Root Canal Alternatives in Ellicott City, Maryland

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TOOTH DECAY

If you have an infected or decayed tooth, you may be considering a highly popular dental procedure called root canal therapy. According to the School of Dental Medicine, more than 15 million root canals are performed every year. However, according to studies by Weston Price, root canal treatments represent a toxic response to tooth infections.

At Julian Center for Toxic-Free Dentistry, we believe in a toxic-free approach to dental care that ensures the total body wellness of our patients.

WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL?

A root canal is a dental procedure where a dentist removes the living part of your inner tooth, cleans out the inside of the tooth, and seals it. Root canals are normally recommended to remedy an infection or trauma. If your tooth has an untreated crack or cavity, bacteria can seep into the inner layers below the enamel. This leads to an infection when the bacteria reaches the nerve at the tooth’s root.

A tooth infection may be painful or totally asymptomatic. An X-ray may be necessary to confirm the infection or reveal an abscess around the root of the tooth.

PROBLEMS WITH TRADITIONAL ROOT CANAL THERAPY

The process of root canal therapy involves removing the entire contents of the main canals of the tooth including the nerve, blood vessels, and lymph. The tooth is treated with a disinfectant and then sealed, usually with a filler material called gutta-percha. Because the tooth is now brittle and weak, it’s usually recommended to place a crown over the remaining tooth to provide some structural integrity.

This may sound like a good idea in order to keep the tooth. But the potential health consequences may outweigh the advantages of preserving your tooth with root canal therapy

• A dead tooth can never be completely sterilized due to the numerous accessory canals that can’t be reached by dental interventions or fully cleaned with sterilization solutions.
• The bacteria that causes the infection is still left in your inner tooth, free to spread and mutate.
• Every time you bite down, leftover bacteria gets forced into your bloodstream. This can cause a host of problems including increasing your risk for diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.
• Since there is no blood supply to the tooth, the white blood cells of your immune system are unable to provide any immune protection. The environment is acidic and lacking in oxygen which further promotes chronic infection.
• Most of the time, you will not have any symptoms at the root canal site. Therefore, you or your healthcare practitioner may not even consider that this could be the cause of other problems.

TOXIC-FREE TREATMENTS

At Julian Center for Toxic-Free Dentistry, we use holistic and non-toxic dental treatments to address a variety of issues and prevent future health problems.

Dr. Sambataro may recommend the following treatments to address a severe tooth infection but this is only a short-term fix, as the tooth will need to be extracted. There are Holistic Dentists claiming to perform “holistic” root canals using lasers and ozone but they typically do not test for positive results after the treatment. At the Julian Center, we don’t guess. We test by performing a DNA test to determine which micro-organisms may be associated with an infected tooth or a previously treated root canal.

• Laser therapy — Our practice is led by innovation and through the advancements of laser technology, we can offer treatment for tooth infections that is non-invasive, safe, and effective. ions.
• Ozone therapy — With this treatment, we introduce ozone into your system to disinfect the area safely and effectively. It destroys the decay-causing bacteria while remaining harmless to you. This treatment promotes blood flow and stimulates your immune defenses which can speed up your healing response. Because ozone is gaseous, it can reach the small micro canals that a traditional root canal would be unable to access.
• Tooth extraction — If an infection is severe and resistant to other treatments, Dr. Sambataro may recommend tooth extraction in order to protect you from further exposure to harmful bacteria.

SIGNS OF TOOTH INFECTION

You may have a severe tooth infection if you notice the following:

• Tooth Sensitivities — Any sensitivity when biting, chewing, or consuming hot or cold foods and drinks.
• Pain— Any tooth pain or pain that extends to your jaw or neck can indicate an infection.
• Swelling — Any swelling in your face, gums, or lymph nodes.

If you experience any of these symptoms, schedule a visit with Dr. Sambataro so we can get your oral health back on track.