Podcast Summary

Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark

Episode: You Must Avoid A Root Canal At All Costs | Dr. Kelly Blodgett, DDS
Date: September 2, 2025
Host: Alex Clark (Turning Point USA)
Guest: Dr. Kelly Blodgett, DDS (Holistic Dentist, Author of Feel Whole Again)

Episode Overview

This episode tackles one of dentistry’s most controversial procedures: the root canal. Alex Clark sits down with renowned holistic dentist Dr. Kelly Blodgett to challenge the normalization of root canals, discuss jawbone infections (cavitations), rethink common dental advice, and offer insights into safer, healthier dental care. The conversation spans the science of jaw health, links between oral and systemic disease, concerns about dental materials, and how to find authentic holistic dental providers.

Tone: Highly conversational, skeptical of conventional medicine, and focused on empowering patient self-advocacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Root Canal Controversy

• Normalizing Dead Teeth
  Dr. Blodgett opens by questioning the dental industry's normalization of leaving "dead organs" in living jawbones through root canals.

  "We've normalized killing teeth, leaving a dead organ attached to living jawbone." — Dr. Blodgett [00:03]

• When Is a Root Canal Justified?
  While Alex suggests root canals are never necessary, Dr. Blodgett disagrees slightly, saying they may be used as a stopgap when a patient is not ready for extraction. However, they should not be seen as a permanent solution.

  "The idea that... once it’s done, that, 'Oh, the tooth’s good for the rest of your life,' I think is misinformation." — Dr. Blodgett [02:23]
  "I wish more people were informed when they were choosing a root canal." [02:59]

• Overuse and Misdiagnosis
  Many root canals are performed due to post-procedure discomfort—not underlying tooth problems. Often, the original issue (e.g., fillings, bite adjustment) could be fixed without a root canal.

  "It's just such a blanket statement given in the dental industry that if something hurts... you need a root canal, which is like a lobotomy for your tooth." — Dr. Blodgett [03:30]

• The Myth of the “Biological Root Canal”
  Techniques using ozone or lasers don’t change the fundamental fact: once root canal treatment is done, the tooth is dead and porous, still susceptible to infection and energy disruption.

  "It helps to use lasers, it helps to use ozone. But... it’s still dead. It still becomes an energetic issue along that meridian." — Dr. Blodgett [06:16]

2. Jawbone Cavitations & Hidden Infections

• Cavitations Explained
  Many tooth extractions (especially wisdom teeth) and root canals leave behind areas of chronic jawbone infection, often with no symptoms, but significant systemic effects.

  "Almost all of those extraction sites form these cavitation lesions." — Dr. Blodgett [19:39]

• Connections to Chronic Disease
  Cavitations and dead teeth are now increasingly linked (via chemical markers and microbiology) to conditions such as breast cancer, kidney disease, Alzheimer's, and autoimmune (immune-mediated) disorders.

  "They're showing connections to breast cancer, they're showing connections to kidney disease, to immune mediated function, to neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s." — Dr. Blodgett [25:34]

• Imaging and Diagnosis
  Old two-dimensional x-rays are poor at detecting cavitations or bone infections; modern diagnostic gold standards include three-dimensional cone beam CT scans and energetic testing via EAV or muscle testing.

  "You can move, slide through sections of bone and start to appreciate, wow, there's some real changes in density here..." — Dr. Blodgett [27:20]

• Personal Stories
  Several patients (including Dr. Blodgett’s own mother) dramatically improved systemic health conditions—like chronic knee pain and fatigue—following removal of old root-canaled teeth.

  "When I took the roots out, they looked exactly like when you see pictures of a gangrenous toe..." — Dr. Blodgett [48:18]
  "My knee doesn’t hurt. You know, wow." — Dr. Blodgett [51:34]

3. Problems with Conventional Dentistry

• Time Constraints & Dogma
  High-volume dental practices often lack time for full patient evaluation, resorting to quick, conventional solutions instead of holistic, root-cause approaches.

  "You're pressed for time. So your ability to sit there and actually consider every potential possible reason ... is minimal." — Dr. Blodgett [13:22]

• Mercury Fillings (Amalgams)
  Mercury-based fillings are still used in the US despite bans in Europe. These release toxic mercury vapor when heated (chewing, coffee), and removal should be done with extreme care.

  "Anything mercury based is constantly off gassing mercury. So you're going to be swallowing that every time you chew ..." — Dr. Blodgett [35:46]

• Crowns & Bonding
  Crowns are often over-prescribed. Instead, partial repairs using modern materials can preserve more tooth structure.

  "Why would I grind the whole tooth down to a nub to put a crown on it? I'll just replace the one broken cusp." — Dr. Blodgett [62:37]

• Retainers & Braces
  Permanent retainers can pose problems, especially if made of allergenic metals, and orthodontic work that ignores palate and jaw development often fails long-term.

  "If you have to wear a retainer in order for your teeth to not move back, you didn’t resolve the actual issue ..." — Dr. Blodgett [81:05]

4. Holistic, Prevention-Based Dental Care

• Testing for Material Compatibility
  Highly sensitive individuals can do blood testing (e.g., Biocomp) to determine which dental materials are compatible for them.

  "You can get the report yourself so that you can go in and ask your dentist, hey, if you're going to do fillings, would you please use any one of these materials in the least reactive category?" — Dr. Blodgett [38:00]

• Remineralizing Teeth Naturally
  Diet is the cornerstone: less frequent eating, less sugar/acid, and more whole foods help teeth naturally remineralize.

  "There’s no mouthwash, there's no toothpaste ... that is going to outpace a diet that is creating massive risk for decay." — Dr. Blodgett [64:52]

• Debating Fluoride
  Dr. Blodgett challenges the need for fluoride in food/water, noting evidence links it to lower IQ in children and arguing diet and topical remineralization are far safer alternatives.

  "The science has never shown that ingested fluoride decreased decay risk. So why would you be drinking it?" — Dr. Blodgett [71:43]
  "Fluoride is lowering children's IQ." — Alex Clark [73:13]

• Flossing & Tongue Scraping
  Daily hygiene (flossing, tongue scraping) reduces not just oral issues, but whole-body inflammation and chronic disease risk.

  "You’re going to notice decreased risk for whole body inflammation. I mean, we’re talking about neurodegenerative conditions. We’re talking about heart disease." — Dr. Blodgett [74:58]

• Rooted in Humanism
  Dr. Blodgett’s practice prioritizes patient stories, intuition, and emotions, carving out lengthy appointments to listen and partner with patients.

  "When we give time to other human beings... it changes everything about trust. Frankly, it helps me understand more about how to better serve them when I understand how they feel." — Dr. Blodgett [85:53]

5. How to Find a True Holistic Dentist

• Look for Genuine Standards
  Greenwashed terms (holistic, biological) abound. Seek out providers certified through real standards (e.g., Biodentistry 3.0), and gauge their curiosity and communication style.

  "He decided to... create a standard. And he came out last fall with a program... Biodentistry 3.0." — Dr. Blodgett [42:05]

• Ask Your Providers the Right Questions

  • Are they familiar with cavitations, biocompatible materials, and 3D imaging?
  • Do they offer compatibility testing?
  • Do they have holistic nutrition awareness and focus on minimal intervention?

• Test for the "Vibe"

  "If it’s a lot of them telling you things... and they're not curious about you, in my opinion, that's probably going to reflect the mindset of the practice." — Dr. Blodgett [89:38]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the root canal industry:
  "To the tune of at least 15 million root canals being done in America alone per year, like, something's off here." — Dr. Blodgett [12:01]

• On the dangers of hidden jawbone infections:
  "We’re finding that the majority of people who have cavitations don’t have any pain or symptoms in the mouth, but they may have systemic issues. You know, it’s connected to the heart, meridian, wisdom teeth." — Dr. Blodgett [22:51]

• Alex’s summary of the paradigm shift:
  "When things start really going wrong, I think the teeth, that should be one of the main areas you look at." — Alex Clark [54:07]

• On patient stories:
  "She was previously a woman who looked like she was dying and felt like she was dying. And she came back in the office, like bounding with energy and joy." — Dr. Blodgett, on a patient post-root canal removal [46:10]

• On empowering patients:
  "Become more interested in listening to yourself and those around you." — Dr. Blodgett [97:03]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00-02:23] — The normalization of root canals and early anecdote about Dr. Blodgett’s mother
• [06:12-07:32] — The myth of biological root canals
• [13:16] — Time and workload as driver for misdiagnosis
• [19:39] — Cavitations and wisdom tooth extraction risks
• [25:30] — Diseases linked to jawbone decay and cavitations
• [27:16] — Why cavitations are controversial; role of 3D imaging
• [35:46] — Mercury fillings and material off-gassing
• [42:05] — How to recognize a true holistic/biological dentist
• [48:18] — The story of Dr. Blodgett’s mother’s blackened, root-canaled tooth
• [62:37] — When crowns are truly necessary
• [64:48] — Dietary factors and reversing kid’s cavities naturally
• [71:43] — The debate on fluoride in water and toothpaste
• [74:58] — The impact of daily flossing on whole-body health
• [81:03] — Permanent retainers, palate expanders, orthodontic issues
• [85:53] — Overview of Dr. Blodgett’s new book, Feel Whole Again
• [89:11] — How to vet a holistic dentist for authenticity

Final Takeaways

• Root canals should be a last resort, not a default solution; risks may be far greater than patients are told.
• Routine dental extractions and fillings can leave behind dangerous, hidden infections affecting total body health.
• Advanced imaging, material compatibility testing, and a holistic, root-cause approach mark truly biological dentists.
• Daily dental care, diet, and awareness of dental materials matter just as much as (or more than) any clinical procedure.
• Listening to patients—really listening—is at the heart of transformative dental and whole-body health care.

For more information or to find a holistic dentist:

• Visit Dr. Blodgett’s website: www.blodgetdentalcare.com
• Instagram: @blodgettdentalcare

“Listen to your patient. He is telling you the diagnosis.” — Dr. Osler (quoted by Dr. Blodgett) [85:53]