Root canals are the surgical deadening of a tooth.  The nerves are surgically pulled from the root of the tooth using a metal file.  After the procedure is completed some teeth may have mercury silver amalgam placed at the tip of the tooth before the tooth filled. Sometimes mercury silver amalgam fillings are used to seal the top of the tooth also before a crown is placed over the tooth.

* Failure to completely remove the periodontal ligament that lines the tooth socket that holds the tooth to the bone,

* Physically large surgical excavations, such as with impacted wisdom teeth, where the resulting holes can be expected to be larger than usual and more new bone is required to fill the holes,

* Failure to clean out the infected adjacent bone and periodontal ligament during the extraction of abscessed teeth and teeth with root canals,

*Failure to remove condensing osteitis, the reactive bone formation that attempts to wall off infection,

* Poor systemic healing support due to a compromised immune system,

* Poor nutrition and a weak thyroid gland,

* Failure to allow the formation of a complete blood clot at the excavation site or premature dislodgement of a clot after extraction,

* Smoking,

* Antibiotic therapy,

* Chronic osteoporosis of the jawbone,

* Systemic and adjacent toxicity from other dental toxins,

* Periodontal disease

One primary factor in cavitation formation is that the initial extraction does not include the thorough removal of the periodontal ligament from the tooth socket.  Thorough removal of the periodontal ligament requires that a thin layer of the bony socket also be removed. Because inadequate socket cleaning after tooth extraction is the standard practice, cavitation formation is the typical outcome.

The term periodontal disease refers to any disease of the periodontium, the tissues that surround and support the teeth, including the jawbone.  These conditions are extremely common.  An estimated 75 %—or more—of Americans over the age of 35 have some degree of periodontal disease.

Red, inflamed gums that are swollen, tender, and that tend to bleed, especially when you floss or brush your teeth, characterize gingivitis.  Plaque, the sticky film of mucus and bacteria that adheres to the teeth, particularly along the gum line, is generally the source of the infection.

Inflammation of the gums can also occur due to certain drugs, the hormonal changes of pregnancy, or leukemia.  Poorly fitting dental appliances and misaligned teeth can also be contributing factors.  If gingivitis is left untreated, the gums recede and the teeth can loosen.

Periodontitis (sometimes called pyorrhea), results when the infection spreads to and erodes the underlying bone.  If significant supporting bone erosion occurs, tooth loss can follow.  Periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss among American adults.  In addition, these pockets of bacteria in the mouth can lead to chronic low-grade body-wide infection that contributes to conditions as serious as heart disease and diabetes.  One anti-aging study tracking 1,231 men determined that those who developed periodontal disease have a significantly higher chance of dying from heart disease than men whose gums remained healthy. Although gingivitis almost always precedes periodontitis, periodontitis is not an inevitable consequence of gingivitis.  Swollen and tender gums are a sign that you should pay more attention to your teeth and their support structure.