Setting the Record Straight About the Dangers of Root Canals

You can think of the mouth as the gateway to your body. What I mean by that is that not only does the health of your mouth impact your health overall, but it can also let you know when something's not quite right elsewhere inside of you. In other words, your mouth is closely linked to the rest of your body!

This is just one example of how closely the different parts of your body are connected, and why it's so important to look at your health holistically. Think about it—have you ever noticed the way stress can make you physically tired, or how a lingering illness can make you feel depressed? That's not a coincidence! It's a direct result of the link between your body and mind. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)

As important as the concept of holistic health is in taking care of our bodies, in some cases, the idea has perpetuated some harmful misconceptions, particularly with regard to root canals. One of these myths—the focal infection theory—has been especially difficult to quash, and this has led to some patients being so afraid to seek the endodontic care they need that they avoid it altogether.

Let's talk about what the focal infection theory is, how it became such a widespread idea, and why it's 100% WRONG so we can clear up this myth once and for all!

The Origin of the Focal Infection Theory

The focal infection theory originated in the earlier part of the 20th century. The idea behind the theory was that a tooth treated with a root canal could somehow leak harmful toxins and bacteria into the body, causing serious health problems ranging from arthritis to heart disease.?

As you can imagine, such an idea wreaked havoc on dental patients everywhere. Believing that removing teeth could miraculously cure health problems in other parts of the body, dentists started pulling teeth left and right. The results were not at all what they expected. Instead of healing patients of their ailments, the extractions only prolonged their suffering—and now with fewer teeth.

It was absolute mayhem, and not one of our proudest moments in dentistry.

How the Theory Gained Traction?

Even though the focal infection theory didn't hold any water when put to the test, the practice of extracting teeth became even more commonplace after Dr. Weston Price, the research chairman of the American Dental Association at the time, published flawed research in support of it. According to his findings, teeth that were infected or had been treated with root canals were the source of many degenerative diseases.

Why find a cure to a chronic disease when you can just yank some teeth out, right? (Eyeroll.)

Because Dr. Price was so influential within the dental profession, people believed him, and the focal infection theory continued to gain traction. It's only with hindsight that we can see the flaws in his research. But back then, no one understood the issues with his methodology, and so the theory spread, causing lasting damage.

Putting the Theory to Rest

By the 1930s, clinicians, researchers, and other medical professionals finally started to question the focal infection theory and whether extracting teeth was really the right thing to do. As more research was conducted—particularly by Cecil and Angevine—the truth came to light and the theory was put to rest, meaning it was no longer a part of dental and medical training. Plus, endodontics (a dental specialty centered on saving teeth), became a mainstream field in dentistry. Heck yeah, a major win!

Unfortunately, though, that wasn't the end of the road for the focal infection theory. Certain circles within the holistic health movement, as well as misleading documentaries like Root Cause, have helped perpetuate the myth, even though it was discredited a hundred years ago.

These groups may not be as influential as the American Dental Association, but they've still managed to cause harm by spreading misinformation about root canals. To this day, there are patients who have such a fear of root canal treatments that they choose to have their teeth extracted instead, potentially making their health issues even worse.

The Truth About Root Canals

Fortunately, there's a lot that we can do to combat the misinformation about root canals spread by the focal infection theory. First, dentists and endodontists like me can help correct these misconceptions by making sure patients know the truth about root canals and why we do them.

When a dentist tells you that you need a root canal, it's because bacteria has gotten into your tooth and thrown your mouth's microbiome out of balance. To correct it and support your overall wellbeing, they perform a root canal, which helps to clean out the unwanted bacteria from your tooth.

Does that sound toxic to you? Of course not—quite the opposite, actually. I repeat, a good root canal can not only relieve your pain but also save your tooth rather than get rid of it, which is ultimately better for your health. That's because extractions can actually lead to additional issues, such as shifting teeth, difficulty chewing, speech and sinus problems, jawbone deterioration, increased risk of infection and gum disease, and decreased confidence.

What about you as a patient? Is there anything you can do to combat misinformation? As a matter of fact there is—and you're doing it right now by reading this article! By continuing to become as informed as possible about your dental health, you can help yourself and others learn the truth about root canals and all their benefits, ultimately ensuring that everyone seeks the treatment they need.

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