root canals

[Pam]

My dentist says the root of one of my molars is dying. He has recommemded a root canal. This tooth already has a crown, which they would try to save. I have had alot of dental work - not the strongest teeth and I clench and grind. I had the matching molar on the other side extracted 1 1/2 years ago - similar situation - crown, root canal and finally a cracked root.
I am deciding between having a root canal and having this tooth extracted. Some considerations/questions in the equation are:
~ is a tooth with a root canal a "dead" tooth ?
~ if so, what imact, does this have?
~ a root canal has a life expectancy of 10 years - I don't have particularly positive dental history
~ cost of having a rootcanal / possible new crown / losing the tooth in 10 years to having an extraction and probably an implant now
~ I've read about the possiblilty of bacteria remaining in a root canal and causing future body problems - ?? - fact? preventable? how?

Any information that would help in the decision making process would be appreciated. I read Mary Elizabeth and will follow the recommendations as I have just completed a course of antibiotics for an infection in the tooth in question. Thank you

[Roy Collins]

It is ALWAYS better to save the tooth than to remove it, as the teeth hold a strong correlation to the vertebra and illness can occur in this area should a corresponding tooth be extracted.

It is important, as macrobiotics to have sound teeth for chewing food. If teeth are bad then health is bad as nutruition is not being fully imparted to the body (with bad teeth).

The practice of root canal surgery is verey sound and there is a small percentage of problems usually due to bacterial build-up during surgery and infection afterward. But a good dentist who uses the proper protocol during surgery along with the proper medicine used will usually have nothing to worry about. The risk is slight but the benefits are great. A properly sealed root, crown, and follow-up preventative care will usually allow you to keep the tooth for the duration of your life. The longer you wait the more problems you will have.

Remember to keep a "clean" macro diet after surgery and if antibiotics are used, be sure to take asidophilus to help restore intestinal flora that has been damaged(ten days)


I hope this helps.

IN PEACE, Roy

[anneh]

I just thought I might add something to this subject. I have unfortunately had alot of dental problems, caused by childhood in England, lots of candy and no dental hygiene and then later no money to fix problems properly. Anyway, finally got most of my teeth crowned and had lots of fillings (finally got the mercury fillings removed over a period of years). Anyway, as I have got older those teeth that were crowned are starting to have problems and almost 2 years ago was faced with either have several root canals or kissing my teeth goodbye and having dentures. I got quite alarmed reading info against root canals on the net but then realised that just about all the info went back to one person (Dr Weston Price) and a study he did and also more recently to a (pardon me) nut called Hulda Clarke who was making all kinds of wild recommendations for people to do to their teeth. I know one person who followed her recommendations, got the mercury removed and replaced with the composite she recommended and then found out the composite is more dangerous than the mercury (I believe that info is also on her website). Anyway, bottom line is that of course all this dental work IS bad for you but its probably worse to wear glued in plastic dentures all day and alot more uncomfortable. I am fortunate to live in MD and have access to Dr Stanley Klein in Baltimore. He uses bio-calex AND gutta percha and is probably the best endodontist around. So I had my root canals and other work done and I am so glad I did. Good luck

[Roy Collins]

Thanks for your input and personal story regarding root canals. For some individuals tooth anchors may also be an alternative to root canals. In this dental procedure the "bad" tooth is extracted and is replaced with a prosthetic tooth that is anchored into the jaw bone and is permanent. I don't know much about the outcome of this procedure or if there are known side effects, etc. A friend of mine works as a dental assistant to a prominent group of dentists in Providence, RI and she fully endorses the practice, having witnessed hundreds of operations of this nature. Not all people, because of their age or bone structure can have tooh anchors.

If anyone has had this procedure and would like to comment on it please do so to enlighten us.

In peace, Roy

Hello everyone , Belive ME I FEEL THE PAIN- i just got back from getting a root canal-not as bad as i thought. I also did it without local annistja-cant spell) im only 16 and it was my top left front tooth- 21 i think its called, anyways ive had so many problems with my teeth ever since i was a baby- bottle tooth decae- ect....... I just wanna GIVE SOME HOPE, Its not that bad, the longer you wait the worse it will be, better a lil`now then a hole lot later. I waited to long and now i gotta pay but to see the end resalt will make it all worth it- wish me luck goin back may10th to finish the job, and GOODLUCK2ALLOF U