I have been suggested a root canal treatment for a ...

I saw a laser root canal being done on the television show "Doctors." This looked like the way to go. You might want to look it up and ask your dentist about it too. Maybe only certain dentists have been trained to do them right now.

I have had several root canals over the years with no problems whatsoever.  

You are going to have serious problems if no root canal or, have the tooth pulled.  I won't harp, but this is a very dangerous area to ignore.  

How about a second opinion?  Good luck.  Yes, I sure know how expensive they are.  

Hedy-lamar here, again.

SORRY!  I was not clear about getting the tooth pulled and problems.  

I meant either get a root canal OR have the tooth pulled, not that there could be serious side-affect from getting tooth pulled.  

I am a dentist.  I do not believe any of this "toxicity" stuff.  It simply is not true.  There is no scientific evidence to support the theory that root canals are "toxic". 

There is a TON of pseudo-science online to "support" this theory, but until I see a peer-reviewed, large-scale, multi-center study that supports this theory, I do not believe it.

I have done literally hundreds and hundreds of root canals, if not thousands. 

You know what IS toxic ?  Infections.  Infections are THE major reason why root canals need to be done.  Is your tooth infected ?  If so, THAT is the toxicity that you need to be concerned about, NOT the "toxicity" of a root canal.

OK, now, in direct answer to your question, now that I am off my soap box, if you do NOT have the root canal done, the only other option is to have the tooth extracted.  You are 33 years old.  If you have the tooth removed now, you will be missing it for the rest of your life, which is most likely going to be somewhere in the vicinity of 50 more years.  Do you REALLY want to be missing a body part for that long ?

If you are ADAMANT about the "toxicity" thing, just get the tooth pulled and be done with it.

Mike

I am a dentist.  I do not believe any of this "toxicity" stuff.  It simply is not true.  There is no scientific evidence to support the theory that root canals are "toxic". 

There is a TON of pseudo-science online to "support" this theory, but until I see a peer-reviewed, large-scale, multi-center study that supports this theory, I do not believe it.

I have done literally hundreds and hundreds of root canals, if not thousands. 

You know what IS toxic ?  Infections.  Infections are THE major reason why root canals need to be done.  Is your tooth infected ?  If so, THAT is the toxicity that you need to be concerned about, NOT the "toxicity" of a root canal.

OK, now, in direct answer to your question, now that I am off my soap box, if you do NOT have the root canal done, the only other option is to have the tooth extracted.  You are 33 years old.  If you have the tooth removed now, you will be missing it for the rest of your life, which is most likely going to be somewhere in the vicinity of 50 more years.  Do you REALLY want to be missing a body part for that long ?

If you are ADAMANT about the "toxicity" thing, just get the tooth pulled and be done with it.

Mike

You know what IS toxic ?  Infections.  Infections are THE major reason why root canals need to be done.  Is your tooth infected ?  If so, THAT is the toxicity that you need to be concerned about, NOT the "toxicity" of a root canal.