Do you have a tooth that’s infected or badly decayed? Your dentist might recommend root canal treatment. Root canal procedures have a 95% success rate.
Unfortunately, choosing an inexperienced dentist could leave you among the 5% with a botched root canal. Root canal failure can lead to complications if you don’t seek treatment.
What are the causes, and how can you improve your oral health after a bad root canal? Read on to find out.
What Is Root Canal Failure?
Root canals are designed to remove an infection from a decayed or diseased tooth. If a dentist isn’t thorough, the infection can linger. However, it could take weeks or months before patients notice signs of a botched root canal.
Symptoms include:
- A boil on the jaw
- Tooth discoloration
- Tooth sensitivity
- Pain when biting down
- Tenderness in the gum tissue
- Pus-filled abscesses
- Swelling near the tooth
- Facial or neck swelling
Mild pain after a root canal procedure is normal. Patients can experience discomfort for a few days after treatment. If the pain continues longer than that, it could indicate a problem.
A dentist will schedule X-rays to look for signs of a failed root canal.
The infection won’t heal on its own. Patients need to seek treatment for a botched root canal right away.
According to this dentist in Punta Gorda, FL, treatment for root canal failure often involves a procedure called retreatment, where the dentist reopens the tooth, removes the old filling, cleans out any remaining infection, and reseals it. In more complex cases, surgical intervention like an apicoectomy may be needed to remove infected tissue. Acting quickly can prevent the need for extraction and help preserve the natural tooth.
Root Canal Failure Causes
A root canal might fail for multiple reasons, including a structural abnormality or unexpected development. A dentist might also miss one of the patient’s canals.
In some cases, a traumatic dental injury can cause a crack. A crack or fracture could infect the tooth’s root.
A dentist can miss a canal if the patient has complex root canal structures. They might not clean it out properly, causing the infection to linger.
An obstruction can also lead to a failed root canal. For example, perhaps something was in the way when the dentist cleaned the canal. Filling material, sealants, or another tooth could obstruct their view.
A dentist might delay the placement of a dental crown after a root canal procedure. Allowing time between procedures could give the infection a chance to form. If a crown is broken or lost, it could lead to another infection.
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Treatment
Treating a failed root canal will depend on the infection’s severity.
A dentist might recommend retreatment. They’ll reclean the canals and look for any canals they missed in the past.
It’s hugely important that you find a dental group you can trust, that has dentists that you are going to be able to work with and who have a lot of experience with dealing with root canal problems as well as other situations.
They might recommend an apicoectomy. During the procedure, they’ll make a small opening in the gums to access the root. They’ll clean the root and apply sealing material.
In severe cases, a dentist might extract the tooth and replace it with an implant.
Seek Treatment After a Failed Root Canal
It’s important to seek treatment after root canal failure to avoid complications. If these symptoms sound familiar, visit a dentist right away.
If you’re a dentist who botched a procedure, continue expanding your knowledge to improve your practice.
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