Root Cause Movie Review: Do Root Canals Harm Your Health?

Recently, several leading dental organizations raised strong concerns about the documentary Root Cause. The American Association of Endodontists (AAE), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Association of Dental Research (AADR) asked Netflix to remove the film because they consider it misleading.

Update: Netflix quietly removed Root Cause from its library on February 27, 2019. No official explanation was provided, though experts suggest the move may protect the credibility of high-quality documentaries on the platform.

I am not an ADA member because I don’t agree with all of their approaches, so I was curious: could this film be revealing something important?

The Guardian discussed the controversy from a free-speech angle, but I wanted to review Root Cause from the perspective of a functional dentist committed to science-based natural dental care. I admit I came to the film with healthy skepticism.

There is a lot of coverage ranging from “Root Cause Movie: Debunked” to sensational headlines such as “Is Your Root Canal Causing Cancer?” Most of those articles provide limited or questionable information. Because I received many questions about the documentary, I watched it and evaluated what it got right, what it got wrong, and what I consider unethical.

So, do root canals make people sick — or worse?

What is the Root Cause movie about?

Root Cause follows filmmaker Frazer Bailey over roughly a decade of personal health struggles. In the film Bailey recounts a root canal, a facial concussion from a punch, and a long period of debilitating symptoms. He describes years of searching through medical, emotional, and spiritual approaches before learning, via alternative diagnostics, that a failed root canal was the culprit behind his fatigue, depression, and illness.

Bailey interviews numerous practitioners with impressive credentials. The experts presented make sweeping claims, such as strong links between root canals and breast cancer, or that root-canaled teeth cause chronic systemic disease. For example, one expert asserts that 98% of breast cancer patients have a root canal on the same side as their tumor. Others insist that most chronic illnesses originate in infected teeth.

This documentary raised many concerns for patients who have — or may need — root canals. Below I break down the film’s claims and compare them to the scientific evidence, then answer common questions about root canals and the issues raised by the film.

Is the Root Cause documentary accurate?

I’ll address specific film claims versus what we know from research and clinical practice.

Note: Root canals are beneficial and necessary for the vast majority of patients who receive them.

I say that not out of bias but because I don’t want fear from a documentary to prevent patients from receiving treatment that preserves teeth and function. That said, the film does highlight some valid points.

One correct point is that the mouth and body are interconnected. Oral health can influence systemic health, such as the documented links between gum disease and diabetes. Another truthful point is that no root canal can ever be 100% sterile; microscopic tubules can harbor bacteria. Occasionally those bacteria can proliferate and cause localized infection that may enter the bloodstream.

However, Root Cause greatly overstates the frequency and systemic impact of such events. A failed root canal can produce an abscess or cyst that causes pain and infection, but this is relatively uncommon and typically symptomatic. Poorly performed root canals are more likely to result in later infection — and from the film’s limited view, the filmmaker’s own images suggested a poorly done procedure.

Root Cause Movie: Fact Check

Below are notable claims from the film with evidence-based responses.

Claim: “98% of women with breast cancer have a root canal on the same side as their cancer.”

Reality: There is no credible, peer-reviewed evidence supporting this statistic. The notion that cancer appears on the “same side” as a root canal reflects meridian and traditional medicine concepts rather than proven biological causation. Many people with cancer have had root canals, but millions of people also have root canals in general; coincidence does not prove causation.

Claim: “The number one cause of heart attack is a root canal tooth.”

Reality: No published scientific evidence supports this claim. Some studies show associations between endodontic lesions and coronary disease, but those findings do not demonstrate that root canals cause heart attacks. In fact, tooth loss (extractions) has been associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease in some cohorts.

Claim: “The biggest toxic influence in the body of a chronically ill person is a root canal tooth.”

Reality: Failed root canals can cause systemic infection in rare cases, but it’s incorrect to assert they are the primary cause of most chronic illness. There is stronger evidence linking periodontal (gum) disease with systemic conditions than there is implicating well-performed root canals.

Claim: “Root canal is a fatally flawed procedure.”

Reality: If root canals were fundamentally fatally flawed, people wouldn’t live healthy lives with root-canaled teeth. Most well-executed root canals are successful; the alternative of removing teeth often brings additional problems such as bone loss, shifting, and prosthetic complications.

Claim: “All root canals are infected and full of super-toxic biotoxins.”

Reality: No evidence demonstrates that root-canaled teeth harbor unique “super-toxins.” Bacteria can remain at low levels after treatment, but this is the normal microbial reality of the mouth. Claims equating root canal toxins to botulism or extreme biotoxins lack credible supporting research.

Claim: “Dental schools ignore the mouth-body connection.”

Reality: Dental education covers the interactions between oral and systemic health, and accredited programs maintain consistent standards. It is incorrect and insulting to suggest dental training treats the mouth as isolated from the body.

Frequently asked questions raised by the movie

Studies and evidence cited in Root Cause

Many of the studies and statistics referenced in Root Cause are either absent from the peer-reviewed literature or misrepresented. Several dramatic claims in the film lack supporting, published research. Where scientific evidence exists, it often points to limited scenarios (for example, bacteria from infected root canals can cause infective endocarditis in rare cases) rather than the sweeping conclusions presented in the documentary.

If you encounter specific studies cited by the film, review whether they are peer-reviewed, reproducible, and appropriately controlled. Anecdotes and unsourced clinic reports cannot replace rigorous evidence.

Key takeaways about the Root Cause movie

Root Cause raises legitimate questions about the mouth-body connection and reminds clinicians to consider oral health in systemic disease. However, the film’s core claims — linking root canals as a primary cause of cancer, heart attacks, and most chronic degenerative diseases — are not supported by credible scientific evidence. Much of the documentary relies on anecdote, selective citation, and theories that have been largely discounted by modern research.

If your dentist recommends a root canal, request a clear, evidence-based explanation of the diagnosis, alternatives, and risks. Prevention through good diet, hygiene, and regular care is best, but when a root canal is indicated, a skilled dentist or endodontist can often preserve the tooth and avoid the consequences of extraction.

Overall, Root Cause mixes some valid concerns about oral-systemic health with exaggerated, unsupported claims and fear-inducing assertions. Treat the documentary’s conclusions with caution and evaluate your health decisions using reputable research and professional guidance.

Learn More:Know Before You Go: Root Canals