Dr. Huber, I am a dentist and thought I would respond to your interesting column.
First point: poorly done root canals are a hazard, not root canals in general. At a continuing education conference a few years ago, research was presented indicating that 50-60% of root canals done by general dentists failed while 90% performed by endodontists (root canal specialist) were successful. Skill matters a great deal in outcome of cases. Generally speaking (to keep this readable), it has been found that flushing the canal repeatedly and thoroughly with sodium hypochlorite was a big factor in outcome. Frankly, many general dentists rush through this process, while successful cases (and future referrals) are great practice builders for endodontists. As a general dentist, I would also say that discretion is the better part of endodontia (and oral surgery...). I refer anything that is beyond my skill level. In my experience, endodontists do a wonderful job with these difficult cases.
How do we know a root canal was done properly? Many times patients present with a large radiolucency apparent on the x-ray. If a root canal is done well, the radiolucency will completely resolve and stay resolved. The infection causing the radiolucency is eliminated.
The quick and the dirty: root canals, done well, are very effective. I would not hesitate to have one done.
An aside: the metallic "filling" attached to the crown in your story is a cast post, not a root canal filling.
If you have any question, please feel free to ask. Same for anyone on here.
Just rinse up to 30 sec up to minutes with schwedenbitter* and add on 750ml 15 long-peppers to it....
*Make the schwedenbitter your self, the store version is lame. Get 2x 750ml grain alcohol 38% at +- 90 gr schwedenbitter mix to it leave it for at-least a month-6 weeks and if you can 3 months, filter it start rinsing...... Its yack, sharp etc.. You can also swallow the rinsing cause the herbs are great for everything else....., dilute it when swallowing with water....
Wanna know more get the maria treben books, they are translated is many languages.
I personally added the long-pepper cause I had a huge infection under a molar with open filling, I put 15 long-peppers to 750ml already made schwedenbitter leave it warm for a month or a week under a halogen(heat) 20W lamp. It stings on the tongue, but I got every big root infection away for 6-7 years now.
I also have one root canal, but no longer infections around it due to the schwedenbitter rinsing. That's how I discovered it....
I have several root canals for decades, and after I began my studies as a health practitioner, I encountered the use of hydrogen peroxide. After a few weeks of mouthwashes and inhalations, all microbial infections disappeared, and never went to the dentist for cavities or canals again.
The presence of metal in there is another story.
Last year I was talking to a dentist friend, trained in northern Greece, and he said that back in the 80s he had a very wise professor who told him 'screw all those new procedures and mouthwashes. Three days a week of saltwater mouthwash keeps you plaque-free, and three days a week of peroxide solution mouthwash keeps you infection-free.'
That good professor never achieved high academic chair, but every single one of my friends' patients who does this routine has a perfectly healthy mouth.
Thank you Dr. Huber. Amazing article. What you describe could be affecting me. I am 65 and I have one root canal that is at least 30 years old. Earlier this year, my sinuses became inflamed and infected. I had to take aspirin to ease the pain. I found a good sinus doctor in Jupiter, Florida. The doctor scanned my sinuses - they were completely blocked and infected. They put me on antibiotics to clear the infection, did a culture and had me back in a couple of weeks to correct a deviated septum and to perform a balloon sinuplasty. The doctor told me that my sinuses had probably been inflamed for years; I just kept accepting my deteriorating condition as "normal". The culture came back positive for Streptococcus and E-coli. I asked the doctor where I could have gotten such nasty stuff in my sinuses - he said, "you can get that stuff anywhere." I think I should get my root-canal removed; it could be the "root" of the problem. Thanks very much for all the great info and for always telling the truth. May God bless you and continue to guide you in your work. Peace.
Breast cancer patients are caught between a rock and a hard place. I spent five years on Anastrozole which caused osteopenia. The doctor recommended Prolia for my bones. Prolia makes one susceptible to hip and spinal fractures when the drug is stopped if one doesn’t go on the oral bone drugs. Some patients also experience jaw necrosis. I’m weaning off Prolia by getting a half dose for two years based on a study done by a Canadian endocrinologist. I have one more year of the half dose to go. I would like to get my one root canal out, but I’m terrified of developing jaw necrosis. I think I should wait until I’ve been off the Prolia for at least a year before I get any invasive dental work done. When I researched Prolia before I started it, some of this information wasn’t known. Big pharma can’t be trusted at all. In the meantime my back is getting worse and worse as is my arthritis.
Having moved to the US from England fairly late in life, I was surprised to find root canals seemed to be the No. 1 treatment offered by dentists here for tooth problems, rather than the much more common fillings used in England up until that time. (I believe this may have changed since). Unfortunately, initially I was suckered into believing root canals were the solution to my various dental problems by a dentist I now consider more concerned with his profit margins than the ultimate welfare of his patients. I also learned this concern often applies to the practice of medicine generally in the US.
Since then, I've come across aficionados of Dr Weston Price who call themselves "biological dentists", totally averse to root canals and if fillings are deemed insufficient, seem to prefer extraction of the offending tooth. Which leaves you with a gap. If it's a question of just one/ two or three teeth, this isn't going to make a huge difference to one's eating ability, but if more, depending on location, and in addition to an already depleted full set of teeth, i.e. the molars in particular, it can make one hesitate to proceed with possibly multiple extractions.
Dec 29, 2023·edited Dec 29, 2023Liked by Dr. Colleen Huber
Millions who have had root canal procedures performed literally had no choice. Acute inflammation of a tooth nerve ranks right up their with full-blown natural childbirth, sans epidural, in terms of pain! Remember the film "Marathon Man" and the brilliant role of Lawrence Olivier as the "Iz-it-säfe" dentist? You will do anything or confess anything to get the pain to stop. Personally, I rather have a fatal bacterial infection with a quick demise than the endless torture produced by an acutely inflamed tooth. Too bad for all of us who are now going to die early because of gutta percha. C'est la vie, et la mort.
I learned about this at a conference a few years ago and my mom, who recently died of breast cancer, had a history of a root canal at a related tooth. I would love to hear your thoughts on alternatives to root canals.
Did your patients whose teeth were removed just have no tooth in those spots afterwards? Or did they get one of those retainer-like things with a fake tooth on it?
a formerly filled tooth had decayed again last year, and I had it pulled. Yes there is a gap now, but 1. root canal was extremely expensive, 2. he did not do that himself like the dentist in Belgium so I would have had to go to another one 3. this was just before thanksgiving and I would have had to wait several weeks, with a sore tooth. Am I glad I had it extracted, reading this ! Thank you so much !
I am very intrigued by this, because I have poor molars and a few root canals. I wonder if the same pitfalls are also found with implants. Looking forward to more information.
Dr. Huber, I am a dentist and thought I would respond to your interesting column.
First point: poorly done root canals are a hazard, not root canals in general. At a continuing education conference a few years ago, research was presented indicating that 50-60% of root canals done by general dentists failed while 90% performed by endodontists (root canal specialist) were successful. Skill matters a great deal in outcome of cases. Generally speaking (to keep this readable), it has been found that flushing the canal repeatedly and thoroughly with sodium hypochlorite was a big factor in outcome. Frankly, many general dentists rush through this process, while successful cases (and future referrals) are great practice builders for endodontists. As a general dentist, I would also say that discretion is the better part of endodontia (and oral surgery...). I refer anything that is beyond my skill level. In my experience, endodontists do a wonderful job with these difficult cases.
How do we know a root canal was done properly? Many times patients present with a large radiolucency apparent on the x-ray. If a root canal is done well, the radiolucency will completely resolve and stay resolved. The infection causing the radiolucency is eliminated.
The quick and the dirty: root canals, done well, are very effective. I would not hesitate to have one done.
An aside: the metallic "filling" attached to the crown in your story is a cast post, not a root canal filling.
If you have any question, please feel free to ask. Same for anyone on here.
I appreciate your work, Dr. Huber.
Just rinse up to 30 sec up to minutes with schwedenbitter* and add on 750ml 15 long-peppers to it....
*Make the schwedenbitter your self, the store version is lame. Get 2x 750ml grain alcohol 38% at +- 90 gr schwedenbitter mix to it leave it for at-least a month-6 weeks and if you can 3 months, filter it start rinsing...... Its yack, sharp etc.. You can also swallow the rinsing cause the herbs are great for everything else....., dilute it when swallowing with water....
Wanna know more get the maria treben books, they are translated is many languages.
https://www.amazon.com/Health-Through-Gods-Pharmacy-Experiences/dp/3850681246/ref=sr_1_5?crid=5904SPP5949E&keywords=Maria+treben&qid=1703878239&sprefix=maria+treben%2Caps%2C579&sr=8-5
https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Ihlich-Swedish-Bitters-Maria-Treben/dp/B0785J3TB9/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1VBUQG004T8OC&keywords=schwedenbitter+maria+treben+original&qid=1703878374&sprefix=schwedenbitter%2Caps%2C374&sr=8-6 you need the short one is about 15 herbs, that one works the best.
I personally added the long-pepper cause I had a huge infection under a molar with open filling, I put 15 long-peppers to 750ml already made schwedenbitter leave it warm for a month or a week under a halogen(heat) 20W lamp. It stings on the tongue, but I got every big root infection away for 6-7 years now.
I also have one root canal, but no longer infections around it due to the schwedenbitter rinsing. That's how I discovered it....
Enjoy!
I have several root canals for decades, and after I began my studies as a health practitioner, I encountered the use of hydrogen peroxide. After a few weeks of mouthwashes and inhalations, all microbial infections disappeared, and never went to the dentist for cavities or canals again.
The presence of metal in there is another story.
Last year I was talking to a dentist friend, trained in northern Greece, and he said that back in the 80s he had a very wise professor who told him 'screw all those new procedures and mouthwashes. Three days a week of saltwater mouthwash keeps you plaque-free, and three days a week of peroxide solution mouthwash keeps you infection-free.'
That good professor never achieved high academic chair, but every single one of my friends' patients who does this routine has a perfectly healthy mouth.
Great post. Here is a way to download my new book about dentistry free : The Judas Dentistry draft is at https://dl.bookfunnel.com/5ercuvl94y.
Thank you Dr. Huber. Amazing article. What you describe could be affecting me. I am 65 and I have one root canal that is at least 30 years old. Earlier this year, my sinuses became inflamed and infected. I had to take aspirin to ease the pain. I found a good sinus doctor in Jupiter, Florida. The doctor scanned my sinuses - they were completely blocked and infected. They put me on antibiotics to clear the infection, did a culture and had me back in a couple of weeks to correct a deviated septum and to perform a balloon sinuplasty. The doctor told me that my sinuses had probably been inflamed for years; I just kept accepting my deteriorating condition as "normal". The culture came back positive for Streptococcus and E-coli. I asked the doctor where I could have gotten such nasty stuff in my sinuses - he said, "you can get that stuff anywhere." I think I should get my root-canal removed; it could be the "root" of the problem. Thanks very much for all the great info and for always telling the truth. May God bless you and continue to guide you in your work. Peace.
Breast cancer patients are caught between a rock and a hard place. I spent five years on Anastrozole which caused osteopenia. The doctor recommended Prolia for my bones. Prolia makes one susceptible to hip and spinal fractures when the drug is stopped if one doesn’t go on the oral bone drugs. Some patients also experience jaw necrosis. I’m weaning off Prolia by getting a half dose for two years based on a study done by a Canadian endocrinologist. I have one more year of the half dose to go. I would like to get my one root canal out, but I’m terrified of developing jaw necrosis. I think I should wait until I’ve been off the Prolia for at least a year before I get any invasive dental work done. When I researched Prolia before I started it, some of this information wasn’t known. Big pharma can’t be trusted at all. In the meantime my back is getting worse and worse as is my arthritis.
Having moved to the US from England fairly late in life, I was surprised to find root canals seemed to be the No. 1 treatment offered by dentists here for tooth problems, rather than the much more common fillings used in England up until that time. (I believe this may have changed since). Unfortunately, initially I was suckered into believing root canals were the solution to my various dental problems by a dentist I now consider more concerned with his profit margins than the ultimate welfare of his patients. I also learned this concern often applies to the practice of medicine generally in the US.
Since then, I've come across aficionados of Dr Weston Price who call themselves "biological dentists", totally averse to root canals and if fillings are deemed insufficient, seem to prefer extraction of the offending tooth. Which leaves you with a gap. If it's a question of just one/ two or three teeth, this isn't going to make a huge difference to one's eating ability, but if more, depending on location, and in addition to an already depleted full set of teeth, i.e. the molars in particular, it can make one hesitate to proceed with possibly multiple extractions.
Millions who have had root canal procedures performed literally had no choice. Acute inflammation of a tooth nerve ranks right up their with full-blown natural childbirth, sans epidural, in terms of pain! Remember the film "Marathon Man" and the brilliant role of Lawrence Olivier as the "Iz-it-säfe" dentist? You will do anything or confess anything to get the pain to stop. Personally, I rather have a fatal bacterial infection with a quick demise than the endless torture produced by an acutely inflamed tooth. Too bad for all of us who are now going to die early because of gutta percha. C'est la vie, et la mort.
Very interesting, so if a dentist suggests a root canal, what might be alternatives (besides improving diet)?
I learned about this at a conference a few years ago and my mom, who recently died of breast cancer, had a history of a root canal at a related tooth. I would love to hear your thoughts on alternatives to root canals.
Did your patients whose teeth were removed just have no tooth in those spots afterwards? Or did they get one of those retainer-like things with a fake tooth on it?
There was a study some years back, maybe in Sweden; where the DNA from a toxic root canal was found in the heart of a heart attack victim.
a formerly filled tooth had decayed again last year, and I had it pulled. Yes there is a gap now, but 1. root canal was extremely expensive, 2. he did not do that himself like the dentist in Belgium so I would have had to go to another one 3. this was just before thanksgiving and I would have had to wait several weeks, with a sore tooth. Am I glad I had it extracted, reading this ! Thank you so much !
I am very intrigued by this, because I have poor molars and a few root canals. I wonder if the same pitfalls are also found with implants. Looking forward to more information.
Additionally:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEI4RKAdHSU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcjQacnFzfQ
Dr. Levy and Dr. Huggins.
Holy Cow! Another very, very insightful bit of information.