Dentists, Is it true RCT teeth remain infected?

[Mugz]

Hi,

I've read several places that RC treated teeth always remain infected because of microscopic canals, and that it is only a matter of when not if people will have more problems like throbbing and other symptoms unless RCT teeth are extracted. Is this true?

(I had my only RCT about 9-10 weeks ago and have had non-stop throbbing since. Worse since tooth was crowned over 3 weeks ago, now with tingling in jaw and cheek. I did call my dentist as suggested here. He did not want to see me and prescribed ibuprofen which has done nothing.)

I know many of us having issues after root canals and crowns appreciate your considerate replies. Thank you in advance.

 

[ripply]

I'm not a dentist but I thought I could share my own views on root canals as I've also read a lot about them staying permanently infected. I had a root canal done when I was 11 years old and it did not give me even the slightest problem after that. Twenty years later, a dentist did some work on it that caused serious damage to the tooth. (I'm now with a new, lovely dentist!).After that, it got infected and I had to get a root canal retreatment by an endodontist. This only worked for 6 months until it got infected again and I've just had the tooth extracted a few days ago. I believe if the dentist hadn't damaged the tooth that time, I would still have it now.

I think you'll get different opinions on this but for me, I believe my original root canal did manage to clear out all infection as it lasted for so long. I think the problem lies in that, sometimes the infection in these tiny accessory canals cannot be seen or root filled, so it remains and may flare up someday. But I think it depends on whether infection is in those tiny canals to begin with. It may well not be, and the infection can then be cleared and filled completely and should not return unless some other problem occurs with the tooth. Like I said, I'm no expert on these things, it's just my opinion on it.

Also, if you're thinking of getting a root canal, it doesn't hurt! I was terrified beforehand but really it was fine.

 

[Mugz]

Thank you for sharing!

 

[scareddiane]

I've never heard this but have only one RCT and it was done by a younger dentist who spent many hours making sure he had cleaned out everything he could find and was careful not to crack what was left. That's been 9 years ago with not one minutes trouble.

I read that 95% of the time, a tooth with a properly done RCT should last a lifetime.

 

[comfortdentist]

The root canal procedure SOMETIMES (moderator note) does not cure the infection brewing inside of the tooth.

SOME NOT (moderator note) most dentists will tell you that a rc tooth cannot be painful because it is considered a dead tooth. The irony with that statement is that the tooth could still contain inflamed nerve tissue which sets out signals to the periodontal ligament and other nerves that there is a problem. So pain, sensitivity, discomfort...... are all frequent symptoms with rc teeth. Sometimes these symptoms are not noticeable all the time, sometimes they are ignored and other times they do not exist.......(deleted)
SOME not many dentists do not acknowledge that there is an oral and systemic connection. They have been taught this connection but rarely do they connect the dots. They are first taught to be tooth carpenters and doctors second.

The majority of the above statements are factually wrong and misleading(most deleted by moderator) and not based in reality.

I will address one - "They are first taught to be tooth carpenters and doctors second."
My first degree is in chemistry where I also received the certificate for the being the outstanding chemistry major. As part of a solid science back ground my studies also included 2 1/2 years of biological sciences, a year of physics, and mathematics for math, physics, and chemistry majors. I also spent a summer doing primary research at one of the major cancer research and treatment institutions in the USA. In dental school we spent the first year with the medical students essentially studying the same basic medical sciences of neural science and anatomy, embryology, physiology, anatomy (although we spent less time on hands and feet but more time in head and neck), biochemistry, pharmacology, etc. Of course in dentistry we had our specialized courses in bio material sciences and bio mechanics as it relates to the bio engineering of materials and design. Since it is well known that to be a doctor you must continually learn and adapt to the new discoveries and the changing field you MUST have a solid science base and therefore understand why you do what you do.

 

[scareddiane]

. Therefore the tooth will remain infected and the bacteria will eventually spread onto the periodontal ligament and into the bone.

I'd love to see you cite information proving this statement other than some 'I'm in the dental field 2007 quote from some 'forum'.

Oy Vey! Then everyone who has ever had a RCT should die from bacteria spreading into the ligament, bone and then brain. Osteomyelitis

 

[Mugz]

Thank you, Dr. Kimsey. That is all I needed, a DENTIST to answer my question.

I feel bad enough as it is having dropped $3,000 for a root canal and a crown on a tooth that is still throbbing and driving me crazy, a cheek and jaw that "tingle" and a dentist that will not have me back to check it ,all the while worrying that it is riddled with chronic infection and necrotic nerve tissue inside microscopic tubules with extraction as my only hope for relief. I just need a little helpful advice/answers from those in a position to willingly and accurately give it.

 

[penny_e]

I need crowns and was told if old fillings are deep possibly root canals also. For over a year I have been reading from a forum and the dental professional is anti- root canals. But if what she is saying is true then a fact is a fact. She references Mr Mercola and root canals I have read the opinion from him as well and from the year of reading peoples symptoms before during and after the root canals I have to say it makes sense. What are the options to lose all of our teeth? I quoted the above from her forum I don't want to accept the above statement but I don't want to be in a bad position after a root canal either. I didn't want to debate at all, but if you read Mr Mercola on the internet it does make sense not that I want to accept it though. What are the facts with root canals? Does the ADA have it listed? I am the type of person that reads every single side effect of medicine too and then I weight out if I am willing to take the chance I cant decide whether or not to get a root canal is it true or isn't it true?

Thank you, Dr. Kimsey. That is all I needed, a DENTIST to answer my question.

I feel bad enough as it is having dropped $3,000 for a root canal and a crown on a tooth that is still throbbing and driving me crazy, a cheek and jaw that "tingle" and a dentist that will not have me back to check it ,all the while worrying that it is riddled with chronic infection and necrotic nerve tissue inside microscopic tubules with extraction as my only hope for relief. I just need a little helpful advice/answers from those in a position to willingly and accurately give it.

 

[geos]

As President George Washington once said, if it's on the Internet it must be true.

 

[Spike 1969]

Well, for what it's worth my 2 cents on this is as follows:

There are lots of hypotheses about virtually everything in the science world, what I am interested in is proper Scientific Research, backed by independent statistical data. In the absence of this Prima Facie evidence I have to bow to the established practice and vast experience of the dental professionals such as Dr Kimsey.

If I am reading what Penny posted correctly, it has been stated that pretty much EVERY RCT performed is doomed to failure, my limited experience has been that RCTs if carried out correctly can be a very good way of saving a tooth that would have otherwise been extracted. Whist I agree that the best thing is to have a healthy living tooth with it's own pulp and blood supply, the next best option for me is to have the root treated and retain the tooth in whatever form (filling or crown) is necessary to retain the integrity of the tooth structure for as long as possible.

Just my own subjective thoughts on the matter.

 

[Tink]

Folks, don't panic, and as others have said, stick to getting your dental information from actual qualified dentists, not random people on the internet!

 

[Tome]

As a random, unqualified person on the internet, I'd say I've met any number of people who've had RCT teeth for years or decades without trouble.

I don't doubt there are side effects and complications from RCT just like there are from other operations. But, you generally get the scare stories a lot more often than you get, "I went to the dentist, the RCT was completely painless and I've still got the tooth."

Same with wisdom tooth extraction.

 

[brit]

FWIW my own experience and reading tells me that it is the skill of the dentist which counts the most in the success rate of a root canal.

https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/faq/root-canal/

 

[Yourbigpalal83]

The whole statement sounded to me like nothing more then holistic dentist foolishness. Yes..root canal teeth are basically dead teeth, but then again, the outer covering of your tooth (enamel) is basically dead as well... Enamel has no living cells... but the body doesnt automatically reject your enamel now does it?

Im not a dentist but from my understanding...All the root canal does is remove the pulp and roots. Yes the inside of the tooth no longer gets blood flow, but in all honestly outside of when the tooth is developing in the jaw as infants, your teeth don't really need blood flow for the most of your life... There meant to be hard and chew on and thats that..

Can stuff go wrong...sure. You can develop an abcess due to an infection..the tooth might be too damaged to save, after a root canal a tooth is naturally weaker, hense the need for a crown in most cases...but its not this major "its going to stay infected forever" nonsense.

I find most so called holistic dentists are usually the same sort of people who think you can cure cancer with healing crystals and eating certain kinds of magic urbs and the like...

Might be a pleasant thought, might harp on a very real "Back to nature" vibe a lot of people feel, but as good and pure as it might sound and there intentions may be...the reality is people are living a lot longer today BECAUSE OF SCIENCE and not mystic voodoo mumble jumble.

Root Canals have a long history of working. Theres a reason why dentists do them and ill bet you half if not more of the modern population has at least one or 2 in there mouths without any trouble what so ever..

If root canals were as bad as there made out to be...then I'm sure we'd be living in a much more painful existence for most of the population