Spiderbaby, I have had two root canalled teeth removed by an oral surgeon. The reason that they were removed - long before I knew about mercury, is that they failed. Both times, the root split. My former dentist no longer pulls teeth - he has nerve damage in his arms, (but still believes in mercury amalgams!!!!). The oral surgeon did an excellent job and there were no cavitations. Getting the teeth out was simple and painless - no worse than a regular extraction done properly. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />