An alternative to root canal therapy is a dental extraction. When a tooth dies, a dead tooth can not be raised from the dead. It is very important that you fully understand this very important fact when discussing your alternatives with a dentist. Many naturally oriented health practicioners are living in the dark ages and giving advice to remove teeth because of possible root canal dangers based on research done 75 years ago. We no longer use the same materials, instruments and methods used 75 years ago so much of the fears are not longer scientifically based. Be sure to be fully educated before making your final decision.

          Talking about an alternative to root canal therapy really applies to sick teeth that are bothering you, not dead teeth! Dead teeth rot and develop dental infections that can become very serious and keeping untreated dead tooth in your body is harmful to your health. The dead tissue inside the dead tooth serves as a food source for harmful bacteria and since there is no blood entering the dried out dead roots, the protective cells of your immune system are unable to do anything. The problem will not go away unless you do something about it.

          Some dentists use a medicated filling as an alternative to root canal therapy. If a tooth hurts for less than a minute and the pain comes and goes, it possibly can be babied back to health without doing a root canal. A medicated filling can be used to reduce the internal inflammation within the tooth. The risk for the dentist is that many unethical patients later complain that their dentist is incompetent when their tooth later dies. They feel that they already paid to treat the tooth and will not pay for anything else. The poor dentist was only trying to help.

          If you wish to speak with a dentist about an alternative to root canal therapy, consider making a free dental consultation appointment with Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky or Dr. Jeffrey Stephen Smith by calling 404-874-7428. If a dead tooth is removed, it can be replaced with a dental bridge or dental implants. This avoids all of the potential complications associated with a shifting bad bite including TMJ problems, headaches, periodontal disease and potential additional tooth loss.  The dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. They offer comprehensive General, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry. You are welcome to join our family of patients.