How can an adult AVOID root canal surgery?  If there is no pain even
though a dentist has said that root canal surgery is necessary, what
steps can a patient take to make root canal surgery unnecessary?

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Clarification of Question by doctordoris-ga on 06 Sep 2004 21:20 PDT

I am not convinced that my tooth  (the farthest molar) has an
infection or other problem.  But, in case it does, I want to do
everything I can cure the  infection and to avoid root canal surgery
(tentatively scheduled for mid-October).  So I will floss once a day,
brush twice a day, and pay attention to sleep, exercise, diet, and
weight.  What else should I do to improve my odds of success?

Have the tooth extracted.

I suggest you take a second opinion from another qualified dentist,
before making any final decision.

I agree with not wanting a root canal.  I wish I knew 35 years ago
when I started getting root canals what I know now.  (see
www.drhuggins.com) At this stage of my life (age 61) I am missing
about 11 teeth in all...I live without 6 of them and 5 are replaced
with what they call "removable partials".  Partials are not so
bad...they snap in and snap out and have the missing teeth on them. 
If I had realized that they were a real option (instead of the
infections, surgery and expense that root canals led to) I would have
been happy with a removable partial right from the beginning.  This
system works for me.

Having the teeth extracted is not the big deal that your dentist will
lead you to believe.  It is much better to be without the tooth than
to keep a dead tooth (which is what a root canal tooth is) in your
mouth.

One time I had a tooth that could not be filled because it was broken
off too low.  But there was no pain and the root was healthy...I
should have just left it like that...not perfect but it worked.

If a dentist is promoting "holistic root canals" don't believe him. 
There are no "good" root canals.  They all drip anaerobic bacteria
into your system and work to wear out your immune system.

If you are getting a tooth pulled find a dentist who will clean out
the socket with a dental burr...a very great, but little known,
precaution.

Some people get "implants" to fill the space of a missing tooth...this
is also a drain on your immune system..to have a "post" imbedded in
your jaw that extends outside of the body onto which a "tooth" is
built up is something your body objects too.  It knows this "thing"
should not be there and it will use up some of it's energy trying to
get rid of it and so taxes the immune system.

If a tooth or teeth are missing you can get a "bridge".  To make a
bridge the dentist files down the teeth on either side of the space
where the tooth/teeth were and constructs a bridge that anchors onto
the two teeth that were filed down  The missing teeth are replaced
with teeth on this "bridge".  This is not removable by you and costs a
lot and as you can see you may be filing down two good teeth on either
side.

Dr. Huggins is doing a book covering research into what diseases are
caused by what toxins coming from root canals...there are also books
already in print.  I found the subject interesting.      ---Best
wishes

Hello,

Being that I just went through major dental surgery, involving a root
canal, and later on a major infection removal procedure, I can give
you this advice. See if they can treat the infection with a strong
antibiotic first, to see if that clears it up. It didn't work in my
case, however, my infection was so severe ( from material, cotton,
left from a tooth repair in my socket for 5 years behind the tooth)
that we could see my infection as a dark/cloudy patch on an X-ray.

Let me know if this advice helps.

Nenna-GA
Google Answers Researcher