Check out this answer from Consensus:
Current research indicates that root canal treatments do not cause cancer. The lesions associated with root canals are inflammatory rather than neoplastic, and while root canal sealers can be cytotoxic, they do not induce DNA damage that would lead to cancer.
The potential link between root canal treatments and cancer has been a topic of concern for some patients. This analysis aims to synthesize findings from multiple research papers to address the question: “Do root canals cause cancer?”
Key Insights
- Inflammatory Nature of Lesions:
- Large cyst-like periapical lesions and apical true cysts caused by root canal infections are inflammatory and not of neoplastic (cancerous) origin. These lesions form due to apical periodontitis and are not inherently cancerous1.
- Cytotoxicity of Root Canal Sealers:
- Root canal sealers, such as those based on calcium hydroxide, zinc oxide-eugenol, and epoxy-resin, can induce cytotoxicity and necrosis in human oral cancer cell lines. However, the study did not find DNA damage indicative of cancerous changes. The toxicity observed was not due to apoptotic changes in cells2.
Do root canals cause cancer?
Saman Warnakulasuriya has answered Extremely Unlikely
An expert from King’s College London in Dentistry
There is absolutely no scientific evidence in this story. Root Canal Treatments (RCTs) are so common and the association quoted in this video that close to 95% of women with breast cancer had an RCT has no statistical validity. Properly conducted case-control or cohort studies are needed to suggest any association and more experimental evidence is needed to satisfy Bradford Hill criteria to prove causation.
There is some new experimental evidence (not confirmed) that certain microbes may cause mouth cancer but no group has associated such microbes to arise from RCT teeth. These specific organisms are found in the oral biofilms. I would like to refer to a planned symposium on “microbes and oral cancer” at this years General Session of the International Association of Dental Research in Vancouver.
There is no evidence that a properly sterilized and sealed RCT tooth will leak out bacteria or toxins as stated in this video. Dental procedures have been linked with transient bacteraemias that could cause some inflammation in distant organs eg. endocarditis but such infective complications are limited to high-risk patients and can be prevented by following the guidelines that offer suitable prophylactic procedures prior to dental interventions.
Do root canals cause cancer?
Mary Anne Melo has answered Extremely Unlikely
An expert from University of Maryland in Dentistry
No, there is no evidence for it. According to the American Association of Endodontist (AAE), decades of research shows that there is not valid, scientific link between endodontically treated teeth and cancer or any chronic disease. The “film” was based on research conducted in the beginning to century XX, which affirmed that endodontically treat teeth were the main focus of infection and the edentulous therapy has been thought as a key factor in prevention focal infection. However, these researchers show a lot of bias and could not be reproduced by any other researcher.
In 2000 the AAE, took an official position that there is any relationship between root canal treatment and chronic disease. Nonetheless, the cases that do not receive any treatment or the cases of failure, the apical periodontitis can promote transient bacteremia, as well as elevate serum levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and promote endothelium damages, favoring an occurrence of cardiovascular disease. If there is a causal relationship between these diseases, we do not know until now.
Do root canals cause cancer?
Federico Foschi has answered Extremely Unlikely
An expert from King’s College London in Dentistry, Microbiology
Root canal treatment is carried out to eradicate endodontic infection
Bacteria infection are not the cause of cancer
not even association has been found so far between bacterial infection and cancer
the main causative factors of cancer appears to be genetic predisposition, lifestyle and exposure to carcinogenic chemicals
no material used during root canal treatments is carcinogenic
Do root canals cause cancer?
Rubén Abraham Domínguez-Pérez has answered Extremely Unlikely
An expert from Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro in Dentistry
There is no scientific information that associates endodontic treatment (root canals) with cancer. And there is really very little scientific information that associates endodontic diseases such as apical periodontitis with systemic diseases, some examples are hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and the results of these few studies have not been conclusive.
here some bibliographies:
Endodontic medicine: connections between apical periodontitis and systemic diseases. 2015. International Endodontic Journal
Hypertension and dental periapical condition. 2010. Journal of endodontics
Periapical radiolucent lesion and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. 2013. Gerodontology