The Dangerous Myth of The Focal Infection Theory in Dentistry

The mouth is the gateway to the body, and it has a big impact on many of the body’s other systems. This is because our body acts as a singular system, wherein every part has an impact on the others. If you stop and think for a moment, you can probably come up with a situation where this has proven true for you—for example, has mental stress ever led you to physical exhaustion, or has prolonged illness ever given you depression? Have problems with your liver resulted in skin problems like eczema or jaundice? Has improper arch support caused pain in your knees or hips? These systemic connections are why it’s important for healthcare professionals like us to treat our patients’ health holistically!

I’ve noticed, though, that in some circles where natural and holistic health is discussed, occasional mistruths show up—like the focal infection theory—that, if given the chance to flourish, have the potential to cause a major public health crisis within dentistry and beyond. As dental professionals, we simply cannot let that happen!

So let’s talk about what the focal infection theory is and why it’s problematic, how it managed to perpetuate harmful mistruths about root canals, and what the truth is according to science, so we can work together to combat misinformation and help our patients feel confident in their treatment plan the next time they end up in the dental chair!

Debunking the Focal Infection Theory in Dentistry

At its base, the focal infection theory acknowledges that teeth matter and are an integral part of your overall health—which is actually a major win! One of my primary goals as an endodontist is to help both dentists and patients understand the value of their teeth.

The issue lies in the fact that the theory leans on seriously inaccurate information about root canals—namely that root canal treatment can actually be toxic for your health. Given how misguided this idea is, let’s dive into what exactly the theory has to say about root canals and how it became so prevalent in the first place so we can better understand what we’re up against.

The Beginnings of Focal Infection Theory—Dentistry’s Biggest Mistruth

The focal infection theory first gained steam between 1910 and 1940 and still has an influence today. The underlying idea of the theory was that teeth without a pulp (AKA teeth that had been root canaled) could leak toxins and bacteria into the body, essentially poisoning the whole system. This could lead to diseases like arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease, nervous system diseases, and more.

And what happened as a result?

Dentists pulled teeth. A lot of them. You know how I feel about that—major facepalm.

Here’s the bigger issue though: Doctors and dentists in this period weren’t just pulling loads of teeth, which is bad enough in and of itself. They were pulling teeth assuming they were “curing” unrelated issues! So as you might guess, the original health problems persisted, resulting in a lot of people continuing to suffer… with a few less teeth to boot. NOT a good situation!

The Persistence of This Harmful Myth and Its Impact on Endodontics

Despite the ineffectiveness of extracting teeth to treat major illnesses, this method persisted and in fact was further popularized in the work of Dr. Weston Price, the research chairman of the American Dental Association in the first part of the 20th century. His faulty research suggested that infected or endodontically treated teeth were the source of many degenerative diseases.

I guess it was a whole lot simpler to remove a tooth than find a cure to a chronic disease, huh?

Unfortunately, people bought it, and for the next handful of years, root canals continued to be public enemy number one (at least as far as dentistry was concerned), and the tooth extractions only grew in number.

(Trying to) Kick Misinformation to the Curb

It wasn’t until the 1930s that clinicians, researchers, and other medical professionals started to re-examine what was taken for gospel with the focal infection theory. As more research (notably that of Cecil and Angevine) disproved the efficacy of pulling teeth to treat disease, the theory was removed from the curriculum of dental schools and the general medical discourse. That’s when endodontics became a mainstream field of dentistry, with the mission to save the teeth that might otherwise have been removed. Hooray!

But all that progress doesn’t mean the focal infection theory isn’t still alive and well today almost a whole 100 years later. (Oof.) There are holistic health movements and documentaries, like Root Cause, that repeat the same misinformation that was discredited a century ago. This has a profound negative impact on many people’s lives and health. Instead of receiving effective dental care, believers might rush to extract their teeth—which may worsen instead of cure their problems.

The Truth About Root Canals

What can we do to combat the misinformation spread by the focal infection theory in dentistry? Spread the TRUTH about root canals far and wide!

And the truth is this: If a patient needs a root canal, it means their natural microbiome is already out of whack. A root canal, then, can help bring it back into balance by helping the body rid itself of bad bacteria. In other words, rather than being the cause of the problem, root canals are part of the solution!

The alternative (pulling a tooth) isn’t just unnecessary… it’s potentially HARMFUL to your body. Some potential side effects include bone loss, gum recession, and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders that can lead to nutritional deficiencies, changes in your facial structure, speech problems, and more.

Now, let’s be honest—there ARE unfortunately some bad root canals out there that give endodontics a bad name. But when you follow the two cardinal rules of root canal therapy (find every canal and get to the bottom of each one), root canals are not only safe and effective but can be regenerative for the body.

As dental professionals, it’s our responsibility to make sure we set the record straight whenever we see myths like the focal infection theory being spouted. Now that you’re armed with the facts, you can knowledgeably challenge anyone who’s confused about how root canals work and save some teeth in the process!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the focal infection theory and what does it have to do with root canals?

The focal infection theory, which originated in the first half of the 20th century, suggested that teeth treated with root canals could release harmful toxins and bacteria into the body. These toxins could then cause serious health problems like arthritis, heart disease, and kidney and nervous system problems. The conclusion drawn was that dentists should extract teeth in order to avoid and treat issues in other parts of the body.

2. Why did the theory gain so much popularity despite being incorrect?

Like any mistruth, all you need is a prominent, trusted figure to back it and it can take off like wildfire. In the case of the focal infection theory in dentistry, it was Dr. Weston Price, the research chairman of the American Dental Association at the time, who helped the theory gain traction thanks to faulty research. Unfortunately, even after later studies disproved the theory, modern movements and documentaries like Root Cause have continued to perpetuate misinformation that has led numerous patients to be afraid of root canals.

3. So what is the truth about root canals? If they aren’t bad, are they always good?

Root canal therapy, when done correctly following the two cardinal rules of root canals (find every canal and get to the bottom of each one), is a safe and effective procedure that helps the body rid itself of bacteria and return the microbiome to a balanced state. It’s only the badly performed root canals that leave behind bacteria that give them a bad name and help the spread of misinformation.

– Sonia