? Some of the reasons for choosing a root canal would be if you want to maintain your own tooth for chewing or for esthetic reasons. Depending on the age of the patient, a root canal may be a more predictable solution. Younger children whose jawbones are still developing may want to keep injured teeth until their skeletal growth is complete.

What are the disadvantages of keeping a dead tooth? A root canal treated tooth is an open pathway for microbes to enter your body. It places a strain on your immune system and decreases energy flow along the energy meridian on which the tooth resides. Keeping a dead tooth in your living jawbone puts the health of your whole body at risk. The longer it is in your jaw, the greater the risk becomes.

If you have been told “You need a root canal.” make sure that you are provided ALL of your options. You cannot give informed consent to a procedure without knowing the pros and cons of all your options.

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If you desire an approach to your oral health care where all the treatment options are presented and you get to choose based on your values and goals, we would love to help you!  Please email us at info@bdcpdx.com to reserve your New Patient Experience and visit our website to learn about our Dental Tourism solutions. We are here to serve you!

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