While it is well known that improper nutrition is the primary cause of tooth decay, it may be a shock to most that studies performed by the Research Institute of the American Dental Association, (and subsequently covered up), point to the fact that one third of all degenerative disease in this country can be either directly or indirectly traced to dental infections! The majority of the infections implicated as the cause of systemic disease are the result of root canal filled teeth. While these statements may sound preposterous, I encourage those interested to obtain a copy of the book Root Canal Cover Up, by George E. Meinig, D.D.S., Bion Publishing, 1998, a founding member of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE). The book is available from the Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation at 1-800-366-3748. The medical credentials of those supporting the study are very impressive, including the past president of the AAE. In a nutshell, the study shows how root canal filled teeth harbor bacterial toxins in the dentin tubules, primarily from streptococcus fecalis, which cannot be reached by antibiotics and are rarely visible in x-rays, and which spread throughout the body, causing heart, liver, eye, kidney, stomach, ovarian, bladder and a host of autoimmune ailments. It is estimated that only about 25% of those with root canals can avoid such disease as a result of a very strong immune system. All the more reason to eat properly to avoid tooth decay in the first place and to strengthen our immune systems.
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Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Helen David on November 16, 1998 at 18:56:00:
In Reply to: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Armchair Nutritionist on November 16, 1998 at 00:15:21:
I just read this book last week. Got it at the library. He makes a good case.
Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Nancy on November 16, 1998 at 23:43:53:
In Reply to: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Armchair Nutritionist on November 16, 1998 at 00:15:21:
So, what are we supposed to do when our teeth die? Pull them out? I've had 5 root canals/ crowns over the last 15 years and have been told that I need 5 more crowns. So far I've not had a crown without having to get the root canal first. I'm 49 and eat well now, but obviously didn't when I was younger. This sounds a little "way out there". There's not much else one can do once the teeth get to a certain point, is there? I've been slowly getting rid of my amalgam fillings over the last several years. Now I have to get rid of the teeth with root canals, too?
How hard is that article to read and understand? Is it written in layman's terms?
Thanks!
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Re: Root Canal Options
Posted by Armchair Nutritionist on November 17, 1998 at 00:45:04:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Nancy on November 16, 1998 at 23:43:53:
The book is written for a lay audience. As one of the MDs quoted in the book said: "In their addiction to the slogan 'save the tooth', dentists increasingly lose the patient. A holistic dentist may be able to give you some guidance regarding options other than extraction.
Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 17, 1998 at 10:31:04:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Nancy on November 16, 1998 at 23:43:53:
Dear Nancy,
None of us want to hear information like this. However, "Armchair Nutritionist" is absolutely correct. Only by your educating yourself can you make the best decision for yourself.
Remember, the ADA is still insisting that amalgams are safe. If we didn't learn from the self-serving statements by the tobacco executives, we deserve what we get.
Let us know what you learn.
Walt
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Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Nancy on November 17, 1998 at 19:34:58:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Walt Stoll on November 17, 1998 at 10:31:04:
OK, I guess I'll have to order it.
My dentist makes no bones about it. He admits amalgams are poison. I'm sure he enjoys the extra income from replacing them, too!
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Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 18, 1998 at 11:31:07:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Nancy on November 17, 1998 at 19:34:58:
Dear Nancy,
I will just bet that your dentist does not "enjoy the extra income from replacing them". This is a vicious lie by the ADA.
Dentists can make a lot more money putting in amalgams than they can ever do taking them out. Why do you think that the ADA so mindlessly insists amalgams are "safe"?
Walt
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Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Nancy on November 18, 1998 at 22:20:12:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Walt Stoll on November 18, 1998 at 11:31:07:
Walt
But, doesn't he make money from refilling them with the new material? I really feel like I have a very ethical dentist. He's very perfectionistic in matching color, using the most state of the art materials and equipment, and giving thorough explanations and options. I've put alot of money into my teeth. I had an osteotomy in connection with orthodontics when I was in my mid 30's and right after that I had 5 root canals & crowns in a few years' time. I've had a reprieve for several years, and now it looks like I'm going to have to crown about 5 more. I've always had a root canal specialist do the RC's, so my dentist is not making any more money by my having those prior to the crowns, but he's always ended up recommending the RC's. Maybe the braces late in life put alot of stress on my teeth, but I've had several fractured teeth. I hate to do a crown, then have to go into it later if I end up having pain which would necessitate a RC. What is the alternative to a root canal, anyway?
Thanks.
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Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by trish on November 19, 1998 at 10:13:50:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Nancy on November 18, 1998 at 22:20:12:
Hi, Nancy...
I'm curious about why you have to get a root canal every time you get a crown... I have three crowns and have never had a root canal on any of them, despite cracking the corner off of one of them through my bruxing. I had to have that one replaced finally because I beat it up so bad, but we still didn't do any RC on it.
Also, not to speak poorly of your dentist since I don't know the situation, but dentists and doctors do make a lot of money by referrals from each other...just some food for thought :-)
good luck!
trish
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Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 19, 1998 at 12:24:44:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Nancy on November 18, 1998 at 22:20:12:
Dear Nancy,
I am not a Dentist but I observed my Holistic Dentist for years doing all this stuff. Removing amalgams requires a lot more training and takes a lot more time than just placing them. The real money is in placing them NOT in removing them.
The only alternative to a root canal I know of is removing the tooth & using a permanent or removable bridge.
Read up on all of this, you will soon make the best decisions for YOU.
Walt
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Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Nancy on November 19, 1998 at 19:39:57:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by trish on November 19, 1998 at 10:13:50:
Walt
Darn, technology! I started typing a reply to you, was almost finished and hit a key accidentally. Presto, my message is GONE! I'll lightened my fingers and try again.
It's been a few years since I had this discussion with my dentist, but this is the way I remember it. I went in with pain, and probably a cracked tooth on xray. I'm not talking about a crack off the corner, but a fracture all the way through the tooth to the core. We tried those medicated fillings, which may have worked for awhile on one tooth, but not at all on the next, so we ended up doing the RC and crown. I believe I had one tooth that acted up (kept hurting) after I got the preliminary work done for a crown and had worn the temporary crown a couple of weeks. Rather than take a chance on having to go back through the permanent crown, I went right ahead with the RC, then put the permanent one on. I think that after experiencing pain on the first few teeth, I just decided to cut to the chase and go with the RC before crowning. Now, in the past, I believe that I had pain with all those teeth. The 5 teeth in question now are NOT giving pain. Three of them are cracked and the other two are kind of borderline, or something. I will say, that in the past, my dentist has never pushed RCs. I just kind of gave in to it, figuring that not doing one would be postponing the inevitable. I also had good insurance then, and after a two year lapse, do again.
This is the first time I've heard that root canals are dangerous. I haven't read the article yet, so I don't know what the danger is, but I certainly don't want to put myself at further risk, as hard as I've been working to get healthy. I have to say, that the specialist I go to is fantastic. I've had nothing but positive experiences with him, so I have no fear of the process, like alot of people do. Both of my parents had alot of dental work, but thankfully my children have had very few problems. I hope that chain is broken. I attributed it to flouride in the water. I KNOW that's a major controversy.
I'm sure you're right about the professional referrals. There are probably some kick backs, even though they'll deny it.
I really appreciate your interest, Walt. Since I'm facing this work, and the accompanying expense, this thread came at a very opportune time for me. I want to get it all figured out before I make my decision!
Thanks.
Nancy
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Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Nancy on November 19, 1998 at 19:46:02:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Walt Stoll on November 19, 1998 at 12:24:44:
Wa;t
A root canal is going to have to be pretty darned poisonous before I'll opt for a bridge! With all the teeth I have problems with, I might as well get falsies! (teeth, I mean). GRIN
Nancy
Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease/appolgies to trish & Walt
Posted by Nancy on November 19, 1998 at 20:11:50:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by trish on November 19, 1998 at 10:13:50:
Trish
I just realized that I responded to your message by addressing Walt. You're beginning to sound like him, I guess. Or maybe I'm just really tired. I'd better go do some relaxing!
Nancy
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No need for apology...
Posted by trish on November 20, 1998 at 11:17:13:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease/appolgies to trish & Walt posted by Nancy on November 19, 1998 at 20:11:50:
as far as I'm concerned...though I'm not sure how Walt feels about me sounding like him!! ;-)
Good luck with your decision, Nancy. I hope everything works out for you.
trish
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Re: No need for apology...
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 20, 1998 at 13:35:16:
In Reply to: No need for apology... posted by trish on November 20, 1998 at 11:17:13:
Dear trish,
I GREATLY appreciate all the help you are here on this BB. The fact that you can do so competently is one of the reasons the AMA is so scared of alternative medical approaches. If anyone with the experience can share it with anyone else, what will the "poor" doctor do for a living?
Keep it up!
walt
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Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 20, 1998 at 13:47:52:
In Reply to: Re: Root Canals & Systemic Disease posted by Nancy on November 19, 1998 at 19:39:57:
Hi, Nancy.
"I hate it when that happens!"
The only thing I am pushing is knowledge!
A good rule of thumb is that: "When one has enough information, decisions are easy."
Even though the dicision may be different for you than someone else in the same situation, it still will most likely be the right decision for both of you. At least you have a much better chance that way. For any doc to try to make those decisions for anyone, s/he must pretend to the stature of God to be so arrogant. The individual is the only person who has a chance of choosing rightly-------all the doc can do is try to serve as a competent advisor; that is what all his/her education, training & experience is supposed to prepare him/her for.
Walt
Re: No need for apology...Walt & Trish
Posted by Nancy on November 20, 1998 at 19:42:46:
In Reply to: Re: No need for apology... posted by Walt Stoll on November 20, 1998 at 13:35:16:
Thanks for the encouragement! This BB has truly changed my life and health. Imagine what I'd be like if I practiced ALL the good I've learned! The opportunity to share experiences is in itself healing.
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Re: No need for apology...Walt & Trish
Posted by SW on November 20, 1998 at 21:20:27:
In Reply to: Re: No need for apology...Walt & Trish posted by Nancy on November 20, 1998 at 19:42:46:
After a toothache, my son was checked (18) and told he needed a root canal, he was heading out of state to college at the time and found a dentist in that area. He was told by that dentist that the infection was deep and the root canal would cost approx. 600.00 and possibly more if complications. He knew my son was a college student and told him unless his parent were loaded he would suggest extracting the tooth and later getting spacers or whatever to fill the gap. I felt guilty telling him to go ahead with this but after reading these posts about root canals it seems he would be better off. What do you think. The dentist said he was surprised to see such an infected tooth because the rest of his teeth looked great.
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Re: No need for apology...Walt & Trish
Posted by Walt Stoll on November 21, 1998 at 09:19:50:
In Reply to: Re: No need for apology...Walt & Trish posted by SW on November 20, 1998 at 21:20:27:
Dear SW,
If I knew what I know now, and I was an 18 year old with this condition, I would have an extraction and the spacers, etc. However, I would also get really serious about wellness & compulsive dental hygeine to prevent more problems. SOMETHING caused this to happen at this tender age.
Walt