Death and Dentistry, Martin Fischer — 1940
Charles Thomas and Co., Springfield, Ill

Overall Review and Assessment

By S.H. Shakman — Institute of Science 1999

          This is a great and very important book — a must for every dentist, medical doctor, patient or potential patient.

          Fischer eloquently reviews the work of Billings and his school, particularly Rosenow, and pronounces the “Billings-Rosenow Syndrome” as responsible for the great bulk of human disease.

          Fischer emphatically substantiates the Billings position that more than 90% of human systemic disease is due to chronic infections in tonsils and/or teeth — usually symptomless and often very difficult to detect, but always there. (pp. 107-115)

          Fischer carries the Billings-Rosenow work to its logical/scientific conclusion concerning the flawed nature of dentistry. His declaration as a respected physiologist, that the tooth is a bone, is unequivocal and well founded. His consequent albeit “extreme” position, that all fillings are bad, is hence actually inescapable. Fischer clearly and simply declares that all root canals, all fillings, and virtually all the other invasive things dentist do are bad. Fischer concludes the whole of dentistry is truly an “abortion.”

          Considerable emphasis is placed on the importance of residual jawbone infections, and the need to excavate not only areas around extracted teeth, down to good bone, but also to remove residual alveolar ridges down to a smooth surface. (pp. 136-137 and in case studies.)

Perhaps the most important and somewhat original contribution of Fischer is his indictment of virtually all teeth, and remaining ridges, in the elderly population of the modern world. In essence, according to Fischer, after decades of bacterial attack through worn-down teeth or at the gumline, teeth become insidiously-chronically infected. Fischer describes the tell tale signs of these generally symptomless infections, and declares the situation virtually universal after the age of 50 or 60. (p. 85-87)

          It seems kind of ridiculous that these people, perhaps even younger ones, would be urged by Fischer to have some or all of their teeth pulled, even some without previously-denistried teeth or otherwise-obvious caries. That’s the bad news.

          But the good news is that under such circumstances these people are going to be well situated to evade the ravages of the wide range of human diseases that come from these quietly-pathogenic oral nests, they’ll be a lot healthier and living very much longer. Indeed, with elimination of all Billings Rosenow-Symdrome streptococcal disease(s), the 150+ year life-span is truly within our grasp. So the long process of growing new teeth, through cloning processes yet to be developed, will not be nearly so intrusive as upon our currently absurdly-short lifespans.

          This does not mean that we must abandon dreams of cleaning, protecting, healing and regenerating compromised tooth-bone in-vivo. Rather, it is recognition that this admirable goal remains a dream at our present stage of knowledge in 1999, calling for attention to the question as to whether future experimentation along these lines is best conducted on human or animal subjects.

Fischer is a terrific writer, very witty, very enjoyable. The book, Death and Dentistry should be available through most medical libraries; insofar as it is no longer in print, the American Academy of Biological Dentistry is making available working copies for educational purposes. [American Academy of Biological Dentistry: (831) 659-5385]

The “Hunt” for Oral Infection

          Fischer provides extensive descriptions and details on how to go about poking in the various nooks and crannies in the mouth for typical “focal infections.” He notes that x-ray examination does not reveal early changes in soft tissues, or spread of infection, nor does it necessarily reveal changes in shade due to calcium variations. The plusses of x-rays are then discussed, but with the qualification that the physical exam is more important.

          Following are notes on some of these details; again, the reader is urged to consult the actual Fischer work to obtain a more complete picture.

Signs of Infection in Teeth Never Dentistried (pp. 85)

The following signs in teeth that have never been dentistried are to be critically viewed:

·        Polishing off of biting and grinding surfaces to the extent that they expose their dentine and render more vulnerable the pulps.

·        Junctional line between tooth and gum showing wear and/or erosion as a result of 3-4 decades of bacterial attack.

·        Loss of translucency of tooth crowns, and assumption of whiter, more china-like look.

·        Slight recessions of gum with exposure of root substance.

·        Firmer fixation of tooth in socket.

·        X-ray evidence of possible pulp stones and/or increased calcium deposition in surrounding jawbone.

It is noted that on extraction such a tooth exhibits “a narrowed pulp chamber, with the pulp itself no longer pink and moist but gray and dry with sandy granules sticking in it. (The blood has gone out of it, avascular connective tissue has taken its place and calcium deposit has occurred.)”

Things to Look for in Teeth, Signs of Infection (pp. 112)

·        Gum recession.

·        Discoloration about neck or biting edge.

·        Erosion.

·        Loss of transparency.

The importance of the above mounts with:

·        Teeth that are unduly fast.

·        Teeth that are unduly loose.

·        Laterally placed fillings, especially if beneath the gum line.

·        Encroachment of dentine upon pulp chamber.

·        Pulp stones.

Fischer emphasizes that “we have never failed to recover partial tension microorganisms from structures so affected.”

Physical Examination of Teeth (pp. 110-111)

          Discoloration is equated with deprivation of blood supply and death; loss of transparency is equated with increased, abnormal calcium deposition. Areas of caries, fillings, crowns or pegged teeth that smell foully “are self labeled;” areas that are hyper or hypo sensitive are all infected; as are red, swollen or bleeding gums, structures sensitive to finger ball pressure, pus or scummy white line about the tooth neck.

Tonsils: Beware of Shrunken, Rind-Like, “Normally Atrophic” (pp. 111)

          Fischer urges awareness of tonsils that are “shrunken and made rind-like” and often thought of as “normally atrophic.”

Tonsils: Beware of Small, Firm, With Green Pus on Pressure (pp. 113)

          Watch for tonsils that are smaller and firmer than normal, from which a greenish pus is expressible on pressure.

Why Oral Operations May Worsen Condition (pp. 51)

          Fischer cautions “Proper terminus for the patient is, however, difficult of attainment. Grossest error lies in the nonrecognition of obviously infected tonsils, teeth and their surrounding tissues. Whereafter not merely incompetent but inadequate surgical attack makes for cropper. . . . A tonsil shaved of the peritonsillar infected lymph channels and inflamed scar tissues not removed, a tooth extracted but its adjacent and similarly affected alveolar bone left standing, too frequently excite constitutional reactions compared with which the signs and symptoms that made the victim a patient were trifling.”

Sure Signs of Infection (pp. 121)

          Every area of gum that is still reddened, and every area that is sensitive to finger ball pressure, indicates an area of infection underneath.

“Saving” Infected Jaw Bone is Debit In Book of Life (pp.137)

          “Every attempt to “save” (infected jaw-) bone . . . enters debits upon the book of life” Fischer emphasizes that he had not seen a single patient die of a focal origin disease who, despite having had all teeth removed (and proper tonsillectomy), did not have residual infection in the jaws. Capitol

This is Bonnie again:

          Another question many people ask is “Why are root canals dangerous?” In answer to that question we present, on page 5 — courtesy the American Academy of Biological Dentistry — an interview featuring George Meinig, D. D. S., one of the founders of the American Association of Endodontists (root canal specialists).

Note: On page 10 is a list of Web Sites. These Web Sites are valuable resources for anyone interested in researching health/dental problems. For weekly updates be sure to visit www.y2khealthanddetox.com. The latest update was about a meeting held on November 5, 2001 in Los Angeles for Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) and her bill to end the use of the dangerous toxin Mercury in dental fillings. The update included this comment: “While the American Dental Association still supports using Mercury fillings (and in fact receives a fee from Mercury amalgam manufacturers for endorsing their product), there is increasing opposition to the continued use of Mercury among dentists and other dental professionals. For example, smaller groups such as the Carmel-based American Academy of Biological Dentistry and the Orlando-based International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology support an end to Mercury amalgam.”