Pulling teeth: possible health dangers

Potential complications from dental tooth extractions

1 A cavitation infection can — and very commonly does — form around the tooth extraction site with possibly far-reaching detrimental effects on health and wellbeing^[1].

According to dentists Drs Munro-Hall, most extractions in adults lead to cavitation infections to some degree, with certain authors estimating that 90% of adult extractions become cavitation infections.

2 Acute infections can arise which require hospitalization with sometimes fatal outcome.*

3 The lingual or inferior alveolar nerve can be severed leading to permanent injury.

4 A sinus can be perforated.

5 The mandible (lower jaw) can be fractured.

6 The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can be injured.

7 The "wrong" tooth may be extracted.

8 Once a tooth has been removed, its surrounding bone disappears.

Incredible as it may sound, all of the above damages may remain unnoticed by the dentist.

9 Wisdom tooth extractions: In addition to the foregoing, according to a 2007 report (published in the American Journal of Public Health), "routine" wisdom tooth surgery is known for a number of potential "complications" including tooth and jaw fractures, brain tissue infection, life-threatening bleeding and hypoxia, with the foremost risk (concerning more than 11,000 people annually) consisting in permanent nerve damage with numbness of lips, tongue or cheeks.^[3]

10 Osteonecrosis of the jaw: In cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment such as radiation to the head/neck area, chemotherapy, and intravenous bisphosphonates, tooth extractions (or other surgery in the jaw area) can trigger a serious bone problem — osteoradionecrosis / osteonecrosis of the jaw.^[4]

11 "Anecdotal deaths": one recently recorded death after undergoing "routine" dental surgery to remove wisdom teeth involves a 24 year old US-American who died on March 24, 2013 (see www.dentistrytoday.info/content/25-year-old-dies-due-complications-during-third-molar-surgery — he was 24, not 25 as the article says). Apparently he was administered six sedatives or more and possibly died due to "way too much anesthesia".

Other recent cases include 17-year-old Jenny Olenick who died in April 2011 during wisdom tooth surgery, 14-year-old Ben Ellis of Gilmer County, Ga., who died the day after undergoing the same operation, and most recently 17-year-old Sydney Galleger who during wisdom tooth surgery went into cardiac arrest and in spite of intense efforts at saving her life (both medical and spiritual) died several days later in June 2015.

These deaths of teenagers or people in their twenties following dental extractions — at a time where most people's health and resilience is at its best — seem to make it particularly clear what kind of a strain such surgery is for the entire body.

12 Last but far from least, also see Testimonial: heart attack after extraction.

* It's also possible that there already was an infection at the former tooth site. This can be the case eg with an impacted wisdom tooth (which became impacted in the bone due to lack of proper development of the jaw bone not allowing room for the wisdom teeth to erupt). Such impacted wisdom teeth may have a reduced blood supply so the inner nerve (pulp) will die with infection setting in. Extracting such a tooth can allow the infection to drain — the body's way of cleansing itself which can be supported for instance with various disinfecting and detoxifying rinses. Once the process is complete, discomfort should be gone. To help extraction sites heal, also see below at "Tooth extraction after-treatments".

Potential complications from orthodontic tooth extractions

To make room in an "overcrowded" mouth, frequently several (typically two to four) permanent teeth are extracted prior to orthodontic treatment. In addition to the risks noted above, removal of teeth can result in

• unbalancing the facial profile because the upper and lower jaw including the palate and tongue recede
• obstruction of airways with subsequent breathing difficulties, exhaustion and fatigue
• jaw pain
• headaches and migraines
• ringing in the ears
• postural problems (pain in the neck, shoulders and back)

In their book "Toxic Dentistry Exposed", holistic dentists Drs. Munro-Hall go into some more detail:

"Orthodontic treatment that extracts teeth can lead to what dentists call collapsed arches. This means that although the teeth may be straight to look at, the fit of the upper teeth against the lower teeth is not in harmony with the shape of the jaw joints and position of the muscles controlling the jaw. The following things can happen.

• Jaw joint trouble (TMD) later on in life.
• Appearance is altered — instead of a wide, pleasing arch form of the mouth, the arches are narrow producing a 'rosebud-shaped' mouth with a weak chin that emphasises the size of the nose.
• Impacted wisdom teeth — lack of development of the jaw bones does not allow room for the wisdom teeth to erupt and they become impacted in the bone. This is why we have far more wisdom teeth being removed now than ever before." (end of quote)^[2]

To extract or not extract a "rotten" tooth? That is the question...

Even holistic dentists may typically advocate the extraction of teeth with far advanced tooth decay. But speaking for myself only, rightly or wrongly, when it comes to teeth as in other areas, I don't believe in physical violence including that inflicted for therapeutic purposes.

For more arguments and background to this line of thinking compare What happens if cavities are left untreated? On the "dangers" of tooth decay and dental infections not treated by a dentist.

When all is said and done, this is a personal decision, weighing the risks of constant bacterial dissemination (which of course can and frequently does occur from other parts of the body as well, particularly the intestines) against the multiple risks involved in extractions as explained above. (Make sure to read the following important additions...)

If an extraction is considered necessary...

There ARE a number of dramatic healings of various ailments attributed to the extraction of seriously infected teeth (particularly root-canaled teeth) or simply (neurally) "interfering" teeth. Extractions have sometimes saved people from the most serious and even life-threatening diseases, see e.g. the numerous examples featured under Dental interference fields and focal infections.

Whether an extraction turns out to be helpful or the opposite may frequently boil down to a simple question of proper surgical technique including pre- and post-surgery treatment.

As eminent dentist Dr Adler and toxicologist Dr. Max Daunderer write, dentists in general don't observe some of the basic hygienic rules imposed on all other (bone) surgeons both with respect to sterility and (obligatory for bone surgeons) post-treatment of the surgery wound.

Done and followed-up properly, dental extractions might rarely have negative consequences at all.

Drs. Munro-Hall give helpful instructions how to extract a tooth without having a cavitation infection form afterwards in their book "Toxic Dentistry Exposed". In his book Root Canal Cover-Up, Dr. George E. Meinig details a similar protocol for removing root-filled teeth (see chapter 24: "Extraction Protocol"). Dr. Adler does the same in his book^[5], using his own technique.

Are there best and worst times for having any type of operation?

See On the moon's transit through the zodiac signs and the best times for surgery and taking medications — pure superstition or force to be reckoned with?.

Tooth extraction after-treatments to help speed up wound healing and reduce pain

In addition to the general recommendations regarding oral hygiene, diet and supplementation after an extraction, also see the tips for tooth extractions found under Whole-leaf aloe in dentistry and oral applications, Maria Treben's herbal treatment advice for teeth and gums, Urine therapy for the healing of teeth and gum problems, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): dental applications and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).

You can also rinse with xylitol both before and after tooth extractions. It would be best to start several days pre-surgery.

Additionally, the page Abscess home remedies lists numerous natural non-toxic ways to disinfect the mouth and teeth.

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Footnotes

1 See Dental cavitations and cavitation infections (ischemic osteonecrosis): dangerous hidey-holes in the jawbone.

2 Other potential risks of orthodontic treatment include tooth decay and tooth loss from wearing dental braces or retainers.

3 According to Jay Friedman writing in the American Journal of Public Health, "[Wisdom tooth] surgery is a multibillion-dollar industry that generates significant income for the dental profession... driven by misinformation and myths that have been exposed before but that continue to be promulgated by the profession. ... At least two thirds of these extractions ... are unnecessary, constituting a silent epidemic of injury that afflicts tens of thousands of people with lifelong discomfort and disability".

4 See Potential Serious Side Effects of Conventional (Mainstream/Orthodox) Cancer Treatment (scroll to Osteonecrosis of the jaw [BON], bisphosphonate-associated or due to chemo or radiation.

5 Ernesto Adler: Neural Focal Dentistry: Illness Caused by Interference Fields in the Trigeminal (German original: Störfeld und Herd im Trigeminusbereich: Ihre Bedeutung für die ärztliche und zahnärztliche Praxis August 2013).

Miscellaneous Risks Related to Conventional Dental Treatment