Page 48 - Summer2010

Upon cooling infection, dentistry generally considers a tooth tory system? Does this information validate the

and shrinking sterile unless areas of bone resorption show up on claims of “sterile” root canals?
Dentists claim they can “sterilize” the tooth
X-ray. Upon cooling and shrinking of the gutta
of the gutta percha, space is left at the apex in which bacteria before forcing the gutta percha wax down into
percha, space can thrive, where neither white blood cells of the the canal. Perhaps they can sterilize a column

is left at the immune system, nor antibiotics can reach them. of air in the center of the tooth, but is that really
where the problem is? Bacteria wandering out of
apex in which TOXIC MICROORGANISMS the dentinal tubules is what Price was finding,
bacteria can Our first DNA studies examined bacteria and what we were finding in the crushed tooth
thrive, where retrieved from crushed root tips. We can identify samples. But does the problem end there? Hardly.
Just out of curiosity, we tested blood samples
eighty-three different anaerobic bacterial species
neither white with DNA testing. Root canals contain fifty- adjacent to the removed teeth and analyzed them
blood cells of three different species out of these eighty-three for the presence of anaerobic bacteria. Approxi-
the immune samples. Some are more dangerous than others, mately 400 percent more bacteria were found in
and some occur frequently, some occasionally. the blood surrounding the root canal tooth than
system, nor Selecting those that occur more than 5 percent were in the tooth itself. It seems that the tooth

antibiotics of the time, we found: is the incubator. The periodontal ligament sup-
can reach Capnocytophaga ochracea plies more food, therefore higher concentration
of bacteria.
them. Fusobacterium nucleatum But the winner in pathological growth was
Gemella morbillorum in the bone surrounding the dead tooth. Look-
Leptotrichia buccalis ing at bacterial needs, there is a smorgasbord
Porphyromonas gingivalis of bacterial nutrients present in the bone. This
explains the tremendous increase in bacterial
Of what significance are these? Four affect concentration in the blood surrounding the root
the heart, three the nerves, two the kidneys, two canal tooth. Try sterilizing that volume of bone.
the brain and one the sinus cavities. Shouldn’t we Apparently, the immune system doesn’t
question the wisdom of supplying a haven for care for dead substances, and just the presence
these microbes so close to our brain and circula- of dead tissue will cause the system to launch an

BACTERIA LURKING IN ROOT CANALS

Let’s look at five major bacterial species lurking in root canals more closely, keeping in mind that these are only five
of the fifty-three that are routinely found in root canal teeth.

Capnocytophaga ochracea: Found in brain abscesses associated with dental source of infection. Causes human disease
in the central nervous system. Also related to septicemia and meningitis. 4

Fusobacterium nucleatum: Produces toxins that inhibit fibroblast cell division and wound healing processes. Causes infec-
tion in the heart, joints, liver and spleen. 5,6

Gemella morbillorum: Linked to acute invasive endocarditis, septic arthritis and meningitis. 7

Leptotrichia buccalis: Reduces the number of neutrophils (a critically important white blood cell), thus lowering immune
competence. 8

Porphyromonas gingivalis: Destroys red blood cells by drilling holes (porins) in them, causing the cell to “bleed to death.”
Low red cell counts that do not recover after dental revision are frequently responding to the porin activity of this microbe.
P. gingivalis also alters the integrity of the endothelial lining of blood vessels, which leads to inflammation and bleeding in
the inner lining of blood vessels. This is the key step in formation of atherogenesis that leads to heart attacks. P. gingivalis
can change friendly bacteria into pathogens. 9

48 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2010