Hi ginnie,

Dentists are legally obligated to inform patients about the health risks associated with all dental procedures. In 35 years.... I've known about 3 dentists who actually do that and they "select" what they say and to whom they say it. My position in the dental field has always been to disclose the risks so the patient would be at least somewhat informed before making their decision about what they feel to be in their best interest.

With that said.... there are many things that can go wrong with any dental procedure and complications can arise for any number of reasons. A patients systemic health as well as their oral health has alot to do with the outcome of their dental work. So it is difficult to go over ALL of the pros and cons. However, it is unethical to tell a patient that a root canal or an apicoectomy will "cure" the problem with the tooth knowing full well that the tooth will remain infected and with that will come an assortment of concerns sometime in the future.

Most dentists and physicians that I personally know who have become informed through various articles published in dental/medical journals about the correlation between oral infections and systemic disease, have opted to either not have root canals on their own teeth.... or they've had their root canaled teeth removed and replaced with implants or a bridge. Hmmmm, I wonder why??

The BIG dilemma amongst the "concerned" dental community with informing the public about this issue and others such as mercury toxicity is simply this.... how do we inform the public that these procedures (as well as some others) put your health at risk when we've been advocating them for 150 years? There is a concern about causing pandemonium and not having any means of controlling it.

If that weren't complicated enough.... Endodontics (root canal therapy) is the most lucrative form of dentistry and for that stupid reason, these dentists are looked upon by their colleagues (not me of course!!) as the elite group. So greed and status plays a huge part in how and when a patient becomes informed about the reality of dentistry.

With regard to the crown that your dentist suggested.... ask your dentist specifically why he is recommending this and post his reason here. An xray would also be helpful. You could send it to me through the PM if you want.

Some reasons for doing crowns are.... a large filling in the tooth that is either breaking down or weakening the tooth.... a minor fracture or craze lines in a portion of the tooth that can be mended and then crowned.... root exposure due to periodontal disease will cause the tooth to die if the exposed part is not protected/covered.... worn down teeth from a bruxing habit that need to be protected from further wear.... etc.

Ginnie.... you're becoming a well informed dental patient!! Your dentist will be taken aback by your questions.... you go girl!!!!

Bryanna