Fact Check: Are Root Canals Silent Killers?

Claim

In an Instagram reel it is claimed that root canals are silent killers. The reel by the user camillevegan is captioned as "Yes they are. I’m a dentist and I have seen thousands of “failed” root canals - the abscess/infection overtakes the root canal treated tooth. Eventually ALL root canal treated teeth rot and fail. These teeth are the hardest to remove because they crumble - like brown sugar - and I have to surgically cut them out.

No. I’m not trying to give any personal advice on whether anyone should get a root canal. I simply want people to think; How can leaving anything dead in your mouth NOT cause problems? Each tooth is an organ w/ its own individual nerve(s). Dentistry is the ONLY profession in medicine that leaves dead organs in the body. The ONLY. FYI ....All root canal treated teeth will not exhibit abscesses; localized, encapsulated infection that is evident on an x-Ray, yet that does not mean residual/ongoing infection is not present. As a dentist, I’m merely treating the results of a far more endemic problem in our society - people are literally digging their graves with their teeth. Go vegan."

The user in the reel says, “What happens when your dentist tells you, you know what? We need to save your tooth or for some other reasons, sometimes even cosmetic reasons, when you do a root canal and they drill into your tooth and they rip out the nerve from the tooth with many of these corresponding blood vessels, then they seal that tooth, shut, what does this do? It creates an abscess in there where blood cannot reach. And what starts to form in there is rotting flesh, anaerobic bacteria.

Now if you ask any medical practitioner, any medical expert, is it okay to put rotting flesh into your body? They'll tell you, of course not. It's crazy, you're going to die. It's gangrene basically. Well, this is common practice in dentistry right now on a daily level. And there's a lot of research about”

The reel can be accessed here.

Fact Check

The claim that root canals are a "silent killer" is false and unsupported by scientific evidence. Root canal treatments are a standard dental procedure used to save teeth and eliminate infection. Root canals are safe, routine procedures—not “silent killers”—and there's no scientific evidence linking them to systemic diseases.

What is a root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that aims at removing infected or inflamed pulp from within a tooth. After the pulp is removed, the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned, disinfected, and then sealed. Afterwards, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling for protection and will continue to function like any other tooth. This process helps to get rid of harmful bacteria, stop further infection, and preserve the tooth's natural structure. 

Are Root Canals Silent Killers?

Root canal treatment is safe, effective, and supported by extensive scientific evidence. There is no valid scientific evidence linking root canal therapy to systemic health problems or chronic illness. Root canal procedures are part of advanced modern dentistry, and today's techniques make the treatment highly predictable, successful, and safe.

An article published in Clinical Oral Investigations concluded that endodontically treated teeth demonstrate high long-term survival and success rates. The study suggested that the strong long-term prognosis of these teeth supports choosing root canal treatment over extraction and implant placement for managing teeth with pulpal or periapical disease.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, root canal treatment does not cause illness or systemic disease. Claims suggesting such a link are false and based on outdated, discredited research.

A review article published in International Endodontic Journal concludes that there have been no publications to suggest that root canal treatment has any adverse systemic effects.

Dr Srishti Shrivastava, Senior Lecturer in Department of Orthodontics at People's College of Dental Sciences, Bhopal, said that "Root canal treatments are safe and effective, and there is no credible scientific evidence linking them to any systemic diseases. The myth that they are a 'silent killer' comes from old, debunked studies. Modern root canals are performed with strict infection control and benefit your long-term health.'

Dr Akansha Tilokani, Senior Lecturer in Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics commented, "Root canals are often misunderstood, but the facts speak for themselves: they are safe, effective, and backed by decades of research. Myths like “root canals cause cancer” or “all root canals fail” have been debunked, modern studies show a 97% success rate when properly performed and maintained. While root canal-treated teeth are no longer vital, they are thoroughly cleaned, sealed, and preserved, functioning just like natural teeth. Don’t let outdated misinformation prevent you from saving your teeth—trust science and consult experienced dental professionals."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

The claim that root canals are a "silent killer" is not supported by modern science or credible dental associations. This myth often leads to unnecessary fear and poor dental decisions. Root canal therapy remains a safe, effective, and widely endorsed treatment to preserve natural teeth and prevent infection.