If in a root canal the tool goes past the apex can it heal?

[Acheygirl]

I had a root canal and the tooth is just not right. I had it cleaned twice and reopened. When he went in the second time he asked if I had felt the popping sensation which I did not. I wonder if that meant the tool might have penetrated the apex. He did not mention it did however if that is the case, would it result in failure or can it heal and as a doctor if it penetrated the apex would it be his job to tell me so? I am not sure if the tooth will recover it just feels odd to sensation. I had an expert highly trained endo do the job and on x-ray all looks good. I know there are many kinds of perforations. I think this went through the root tip and not out the side of the tooth. After that procedure the tooth was filled with medication and was completed about a month ago.

 

[geos]

I’ll start saying I’m not a doctor. Regarding the healing, much depends on the location, size, time from occurrence and the material used. It would be impossible for someone on the Internet to give you a proper answer.

 

[Acheygirl]

Thanks Geos I understand what your saying. I wonder if the perforation would show up on a 3D cone x-ray do you know? I might try and obtain that and get a second pair of eyes on it.

 

[Gordon]

It's currently trendy in endodontics to get a small "puff" of the root canal sealant through the apex at the end of the treatment.

In other words a small perforation is the desired result. The sealant is usually eaten away by white cells inside a few months. It might be that this is what you're feeling?

The rationale for it is that you (the endo dude!) want to have instrumented the entire canal, if you stop a few mm short of the apex then you've left some infected debris in place which can still cause issues. The only way to be sure you've got it all is to go a bit beyond the apex with a small file...

 

[Acheygirl]

Thank you Dr. Gordon I sincerely appreciate your reply. That makes sense and thanks for taking the time to explain that. Your help is greatly appreciated.

 

[NETWizz]

It will probably feel better within a couple weeks