OTHER BARRIERS
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Addressing Barriers to Optimal Mouth/Body Health
There are many ways in which past dental work can actually compromise both your oral and your overall health. These include issues such as mercury release from old amalgam fillings, residual infections in root canal-treated teeth, and the hidden infections commonly called “cavitations.”
Toxins from such sources can spread throughout the body, contributing to a wide range of systemic health problems, including cardiometabolic, neurological, and autoimmune conditions. Removing both the sources of toxins and the toxins themselves is a crucial step towards healing.
It’s important to note that conditions like mercury fillings and root canal teeth don’t necessarily cause problems for everyone or affect everyone in the same way. People in good health can often live with them for years, while others cannot.
Biological dentists are at the forefront of recognizing when they have become barriers and providing appropriate dental treatment in support of whole body healing.
Lingering Infection in Root Canal Teeth
While there are times when root canal treatment may be the “least worst option” for treating a deeply decayed or damaged tooth, it can sometimes lead to health challenges.
Root canal treatment involves removing all living tissue from inside a tooth. The empty pulp chamber and canals that connect the tooth to the blood supply are then disinfected and filled with rubbery material before a cap or filling is placed.
Unfortunately, total disinfection of the tooth is impossible with conventional root canal techniques. For instance, they cannot disinfect the miles of microscopic tubules that form the layer of dentin between the enamel and pulp.
Once capped, any residual bacteria in those tubules can thrive, feasting on bits of protein that also remain in the dentin. These microbes generate highly toxic metabolic waste, which can enter the general circulation through the tooth’s roots, potentially wreaking havoc elsewhere in the body.
There is another problem: The lifeless tooth blocks the energetic pathway it shares with other organs. This disruption can spell trouble for any of those organs.
If you do have infection lurking in any root canal teeth, we can extract those dead teeth and replace them with biocompatible ceramic implants or other prosthetics. We can refer you to a naturopathic or integrative physician for detox support as needed.
Cavitations
Also known as jawbone osteonecrosis or ischemic bone disease, cavitations are another form of hidden infection. In this case, the infection is in the jawbone. These areas of dead and decaying tissue are often hidden below healthy looking gum tissue. (“Osteonecrosis” literally means “bone death.”)
While there are many possible causes, cavitations often form after a tooth extraction in which the periodontal ligament is left behind and the bone is not properly cleaned before the extraction site is sutured. They can also result from inadequate blood flow, such as when local anesthetics with excessive epinephrine impair circulation.
Cavitations can be very hard to identify and require CBCT scanning or energetic diagnostics for accurate detection. At least initially, there is seldom pain or discomfort.
Over time, though, the growing infection and toxins can contribute to various systemic health issues, including autoimmune disorders and enigmatic conditions like chronic fatigue, multiple chemical sensitivities, and fibromyalgia.
Cavitations may be treated surgically or with procedures like ozone and laser therapy to eliminate infection and stimulate healthy new tissue growth. Detox support can help the body clear any oral toxins affecting other areas.
Rest assured, when we perform extractions or oral surgery, we ensure no conditions known to cause cavitations remain. We use tools like ozone and platelet-rich fibrin to eradicate infection and promote quick, uneventful healing in a biocompatible manner.