Dangers Of Root Canals And Crowns, &  What To Do Instead

Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, a dentist, tells us that it’s a lot rarer than people think to actually need a crown or a root canal; there are ways of avoiding such:

The tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth?

First, some of the problems with the treatments that are most popular, especially in the US:

Problems with root canals:

• Involves cleaning and filling the tooth’s main canal but leaves microtubules that can harbor dead tissue and attract bacteria.
• This can lead to infections, often undetected for a long time due to the nerve removal, potentially harming overall health and weakening the tooth.
• Root canals often result in brittle teeth that can break, necessitating crowns.

And then…

Problems with crowns:

• A crown requires significant removal of tooth structure (up to 1.5 mm of enamel), making the tooth more vulnerable and sensitive.
• Crowns can also lead to new cavities underneath due to weak bonding to dentin.
• The cycle often leads from a healthy tooth to fillings, crowns, root canals, and eventual extraction (and then, perhaps, an implant in its place). That’s great for the dentist, but not so great for you.

Biomimetic dentistry the exciting name currently being used for what has been more prosaically called “conservative restorative dentistry”, which in turn has also been known by other names in recent decades, and its goal is to strengthen and preserve natural teeth as much as possible.

Methods it uses:

• Treats affected but still living teeth with non-invasive procedures.
• Uses ozone treatment to kill bacteria in deep cavities, avoiding direct nerve exposure.
• Applies conservative partial restorations like onlays instead of full crowns.

Benefits of this approach:

• Preserves enamel, minimizes trauma, and reduces the risk of tooth death.
• Maintains long-term tooth structure and health.
• 95% success rate in saving affected teeth without resorting to root canals.

In short, Dr. Jorgensen says that 60–80% of traditional crowns and root canals can be avoided. Which is surely a good thing.

For more on all of this, enjoy:

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Want to learn more?

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Tooth Remineralization: How To Heal Your Teeth Naturally

Take care!