Another Leap Forward in Dental Healing: Preservation Over Replacement
SPONSORED POST
Integrative Dental Specialists
Many of the patients I have the pleasure in treating are deeply committed to holistic health practices, often avoiding traditional physicians and refusing modern medications, particularly antibiotics. While I respect these philosophies, it is also my responsibility to educate patients on the science behind their dental care. Few things concern dental holistic patients more than suffering from chronic illness and thinking it could be from an existing root canal in their mouth, or that to save a tooth endodontic therapy is necessary. I agree that a poorly treated root canal can certainly have systemic effects on the patient. But there is much more to this story that one must consider.
To provide the highest level of care, I make it a priority to understand the sources my patients rely on and to guide them with accurate, evidence-based information—rather than outdated theories, scare tactics, anecdotal claims, or Internet misinformation. For example, Dr. Weston A. Price (1870–1948), a Canadian dentist and head of research for the American Dental Association in the 1920s, promoted the now-discredited “focal infection theory,” which falsely linked root canals to systemic illness. Despite the fact there is NO credible and legitimate scientific evidence to this, it is still reported by unsubstantiated dental sources. Unfortunately, root canals still receive undue criticism today, often because they are not performed according to the recognized legal standard of care, which requires the use of a rubber dam. Without this, root canals are compromised by contamination from the outset, which is a real problem. A 2013 study, Rubber Dam Use During Root Canal Treatment: Findings from the Dental Practice-Based Research Network1, revealed that 74% of general dentists did not use a rubber dam during root canal therapy—a concerning statistic that helps explain scientifically the negative reputation of the procedure.
When performed with skill and precision, a root canal safely preserves your natural tooth, which is almost always preferable to replacing it with a dental implant, even a “ceramic” implant, despite claims made by certain holistic practitioners or unverified online sources. The belief that root canals are inherently unsafe stems from outdated and scientifically disproven studies. With advanced disinfection protocols, adjunctive therapies such as laser and ozone treatment, and the use of biocompatible materials, a natural tooth can often be maintained in a healthy state for a lifetime without complications. Preserving your own tooth helps maintain strong bone and gums, supports a natural bite, and allows your mouth to function as nature intended.
While dental implants have an important role in certain cases, they are artificial devices that require surgery, involve higher costs, demand longer healing times, and carry their own risks. In fact, research shows that 20–30% of implant patients develop peri-implantitis—a progressive condition that causes bone loss around the implant. The body is far better equipped to maintain a natural tooth than an artificial substitute.
Modern root canal therapy, performed with today’s advanced techniques and materials, is both safe and highly predictable, offering a level of protection and preservation no artificial replacement can match. Furthermore, some patients are even candidates for pulpal regeneration, also known as ToothReGenesis™. This advanced biological approach in endodontics seeks to restore vitality and function to teeth with necrotic or severely compromised pulps. Unlike conventional root canal therapy, which removes all pulp tissue and replaces it with inert filling material, regenerative endodontics aims to revitalize the pulp-dentin complex by stimulating the body’s natural healing and regenerative capacity.
In many cases, teeth may also be candidates for pulp capping, even when other dentists say otherwise. At Integrative Dental Specialists, Dr. Etess and his team pride themselves on delivering cutting-edge care focused on saving natural teeth. Using advanced cavity removal techniques, supported by biocompatible materials, we can often maintain a healthy, vital pulp. By avoiding a root canal, patients may also avoid the need for posts and crowns, saving thousands of dollars while preserving the life of the tooth.
Not every dentist has the same education, training, or philosophy of care. Dr. Etess has been performing successful pulp caps for more than eighteen years, with success rates that continue to rise as he integrates new materials and refines his proprietary techniques — approaches designed to prevent root canals and preserve the long-term vitality of natural teeth.
Not all dental care is created equal. Dr. Etess prides himself on providing unmatched, first-class care that adheres to the highest standards. Excuses are no longer acceptable. If you are seeking the finest, safest, healthiest, and most predictable results for your dental needs—supported by the latest technology, contact Integrative Dental Specialists to schedule an appointment with Dr. Etess today.
1. J Am Dent Assoc. 2013 Feb;144(2):179-86.doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.2013.0097
