# Are Root Canals Really Toxic?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 17, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576 "2013-02-17T04:29:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/403 "2015-09-04T14:29:28Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > And to Bridget Burke, I’m not in here to promote ignorance. Or profit! Because I’m not a holistic dentist!!! I’ve got a family history of a lot of things that these root canals have been linked with - > So I’m checking things out on my own. Since the AAE won’t do it. See post #394, the AAE did it already. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/404 "2015-09-04T14:30:36Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > And to Bridget Burke, I’m not in here to promote ignorance. Or profit! Because I’m not a holistic dentist!!! I’ve got a family history of a lot of things that these root canals have been linked with - > So I’m checking things out on my own. Since the AAE won’t do it. Show one credible cite that has linked Root Canals with any of those things in your family’s history. ---
**Author:** ![Declanium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Declanium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declanium)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/405 "2015-09-04T14:34:19Z")
Gigo : I don’t see any statistics. I see a statement. With no evidence to back it up. Usually a statement such as that comes with, I don’t know, some statistics, numbers, etc.? How do they just state, " there is no valid scientific evidence…" I mean, I could just state the opposite. With nothing to follow to back it up. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/406 "2015-09-04T14:38:58Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > Gigo : I don’t see any statistics. I see a statement. With no evidence to back it up. Usually a statement such as that comes with, I don’t know, some statistics, numbers, etc.? > How do they just state, " there is no valid scientific evidence…" > I mean, I could just state the opposite. With nothing to follow to back it up. If a person states there is no evidence for - and they are wroing - it will usually come to light pretty quickly as others will jump in to say “what about this study, and this study, and this study”. When someone says “there is evidence for …” and cannot back it up with actual, yuou know, evidence - then it gets dismissed just as quicly. So - show the work - its that simple. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/407 "2015-09-04T14:40:35Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > Gigo : I don’t see any statistics. I see a statement. With no evidence to back it up. Usually a statement such as that comes with, I don’t know, some statistics, numbers, etc.? > How do they just state, " there is no valid scientific evidence…" > I mean, I could just state the opposite. With nothing to follow to back it up. You missed the green “References” link at the bottom of Myth #2, the point is that indeed they are not saying that just for shits and giggles. > **[Myths About Root Canals - American Association of Endodontists](https://www.aae.org/patients/root-canal-treatment/myths-root-canals/)** > > Is root canal treatment painful? Read on to debunk common myths about root canals, including whether a root canal causes or gets rid of pain. See 3 myths. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/408 "2015-09-04T14:58:22Z")
> [@simster](#): > > So - show the work - its that simple. If only that was how things worked. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/409 "2015-09-04T15:01:53Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > If only that was how things worked. Do you have anything of value to add to teh conversation at this point? ---
**Author:** ![Declanium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Declanium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declanium)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/410 "2015-09-04T15:09:25Z")
Just google. Root canals and cancer. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/411 "2015-09-04T15:11:48Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > Just google. Root canals and cancer. You’re going to have to do better than that. Provide a credible cite that shows the study that links them. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/412 "2015-09-04T15:13:45Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > Just google. Root canals and cancer. What good does that do? You still need to separate the metric shit-ton of crap from the science. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/413 "2015-09-04T15:13:57Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > Just google. Root canals and cancer. [Google vomits](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Google+Vomit) are not good arguments, here is a cite from one of the latest studies made to check for a cancer connection: (that was BTW was linked to also at the end of the Myth#2 that you claimed did not show any.) [http://archotol.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1752294](http://archotol.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1752294) > [@](#): > > Results We included 620 participants (399 cases and 221 controls). Cases had a significantly lower mean (SD) number of teeth with caries (1.58 [2.52] vs 2.04 [2.15]; P = .03), crowns (1.27 [2.65] vs 2.10 [3.57]; P = .01), endodontic treatments (0.56 [1.24] vs 1.01 [2.04]; P = .01), and fillings (5.39 [4.31] vs 6.17 [4.51]; P = .04) but more missing teeth (13.71 [10.27] vs 8.50 [8.32]; P \< .001) than controls. There was no significant difference in mean DMFT. After adjustment for age at diagnosis, sex, marital status, smoking status, and alcohol use, those in the upper tertiles of caries (odds ratio [OR], 0.32 [95% CI, 0.19-0.55]; P for trend = .001), crowns (OR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.26-0.84]; P for trend = .03), and endodontic treatments (OR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.30-1.01]; P for trend = .15) were less likely to have HNSCC than those in the lower tertiles. Missing teeth was no longer associated with HNSCC after adjustment for confounding. > > Conclusions and Relevance There is an inverse association between HNSCC and dental caries. This study provides insights for future studies to assess potential beneficial effects of lactic acid bacteria and the associated immune response on HNSCC. > > The American Cancer Society predicted an estimated 53 640 new cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and 11 520 deaths in 2013 in the United States.1 A steady increase in the incidence of oropharyngeal cancers has been observed over the past 3 decades despite a substantial decline in tobacco consumption.2 This increase has been attributed mainly to oral infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16, which was shown to be a causal factor.2 Whereas bacterial colonizations on oral mucosa also differ between healthy individuals and patients with cancer, a causal association between an oral bacterial infection and HNSCC has not been established.3 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/414 "2015-09-04T15:17:07Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > Just google. Root canals and cancer. While you’re at it, google chem-trails and cancer, GMO and cancer, vaccines and cancer, etc. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/415 "2015-09-04T15:20:59Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > While you’re at it, google chem-trails and cancer, GMO and cancer, vaccines and cancer, etc. Nooo! You will only make the Baby Carl Sagan cry! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/416 "2015-09-04T15:28:38Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > I may be in need of a root canal. My first at 49 years of age. > I have a family history of stomach cancer and kidney failure, unfortunately. My question is to those of you who have had root canals - are you still in generally good health and when were they done? I think it’s rather obvious by now by what you have posted so far that you aren’t interested in an answer to your question. You are here to push an agenda by _Just Asking Questions_. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/417 "2015-09-04T17:30:36Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > [Google vomits](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Google+Vomit) are not good arguments, here is a cite from one of the latest studies made to check for a cancer connection: (that was BTW was linked to also at the end of the Myth#2 that you claimed did not show any.) > > [http://archotol.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1752294](http://archotol.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1752294) The bottom line on this study as it relates to root canals, is that patients with a history of having had this procedure had a significantly lower chance of getting head and neck cancer than those who didn’t. This may somewhat relate to the root canal patients also having a higher incidence of carious disease (cavities), which excites an inflammatory reaction that is postulated to have a protective effect against cancer. Notably, this lower risk in the root canal group is directly contrary to what you’d expect from hearing anti-root canal advocates. It’s also worth noting that other research has shown that tooth extraction (touted by “holistic” dentists as an alternative to root canals) releases more bacteria and causes a greater risk of bloodstream transmission to other sites than root canals do. As with vaccination and other medical procedures, no amount of reassuring research is ever going to be enough for the doom-shouters (of which there are a tiny minority among practitioners in many areas of medicine/dentistry). They need to back up _their_ claims with evidence - something they are unable to do. ---
**Author:** ![Declanium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Declanium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declanium)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/418 "2015-09-04T17:32:52Z")
Wow. Fault people who are only looking out for my and my family’s best interest. Thought I would get some reassurance on this board. ������ Thank you for those who posted and answered my original question - which was to find out “who had root canal and were still in good health…” ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/419 "2015-09-04T17:36:38Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > Wow. Fault people who are only looking out for my and my family’s best interest. The best thing to do for a family is to consult what reason should tell all: Always look at Scientists and seek advise from Doctors that use that science. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/420 "2015-09-04T17:38:41Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > Wow. Fault people who are only looking out for my and my family’s best interest. Thought I would get some reassurance on this board. �� > Thank you for those who posted and answered my original question - which was to find out “who had root canal and were still in good health…” Look, even if there was a serious problem with root canals, which there isn’t, people answering on these boards should not give you assurance either way. I was fine - but I could get cancer next week for all you know. If people told you about problems it might be from self selection. Being concerned is good, but there are way better ways of alleviating that concern than asking for anecdotes. ---
**Author:** ![Declanium](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Declanium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declanium)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/421 "2015-09-04T17:46:03Z")
I get you, Voyager. Just nervous. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576/422 "2015-09-04T17:52:56Z")
> [@Declanium](#): > > Wow. Fault people who are only looking out for my and my family’s best interest. Thought I would get some reassurance on this board. �� > Thank you for those who posted and answered my original question - which was to find out “who had root canal and were still in good health…” nice persecution complex you got there - but I don;t think you were looking for re-assurance ( you got that in droves, that its a safe, effective treatement) - what you didn’;t get was ‘root canals are bad, stay away or you’ll die (eventually)’. So - had you read the 7 pages before you resurrected this thread - you would have gotten the same thing. so - what are you really here for? (and there’s nothing to be nervous about - outside of the drilling and hacksaws and sometimes chisels they use - long term, you’ll be mostly ok) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-root-canals-really-toxic/650576.md?page=22)