OK I've got a serious problem. I feel terrible and don't know what to do. I convinced my wife to have her amalgams replaced to which she accepted. During one of the removal of an amalgam the tooth cracked and exposed the nerve root. The dentist said that a root canal would have to be done. Without enough research (My major error) we went to and endodontist and he performed the root canal. She is experiencing some serious pain and I'm not much help. I should have done my homework and now I'm just realizing the horrors of root canals! She does not have a crown on the tooth yet. I'm hearing people say to pull the tooth, but then there is the problem of cavitation. Implants are not a good idea either. We could just go with the crown and make sure her immune system is strong. I'm wondering if most if not all root canals will eventually cause the body to fight an infection? But maybe that could be years down the road.

Hi sittingduck, sorry to hear of this!

Alot of controversy on root canals, whether or not they should be done and if so....how? There is apparently a newer more biologic way of doing them as opposed to the other way. Here is the newer more biocompatible root canals that a few biologic dentists appear to be taking onboard (one in my country who never used to do root canals, now does them because of this newer method) http://www.integrativedentalmedicine.com/ocalexic.html

I know the other (typical) way can be a great source of toxicity and is far from the ideal Sosick on here had one or two I think? And she was very ill with it and had it removed and improved again. She still has amalgams, yet it seemed the root canal was even WORSE. Here is the "usual" way of doing them http://www.integrativedentalmedicine.com/RCTtox.html

There is also biologic implants, as opposed to what they used to use (titanium)
http://www.integrativedentalmedicine.com/titaniumcorrosion.html
Now they can use zirconium, which apparently is biocompatible:
http://www.integrativedentalmedicine.com/metalfreeimplantology.html
So that is an option.

You can of course go to a biologic dentist who is aware of root canal toxicity and amalgams and cavitations and get the dentist to remove the root canal/tooth thoroughly and simpy request a non vaso - non epinephrine local anasethetic (they restrict blood flow too much and can contribute to dead teeth and cavitation development apparently) and to make sure that not only the tooth is removed, but that the ligament etc is also removed, to ensure that healthy bone growth is then encouraged.

Probably best to have it stitched up afterwards and then follow strict hygeine rules after that to avoid infection. Eating a good diet will also aid bone growth to the area, plus minerals, cod liver oil, vitamin C, garlic etc.

These are options. Again, whatever way you decide to go, locate a reputable biologic dentist and discuss these concerns and go from there. I know it's very hard, because there are so many potential problems from dental work! So many things to avoid and even fixing things can pose problems as well. No wonder we feel like tearing our hair out! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/reallymad.gif" alt="" />

I had one root canal done, a horror story. The dentist filled it with mercury. It was dreadful from the get go. I never suspected fillings for the cause of why i felt so bad up front. When they finally put the crown on that tooth, oh my gosh, what a nightmare. Constant headaches, constant.. real bad. I had it extracted. just several weeks after spending $1500.00 on that dumb tooth, which btw was fine till the dentist touched it.

I'm not real sure it's actually possible to fix a tooth that has cracked and exposed the root. she can have the crown finished (personally I would not) and all that, but she'll just be suffering with it if she's suffering already, the crown makes things ten times worse because there are metals in the crown.... and then downline after the suffering for the sake of a tooth she'll end up getting it pulled anyway. If it cracked during amalgam replacement it was probably already slightly cracked or ready to go and leaking anyway.

I'd opt for extraction on that one. I have had a few extracted and will probably do a couple more rear molars this summer. It's traumatic losing your first tooth that way but as in my case, it's a choice between a few pretty (and very expensive) teeth or my overall health. I opt for overall health. so far so good on that for me. you get used to the teeth being gone and gone is gone, no worries.

Get the tooth cut out via a good oral surgery technique (not 'pulled') and there will not be any fear of cavitations, and very little swelling or pain after. Be sure to remind the dentist to scrape the periodontal ligament out, sometimes they are just lazy (you can add any other expletives in there you'd like also) and don't do it unless you request it.

BTW, if the dentist tells you you have to pay for the crown even if she decides to get the tooth removed, just ignore him. You do not have to pay for the crown after an unsuccessful root canal. Don't throw your money away. You'll be looking for it downline to heal.

I recently watched a dvd by Hal Huggins,he explained all about the horror of root canals.He had absolutely nothing positive to say about them and concluded that it's best to have the tooth extracted rather than have a root canal.

If a dentist said I needed a root canal I would not have a one myself.

thanks for the reply guys. My wife really doesn't want to lose the tooth. I don't blame her. We are thinking that it may be possible to get the crown and watch the pain the tooth for infections (real carefully). If after a few months things are doing ok, we will keep watching it for another few years. Possibly getting it removed some years later. It cannot be good that the body really has no way to control infection inside the tooth the immune system must constantly be monitoring and possibly fighting infection next to the tooth at the gum area where initial contact is made to ward off diseases. That is alot to ask of our immune system and all the time at that. Overtime the immune system gets depleted and needs rest. Since this tooth was not infected before the amalgam removal it presented no problem other than the amalgam itself. Timing is going to be crucial as to when to remove the tooth. My concern is that we wait too long before removing the tooth and it starts to infect other system(s) or body parts that we cannot treat effectively. Any suggestions here? Sorry this is in the wrong forum, I was in a rush.

Which tooth is it? Becuase you really should remove the tooth. I guess if it is a main front one, that would be a problem. but if it's a molar, even though the thought of losing it is horrible the first go round, really after a couple months she won't even miss it.

the problem with waiting and watching things of this nature is that it does really cause havoc all over the body, infections in teeth can even cause heart problems, breast cancer possibly, the list goes on and on. But heart problems are one of the most widely known factually accepted by doctors, so that says something. Just a few months of something bad like that going on and she's looking at months maybe a year to heal, hopefully not longer.

Was the tooth filled with mercury do you know? That is still standard procedure, to fill root canals with very loose (high mercury to get into small spots) amalgam. And if the tooth was cracked, that'll be seaping for who nows how long into her jaw. do all her teeth hurt at this point after the root canal? if so, that is probably what is happening, it happened to me, took a 2-3 months of heavy duty IV chelation to clear it up.

After what I experienced I think would be happier with a lobotomy than a root canal.

I had a root canal before I knew of the evils. The procedure went well, but I always had a very slight ache in that tooth afterward. After I learned about mercury and went to a holistic dentist, it was determined that the root canal was more of a problem than the 8 mercury fillings (9 if you count the large one we found under a crown). I had the root canal re-done, but with an experimental ozone treatment. It was a 5-step process (that many trips to endodontist/dentist), but so far, so good. The ache went away and I tested better. I know this may not last forever, but it was worth a shot for me, because it could always be extracted later. Mine is a back molar, and the problem is that I already had 4 teeth and 4 wisdom teeth removed for orthodontic purposes, so I need that molar!

Like your wife, I think that the nerve in the tooth that had the large mercury filling was compromised and I need another root canal. I have put it off because we moved and I don't have a dentist here yet. It is really hard for me to trust any medical provider. I know I will have to address it eventually, but right now it is not hurting. I am hoping that maybe it did not die, but was a little stressed and that caused the initial pain (though the x-ray said otherwise). I will definitely try the ozone again, and hope that if that is not the solution, perhaps it will stave off issues until another, better method is found.

It is a #3 molar. The endontist used Gutta Percha in the roots, and I specifically asked if any mercury was used and they said no. Her pain is now subsiding and she is almost off of any pain killer (ibuprofen). I don't think she is going to change her mind about keeping the tooth but for our sakes I hope that we have some better luck. The endontist said he put her at a 90%+ chance of having a successful root canal. I should have asked what that really meant. His secretary said she had her root canal done 20 somewhat years ago and she is doing fine.

Hi lawstudent. I feel like I'm getting much more versed at the amalgam issue but really lacked knowledge on root canals and other issues. In fact I'm just ordering Hal Huggins book now. Sad, I know. In many ways I am heart broken that my wife wants a root canal. Her health is so important to me, and I just can't convey to her in the right way the importance of understanding the issues of root canals. I'm hoping I can read some of Hal's book to her and hopefully get her attention on these issues. She has free agency and all I can do is continue to suggest removal. What to do.....What to do....? It's good to hear that the ozone treatment has gone well for you. I asked the dentist concerning the cause of the crack and was told that she had to go down a little further because the amalgam was leaking into her tooth!!!!! Wow, that was frightening! So I guess the added depth got to the pulp. Oh how I wished things would have gone smoothly. I got her to get her amalgams out and now she is in process of a root canal. I am so desperate to help her regain her health but this has been a serious setback. According to some here on this board, root canals can pose a greater danger than amalgams! This part of our journey just got much more complicated.