Hi chokato,

Formaldehyde was used routinely as a "cleaning agent" to kill bacteria in all root canal procedures up until about 10 or so years ago. However, some dentists still continue to use it even though the literature repetetively states the toxicity of it. I believe it has been banned from dentistry in many parts of the world.

Formaldehyde is not the only toxic concern with root canal procedures. The filling material called gutta percha which is used to "fill" the opened canals inside of the tooth is a rubberized material impregnated with radioactive dye so that it can be seen on radiographs. This material is melted down into the canals...... you may or may not remember smelling something burning near the end of the procedure...... if so, that was it. So not only does that dye remain in your tooth but the burning of it is toxic to inhale as well.

Another issue in your case (very commonly done) is the overfill of the gutta percha material. This means that the end of the root of your tooth was mistakenly punctured with a file instrument (over instrumented) during the root canal procedure and the gutta percha was pushed through the opening into the jawbone. This in of itself causes infection in the bone at the site of the overfill. Frequently in these cases a second root canal procedure or a surgical procedure called an apicoectomy will be recommended.

A second root canal will not cure the infected tooth just like the first one didn't because of the inability to clean out the microscopic canals. An apicoectomy is a surgical procedure that is done through an incision in the gum above/below the tooth. A hole is made in the bone at the end of the root of the tooth. The gutta percha overfill is removed and the root canal procedure is redone from the surgical entry. Then the hole in the bone is filled with a mercury filling and the gum is sutured closed. There are a few things very wrong with this surgical procedure......... One, the surgery is invasive, painful, expensive and barbaric ..... Two, it leaves a permanent defect in the jawbone that invites infection....... Three, the toxic mercury filling used to plug up the entry hole becomes embedded in the jawbone again inviting infection.... Four, the tooth once again has radioactive gutta percha material melted down into the large canals and..... Five, the tooth has been traumatized for a second time and the microscopic canals which cannot be cleaned out are still harboring infectious bacteria so the tooth remains infected.

During a root canal procedure the large canals are irrigated with some form of antibacterial agent in an attempt to kill some of the bacteria. The agent can be formaldehyde, bleach, peroxide or a combination. Irrelevant of what is used, there is no possible way to remove or flush out all of the bacteria because the inside walls of the canals are not solid, they have microscopic openings that harbor bacteria. Also, the scraping of the canals with the files causes additional openings. Some dentists try to sell patients on using a laser during a root canal procedure to kill the bacteria in the canals........ keep in mind that a laser beam can only travel in a straight line.....the tiny canals are very curvy so the laser never reaches them. Sometimes dentists will tell a patient they use a microscope to tell them they have removed all of the bacteria......again, there is no access to the tiny, curvy canals so they can't be tested.

I know this information is not what you want to hear. I'm sorry that there is no safe or effective way to sterilize a sick tooth and make it better. The only sure way to rid yourself of any probable infection from an unhealthy tooth is to have the tooth removed. In your case with your front tooth.... if it were removed, the area where the overfill of gutta percha is will be cleaned out thoroughly during the extraction and bone graft material may be put in that defect to encourage new growth of bone. Your dentist could talk to you about replacement options....... if you want to discuss them here, let me know.

I truly wish there was an easier answer ..... I really do

Bryanna