Root Canals
Are Root Canals Beneficial or Harmful?
Root canal therapy is a controversial treatment. While a root canal can save a tooth and retain functionality, a poorly disinfected root canal has the potential to cause toxicity. Conventional methods have been shown to be ineffective in disinfecting the microtubules present inside the porous surfaces inside the canals, thus leaving the tooth susceptible to recurring infection which can be painful and expensive to treat as well as potentially harmful. The IAOMT has found that using a combination of ozone therapy and calcium oxide in the tooth can infiltrate those microtubules and disinfect much more effectively, significantly reducing the instance of toxicity following root canal therapy and making necessary root canals as safe as possible.
How will I know if a root canal is necessary?
When determining whether a root canal will be a beneficial treatment for a patient, Dr. Ulm considers the following:
- The patient’s overall health
- Whether the patient can afford to lose functionality if the tooth is removed
- If the patient cannot afford to lose functionality, is an implant to replace the tooth feasible?
- The tooth itself – is enough of the tooth structure remaining to make an attempt to save it worthwhile?
- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the goals of the patient themselves. In every case, Dr. Ulm considers the circumstances and makes recommendations he believes will be most beneficial to the individual. However, we truly believe that your mouth is your own and ultimately the decision about what treatment you receive is yours.
