I need to come clean with you about something that’s been weighing on my mind as a dentist who’s been practicing for 25 years. When patients come to me having read articles about how root canals can harbor infection, I understand their concerns—because those articles contain some truth.

If root canals are not done correctly, they can harbor infection. That’s totally true. But I almost think that knowledge has really blossomed and gotten hype and patients are thinking “I don’t want to do a root canal at all because that’ll cause infection harboring in my body” – when it’s not necessarily true that they are going to have the worst root canal ever and it’s not going to be sealed and it could harbor infection.

The controversy surrounding root canals has deep historical roots. Much of today’s skepticism stems from early 20th-century research by Dr. Weston Price, who theorized that “dead” teeth could harbor bacteria and cause systemic health issues. However, extensive modern research has thoroughly debunked these claims, with a 2013 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finding that people who had multiple root canal treatments actually had a 45% lower incidence of oral cancer than those who had fewer or no root canals.

Most of my patients will not tolerate me doing a root canal on them. But a little side note, I’ve been doing root canals for a very long time. I started with a dentist that said, “We need you to learn one of the specialty areas and so I’d like to send you all around the world to learn the specialty area. Which one do you pick?” And naively, I just said, “Hey, I’ll learn to do root canals.” And so I learned 25 years ago how to do a correct root canal.

The Reality of Modern Root Canal Success

The truth is that when performed correctly by experienced practitioners, root canals have remarkably high success rates. Current research shows success rates ranging from 85% to 97%, with some studies of long-term outcomes demonstrating 97% survival rates at 10 years and 81% success rates even after 20-30 years.

I had the knowledge of learning root canals a very long time ago. I know how to do them right. I don’t cause infection. I’ve seen tons of root canals done wrong and they do cause infection. So I get where they’re coming from.

This points to a crucial distinction that often gets lost in the debate: the quality of the procedure matters enormously. Poor technique, inadequate cleaning, or improper sealing can indeed lead to persistent infection. However, with proper training, modern materials, and meticulous technique, these complications are rare.

The Surprising Natural Element in Root Canals

Here’s something that might surprise both my holistic patients and traditional dentistry advocates: there’s actually a beautifully natural component to root canal treatment that most people don’t know about.

When we fill a root canal, when we take the nerve out of the tooth, that’s what a root canal is. We take the nerve out because the nerve is damaged or infected or cannot be in the tooth any longer. And so we take it out, we clean it, and we do a great job of that. And we file it, but we place an inert material in there. And I, even 25 years ago, was geeked out by the fact that they use a holistic material to fill the root canal. Gutta percha is found from the gutta tree. It’s the sap and components of the gutta tree.

Gutta-percha is a remarkable natural material derived from the Palaquium trees native to Southeast Asia. This tree sap has been used in dentistry for over 150 years, and despite numerous attempts to create synthetic alternatives, nothing has consistently outperformed this natural rubber-like substance.

It’s a naturally inert founding material that they derive to place in the canals. Once you take the nerve out, they put gutta percha in there, which is this plant sap that they put in there to seal everything off. So, it’s kind of neat that they selected a holistic material to fill root canals with.

What makes gutta-percha so effective is its unique properties: it’s biologically inert, meaning it won’t react with body tissues or cause allergic reactions. It’s thermoplastic, which means it can be heated to become pliable for precise placement, then hardens to create an excellent seal. Most importantly, it’s been proven safe with very low toxicity levels – even concerns about cadmium content have been thoroughly investigated and found to be negligible.

Bridging the Gap Between Holistic and Traditional Dentistry

The fundamental difference between my holistic patients and traditional patients isn’t necessarily about the safety or efficacy of root canal treatment – it’s about their comfort level with the procedure. Most holistic patients, despite understanding that root canals can be performed safely, simply refuse to have them done.

This preference reflects a broader philosophical approach to healthcare that prioritizes the body’s natural healing abilities and seeks to avoid procedures that leave “non-living” tissue in the body. I respect this perspective, even when modern evidence shows that properly performed root canals are safe and effective.

For patients who do choose alternatives, there are options available. Modern holistic dentistry offers various approaches, including ozone therapy, herbal treatments, and in cases where the tooth cannot be saved, extraction with biocompatible tooth replacement options like zirconia implants.

However, it’s worth noting that comprehensive systematic reviews have found no scientific evidence that root canals cause systemic disease, and the American Association of Endodontists, which oversees the specialty, considers root canal treatment to be safe and effective based on decades of research and millions of successful procedures.

The Bottom Line

After 25 years of practice and extensive training in endodontics, I believe the most important thing is honest, informed discussion between doctor and patient. Yes, poorly performed root canals can cause problems – but so can any poorly performed medical procedure. When done correctly with modern techniques and materials, root canals are highly successful at eliminating infection and preserving natural teeth.

Perhaps that’s the key insight here: even in the most technical dental procedures, nature often provides the best solutions. The fact that we use a natural tree sap to seal root canals shows that the line between “natural” and “conventional” dentistry isn’t always as clear as we might think.

Whether you choose root canal treatment or alternative approaches, the most important factors are working with an experienced practitioner who respects your values, uses proper techniques, and helps you make an informed decision based on your individual circumstances and health philosophy.