Root canals and atherosclerosis

Recently, a friend told me he had taken a half day off work to have a root canal procedure. He explained it was related to lots of cavities in childhood. It seems the tooth cracked and the filling material damaged the tooth root.

Mechanical damage to the tooth root is one theory. A more likely one is bacterial infection.

But whatever the cause, my friend did not understand the dangers of root canals. New studies are showing a strong connection between tooth root infections and atherosclerosis.

For example, a study just published reports that atherosclerosis (as measured in the carotid artery using ultrasound) was significantly more advanced in adults with root canal infections than in healthy adults.

Another study reports that lowering the inflammation in the mouth with non-surgical periodontal treatment reduced the thickness of the carotid artery.

My friend wants to avoid another root canal, for its pain, cost and inconvenience. Now he has another motivation. To lower his risk of cardiovascular disease.

I directed him to a neighbouring medical clinic which is using Prevora to manage the contribution of oral inflammation to diabetes.