What Happened When My Root-Canal Teeth Were Pulled
When I had two root canal teeth extracted by my biological dentist, I paid a few hundred dollars for an analysis of what bacteria were found in these "dead" teeth. I want to tell you what I learned when got my results back from the lab in Colorado.
Weighing a Root Canal VS Extraction
In this article:
- Why My Root Canal Failed
- All Root Canals Fail Years Later
- Signs of Root Canal Infection
- What Happens to the Root Canaled Tooth?
- Bacteria Found in the Samples
- When Should You Worry About the Bacteria?
- After the Root Canal Tooth Extraction
Why My Root Canal Failed
My holistic dentist had told me previously that both of my root-canal teeth were failing.1 Since then, I’ve talked to half a dozen other dentists and people who have extensive experience with root canals about why root canals fail.
Dental Damage from Earlier Years
You would think that with all the good health habits I have, I would have better luck with my teeth. I confess to being more than a little disappointed that a bone graft and so much dental work would be required, notwithstanding my earlier years of eating lots of candy, ice cream, and diet soda.
All Root Canals Fail Years Later
But did you know that the EXPECTED time that a root canal lasts is a max of ten years? That’s right—endodontists KNOW that their procedure has a very limited life.
My brother Dave was in an ATV accident where his teeth planted in the steering wheel and killed ten of them. He had root canals on all of them, and guess what happened ten years later?
Yep, they were all failing.
Signs of Root Canal Infection
Sensitivity, blisters on the gum, pain, and even rashes can indicated a failed root canal.
But what about those first ten years? Are those pleomorphic organisms trapped in an anaerobic environment, in a dead organ, really contained during that time? Answer: no, they’re not! “Failing” just means that there are visible, discernible signs of rampant infection and decay. Teeth don't get that way overnight! When a root canal infection is obvious, you can be sure the problem has existed for quite some time.
Failed Root Canal Symptoms
In my case, the signs of infection were mild tooth sensitivity and a blister on the gums covering the tooth. I also had a raging, itchy rash on my trunk and arms that came and went for 2.5 months, until I realized it was related to my teeth.
What Happens to the Root Canaled Tooth?
Have you ever thought about the fact that the tooth is an organ? Biological dentists know this. Each tooth is part of an interconnected meridian in the body. When you decide to keep a dead tooth in your mouth through a root canal, you are truly fossilizing a dead organism in your living mouth. How can we think this won’t cause problems?!
Bacteria Found in the Samples
My test results came back saying that 10 bacteria were detected in the tooth sample. None of them were in the “active” concentration, where the microorganism is alive and well and not being effectively attacked by my immune system.
But two were in the “bright” concentration, which means “heavy concentration of the microorganism.”
The two most worrying bacteria were:
Getting your tooth tested with a bacteria sample can show if your root canal is infected.
Different Bacteria in the Body
I didn't panic about this. The fact is, everybody has candida (a parasitic fungi like yeast), everybody has cancer, most people probably have strep and even MRSA micro-organisms too. Everybody has many yeasts, molds, fungi, viruses, bacteria, and the toxic waste byproducts of those critters in their blood and guts and organs.
Believe it or not, candida can actually have valid functions in the human body. In proportion, when we're talking about tiny amounts in a teeming, healthy ecosystem, it’s not a problem.
When Should You Worry About the Bacteria?
The problem is when those baddies get out of hand, when the good guys in the body, like macrophages and healthy microorganisms, are overcome (by antibiotics! GMO-frankenfoods! sugar-feeding yeast and fungus!) and the baddies get out of control.
Killing tissues/organs such as your teeth, then trapping the bacteria in the teeth, deprived of oxygen, makes the baddies become super-psychos. That’s a gross oversimplification, but a google search on those two bacteria reveal that my own two breeds of baddies cause heart attacks, impaired immune response, and infections!2
Shudder.
After the Root Canal Tooth Extraction
It was weird to be missing two teeth for a while, but I was glad to be rid of the super-psychos.
The dentist offered me an antibiotic the day of my surgery, since he knew the baddies were out and running around. I said no thanks, that I wanted to help my body manage it. And it did. Every time I think of this, I send a gratitude message inward, thanking my body for heroic immune function during a rough patch!
What was the experience like if you’ve ever had a root canal? If you could choose, would you have a root canal or have the tooth extracted? Share your story in the comments section below.
Up Next: How To Find A Good Biological Dentist: 10 Questions To Ask
Robyn Openshaw, MSW, is the bestselling author of The Green Smoothies Diet, 12 Steps to Whole Foods, and 2017’s #1 Amazon Bestseller and USA Today Bestseller, Vibe. Learn more about how to make the journey painless, from the nutrient-scarce Standard American Diet, to a whole-foods diet, in her free video masterclass 12 Steps to Whole Foods.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that help support the GSG mission without costing you extra. I recommend only companies and products that I use myself.
Sources
- Zehnder, Matthias, and Georgios N Belibasakis. “On the Dynamics of Root Canal Infections-What We Understand and What We Don't.” Virulence, Taylor & Francis, 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4601489/.
- Georgalas, C., Kanagalingam, J., Zainal, A., Ahmed, H., Singh, A., & Patel, K. S. (2002). The Association between Periodontal Disease and Peritonsillar Infection: A Prospective Study. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 126(1), 91–94. https://doi.org/10.1067/mhn.2002.121318
Editor's note: This post was originally published on November 23, 2012 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
Posted in: Dental Health, Detox, Health Concerns, Holistic Care
Hello I looked this up and read what you wrote trying to find out if the tooth that I needed a root canal on that got pulled instead is not fully fixed. It’s been more then two days ago that I got it pulled and I’ve had pain and pulsating and it’s not dry socket I looked it up . Please help
A tooth extraction takes time to heal. You may have a very deep infection. Perhaps a call back to your dentist to discuss your continuing symptoms would be a good idea.
Right after my root canal I had 2 incidents where I checked myself out for a uti and there was nothing, just the symptoms. Both times I landed in ER with kidney infections. I have had an itchy rash! It comes and goes on the right side of my trunk. The root canal is 3 years old now and I have also had a huge access in my Tongue. Th medical profession puts me on antibiotics every time. I am going to get it pulled by my dentist this week. Thinking biological but it is not covered under my health insurance and is $1800.00. I would have 100% coverage through my regular dentist. Any suggestion?
Shop around. You can get it done by a good biological oral surgeon for less. I just had 3 extractions (2 root canals and a primary tooth), and it cost $875.
Could you please name the surgeon I really need that.
Dr. Deasy in Langhorne, PA
did you have implants after extraction? Was it weird to chew for with missing teeth?
Hi Masha, after a while of allowing my gums to heal plus bone grafts, I had both titanium and zirconium implant work done and I’m doing great!
Did you notice any health benefits to extraction
I just had two root canal teeth removed. The one on the lower jaw has sharp, hard fragments like part of the root canal wasn’t removed. Or it may be bone fragments. But, it is not moving or working its way out. Should whatever that is be removed by the oral surgeon who performed the surgery. Please respond soon. Thank y ou.
Hi Faye, I’m sorry to hear you have two root canal failings! How sad! It does sound like something is amiss, not quite right. You should have tender gum left and no sharp edges. I’d definitely call the oral surgeon right back, asap and let them know what you’re experiencing!
Did you deal with dry socket at all? Or if a dead tooth is removed, is it still possible to experience dry socket?
I have a question. 2 years ago I had 3 infected root canal teeth pulled. They had probably been infected for 20 years! I have been feeling run down and sick. I had a work up of my gut health recently and found that I have high levels of Euryarchaeota Phylum in my GI. This is a bacteria commonly found in root canals. My question is this.can the bacteria from my root canals be living in my intestines long after I remove to RC teeth and causing problems? Thanks
Of course, Dr. Hal Huggins did DNA testings of bacteria in infected root canal and kidneys back in 90’s and what he found is that the same bacteria that is in the tooth is also in kidney causing disease. And it could be any organ because it spreads trough bloodstream
I had root canals pulled out after the topaz test showing they were bad. My dentist told me my life would change & it did so I could tune into past & present -remember better & intuit- put two & two together- better problem solver. Root canal should never be put in mouth in first place. They are too toxic & wreck much havoc in different ways for each one who has one or more.
did you go to a specific type of dentist to have the test and extraction performed? I have a tooth that had a root canal and the crown has chipped so I want to have the tooth extracted but not sure who to go to. thanks
Hi Mahala, Yes you will want to work with a reputable Biological Dentist. I recommend visiting Robyn’s new website, https://holisticdentistanswers.com/ where you can print out Robyn’s free list of 17 questions you should ask your dentist along with using our ‘Holistic Dentist Finder.’ Best wishes!
I just had my root canal extracted. How do I care for it right now? And what should I eat?
Can you recommend supplements to help recover from extraction faster? And who did your implants? And where did you send your teeth to be looked at?
Sophia did you have a bone graft done too ?
Susan, are you asking Robyn Openshaw if she had a bone graft? She in fact did for both of her root canal extractions.
Can you tell me what implants are considered safe? I can’t imagine living with removable teeth for the rest of my life!
Susan, Robyn teaches that zirconium implants are much better/safer than those made from titanium.
Yes, absolutely – great relief as my symptoms subsided.
Who did you go to for your biological oral surgeon? Were you sedated?
Thank you.
Hello Daniel,
Who did you go to to have your failed root canal extracted? Your oral surgeon must have done a good job, as you don’t have problems after extraction.
Thanks
I don’t think how good the surgeon is has that much to do with whether they have problems, post-extraction. it’s likely more a function of the health of the patient, going into surgery, and whether they did some preventative measures like PRF and ozone.
Zirconium implants – These are far better than Titanium.