Minutus

The dental industry is very closed and hard to get info out of, why a procedure is needed, materials used, etc.
They still use mercury amalgam as primary tooth filling.
A few months ago, I had a deep cavity where the dentist cleaned it out and prepped the tooth for a root canal for another specialist dentist to do, meaning the nerve cap was uncovered inside the molar. A temporary non-metallic procelain filling was put in place.
I have had no pain since original filling work, but the root canal dentist, whom I saw during a consultation, called today and said that even though I don't have pain now, there is a high risk that bacteria will infect the tooth at any time and I will lose the tooth besides will have swelling and tremendous pain.
During our previous consultation, he told me the root canal kills the nerve and then he embeds a zinc capsule that kills germs.
During the original cavity work, the dentist said they would not know if I would need a root canal until they went in and looked, so during the procedure, they made the decision to uncover the nerve leaving it exposed as prep thus forcing me to have a root canal, which maybe I could have avoided.
Anyone know dental? If homeopathy can help here? I had all mercury removed years ago and don't want even a small zinc capsule implanted.
Thoughts?
Susan

Hi Susan,

Here's my understanding, as the reluctant "veteran" of several.

If a cavity goes deep enough, it may not be possible to drill out all of the infection without exposing the root; in that case a root canal is (apparently) necessary. In some cases the root is not *quite* exposed, but drill has come so close that the nerve may or may not survive, have to wait a few weeks(?) and see.

Do you know why it had been decided that your risk of infection was high--what was found, or what happened, to change the evaluation? (I assume it was originally thought that the root canal would be successful?)

I *think* the zinc capsule may not be a problem -- tho I haven't specifically looked into that. But zinc is one of the dietary minerals, not toxic unless the amount is larger; unlike mercury, which is simply toxic. In any case I think one is much better off with the zinc, than with a mouthful of bacteria. (Some say there is *always* a toxic bacterial build-up in a root canaled tooth; others say that with proper materials and technique there is not. I don't know... But in any case I would *think* the zinc is a reasonable precaution.

Something you may want to look into: I recently ran across people talking about using flax seed oil, 2 Tbsp per day, to heal gum disease and I think root canal avoidance was also mentioned. I keep meaning to start taking it...

Also have recently learned that xylitol shows clinical effectiveness in protecting against tooth decay, and also supporting remineralization. The amount recommended for that is 1 gram "exposure", 5 times per day. Xylitol mints or mouthwash, or 1/4 tsp of the crystals, hold in mouth for a while. Another thing I keep trying to remember to do... I'm told that the "bad bacteria" in the mouth aren't able to utilize it, whereas the "good ones" are, so over time (a year? more?) the "bad ones" gradually die off.

Shannon

Hi Shannon,
Thanks for the info. I'm using a local top rated dental school since it costs 1/2 price for all work because student dentists are doing the work. This will save me thousands of $ vs. private. They are supervised and the professors are very good but, as you can imagine, by the book. The student dentists are quite eager so the treatment is thorough, better than my private dentist who only identified 4 cavities obvious on x-ray while they identified 13 from same x-rays and mouth exam, though a recent Consumer Reports magazine article suggests many are superficial and intial decay and should be monitored not drilled/filled right away by gung ho dentists.
I blame not using any fluoride toothpaste for over a year as the cause and I try not to drink fluoridated water. Sometimes being too "health" conscious can be detrimental! Since I found all this out, I've been using fluoride rinses and toothpastes and my teeth feel much less sensitive. Because it is a school, it took special permission just to allow non-metallic crowns for back molars, as the standard in dentistry is porcelain on metal for rear teeth. Also, the student dentists question why I don't want mercury fillings, etc. as they are taught the old mercury amalgam standards but they do offer composite. They are too young and naive to believe possible health issues to years of mercury exposure, which I had and had replaced all old fillings with non-metallic many years ago.
It's not that easy finding unbiased data on root canals, how necessary they are, how complex some may be, etc. Routine dentistry seem to be that you do it once you have a deep cavity and they go in and determine it s/b root canal. I'm not having hot/cold sensation pain any more which is one criteria a root canal might be needed The student root canal dentist, who called me after not hearing from me for 2 months, seems very concerned that I will suffer in the future with pain which can occur at any time (?!) and lose the tooth if I don't have this procedure. Guess I'm just leary of killing a nerve, etc. and the zinc implant.
Also, being diabetic with consistently high blood sugar levels causes periodontal disease, which I'm already in stage 2 of gum decay. The dentists said that would not cause the large increase in cavities I have which I hadn't had this many in decades which is why I blame lack of fluoride.
Did you have any health issues before/after from your root canals?

Thought maybe someone has some experience with dentistry and homeopathy.
Susan

I used to go to a dental school too, and it was great. Actually it was a roommate who worked on me, and reassured me that they (she and her fellow students) would never again have the *time* to be as careful and thorough as they were in that clinic. The work was excellent.

Re the superficial cavities, those are the things said to be remineralized by xylitol and... rats, I can't remember what I was reading! The root canal avoidance I think had to do with raw butter, and "fermented cod liver oil" (new to me), and I've been meaning to look for it again; felt it was just a bit too complicated for me to cope with *at the moment*.

But I have been using xylitol, which is easy and painless, and I'm still trying to get into a flax oil habit. We'll see.
I just read too much against fluoride *even* as a topical... I guess I figure it could be worth it if teeth very bad and no better options, but these others sound to me like better options! The "natural" means of remineralization is for calcium (and etc.) to be supplied by the saliva. I know there's tons more to understand about that topic...

As far as how necessary root canal is...
Well, this one place did have a number of people describing their success stories via... that complicated list. And I recall Irene's description of healing her own abscessed (meaning: needing root canal ASAP) with homeopathy, and her dentist's perplexity that the root chamber had filled itself in. So... "define necessary"!

I subsequently tried that magic on my own abscess, and what I got instead was no pain, but abscess had continued eating away at the bony structures, et voila, another root canal for me...

There are a *very* small number of dentists who do use homeopathy, but I've never been able to find one! There's Colin Lessel(?)'s "Homeopathy & Dentistry" (? or something similar), but I haven't read it. It's been on my list for quite a number of way-to-busy years.

But well, if you are having no pain so far -- do you know if the tooth is still alive? (Any sensitivity to hot/cold?)

I'm going to send separately some of the links I dug up -- looks like new material since I last looked, and it looks interesting! (Homeopathy is mentioned in the first one, but I'm not taking time to read right now.)

Shannon

Okay, here are a few -- if you google on "root canal fermented" (yum), that brings up a bunch from one group; google on "root canal flax" should bring up the flax oil bunch -- a simpler approach, also worth knowing about.
this one doesn't address root canal, but good relevant information, and mentions Weston A Price's book.
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/ ... ds-cavity/
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/ ... oot-canal/
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/ ... ds-cavity/

http://nourishedmagazine.com.au/blog/ar ... oot-canals
If you try any of it, I would love to hear what you find!!!

Shannon

Hi Shannon,
Thanks. I'll read more tonight. Not a rush for this root canal but unfortunately they already uncapped and exposed the nerve so I may be facing problems down the road if I ignore it. I'll make sure the next cavity, which is supposedly as big, they don't uncap the nerve and prep it for root canal.
Nerve is alive, I feel hot/cold, but since using all the fluoride rinses and Sensodyne toothpaste not having any pain. I've been drinking mainly non-fluoridated water at home for many years so I have to believe it is the lack of using fluoride toothpaste for over a year that caused all these cavities. Supposedly the fluoride rebuilds enamel, seems to work, was having so much sensitivty but after a few months none. Being mostly an Atkins dieter, I'm not eating refined carbs and much time eating no carbs so can't blame sugar.
I have a bottle of powdered xylitol I use for baking sugar free cheesecakes and have used xylitol products. Will have to explore that. It is a sugar alcohol, but less problematic on digestion than maltitol, sorbitol when consuming. I've seen it mainly in chewing gums.
Susan

We do not have fluoride deficiencies. This whole thing about fluoride is an absolute lie.
Teeth issues are from inherited and acquired tendencies, or miasm. (unless of course no care is taken of teeth and diet is horrible)
Sheri

At 09:18 AM 5/20/2012, you wrote:
Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath
http://homeopathycures.wordpress.com/ & http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/
ONLINE/Email classes in Homeopathy; Vaccine Dangers; Childhood Diseases
Next classes start May 18 & 25

Thanks Shannon! Have to explore this more. I'm already using lots of butter, from France, flax oil unrefined, was never a Ghee fan and occasionally take cod liver oil, which I think is cold extracted. It's certainly an Atkins friendly regimen as is Weston Price Foundation which is anti-grains. Cod is also super beneficial on the D'Adamo blood type diet for type B. I've noticed I feel very good after eating cod, too bad the prices have risen so much.
If you saw my other post from Chronic Diseases on what to eat (beef, butter, soup), Hahnemann was truly a genius, he was talking about an Atkins Diet lifestyle before Dr. Atkins was born! And somewhat Halal/Kosher as no pork recommended. He didn't know about gluten allergies as he recs wheat/rye but maybe today's world created gluten allergy due to what we've been eating last 50 years as many other food allergies, like peanuts. Not sure why he's anti coffee, vinegar, citric acid.
Susan

Sheri,
I thought so too, but unfortunately 13 cavities in 1.5 years after going NO fluoride on the toothpase during that time, already drinking no fluoride water, suggest otherwise. Plus, I don't eat refined carbs, no refined sugar. It will be confirmed if I have no more cavities going forward after now using fluoride rinses and toothpastes.
These are the "healthy" natural tootpastes I used exclusively during that time, don't always believe the hype! Maybe one of the "natural" ingredients weren't good.for my teeth.
http://www.organicbeautytalk.com/2011/1 ... toothpaste
http://sale.dentist.net/products/jason- ... toothpaste
Plus using NO fluoride rinses.
Susan

Sadly if they have already drilled out the tooth to the nerve it will probably not survive long, whether you have a root canal or not. Root canals typically lead to another and the extraction. If it were me, I would stick with what you have now, however long it lasts. I would not get the root canal and save that $ for the holistic dentist to put a non metallic implant in a few years down the road. I would not put any more metal in my mouth, ever
vicki
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