Holistic Approach to Root Canals

What is the holistic alternative to a root canal?

Dr. Johnson understands that some patients may prefer a more holistic approach to dental care and offers alternative options to traditional root canals. One such option is the use of Zirconia implants, which provide exceptional stability, function, and a natural feel. These biocompatible restorations replace the natural tooth root and are topped with a crown that blends seamlessly with the surrounding teeth.

While Dr. Johnson supports patients who undergo a traditional root canal to save their natural tooth, he does not perform the procedure himself. Instead, he recommends ceramic implants like the Z-System or Swiss Dental Solutions as a safer and more natural alternative.

When a tooth's nerve dies, it can lead to a bacterial infection due to the lack of blood supply. Decay, trauma, a crack, or previous dental treatment can cause this. If left untreated, a dead tooth can cause pain, swelling, bone loss, and even death in extreme cases. However, some patients may not experience any symptoms of the infection for some time, leading to bone loss, systemic circulation of bacterial toxins, and a drain on the immune system.

Two treatment options for a dead or dying tooth are root canal therapy or tooth extraction. Root canal therapy removes the nerve, blood vessels, and lymph tissue from within the tooth and seals the empty chamber with a filling substance. However, this can compromise the integrity of the tooth structure, and a crown is typically placed over the remaining tooth structure. Tooth extraction involves removing the infected tooth and allowing the site to heal before replacing a tooth, such as a removable partial denture, bridge, or dental implant.

Root Canal Therapy is a Save Procedure

Root Canal Therapy (RCT) has been the conventional standard for treating a dead or dying tooth for almost a century. It is recognized as a specialty within the field of dentistry, and millions of root canals are performed every year by general dentists and endodontic specialists.

However, there are concerns about the safety of root canal therapy due to the potential toxicity of the materials used. While a healthy diet, lifestyle, and immune system may help tolerate a root canal-treated tooth, it may become intolerable due to age, illness, or the materials' breakdown.

Most of the nerve is removed during a root canal procedure, but countless minute tubules leading from the central nerve canal remain untreated. These tubules cannot be cleaned and sterilized, accumulating debris, tissue putrefaction, and bacterial infection. The resulting production of toxic gases and solutions can challenge the immune system and lead to illness.

A holistic approach to dentistry aims to avoid root canals whenever possible, as they represent a stress on the immune system that can manifest in various ways throughout the body. Instead, ceramic implants are recommended as a safer and more natural alternative.

Ozone treatment for root canal therapy and disinfection: 

Root canal therapy is often compared to putting a cork on an infection, as many bacteria can persist and thrive even in harsh conditions such as a root canal. The dentin in teeth consists of tubes called dentinal tubules, which can extend up to 3 miles in length for the average tooth. Disinfection procedures during root canal therapy aim to clean these tubes. Still, estimates suggest that ozone can only keep them clean for about a year before bacteria begin to work their way back in.

These bacteria can change from aerobic to anaerobic, and since there is no blood flow after filling the root canal space, the body cannot fight these bacteria. As a result, they produce toxins and release them out of the root, leading to potential harm.

It is also essential to consider the bacteria surrounding the tooth root and in the bone, as infections in these areas can be more harmful than those in the dentinal tubes. These infections can spread to the bloodstream and travel throughout the body, causing further harm.

While ozone and laser therapy may help with disinfection during root canal therapy, they may not be effective in treating infections in the bone or surrounding tissues. As a result, a holistic approach to dentistry may recommend alternative options, such as ceramic implants, to avoid the potential risks associated with root canal therapy.