Root Canal Retreatment

[amicx92]

I've had quite the month. First week of August, I had a crown pop off. Got it replaced and then the day after, an old root canal tooth on the OPPOSITE side started hurting. I went back to the dentist and they saw nothing wrong with it, deciding it was my TMJ. I went to a TMJ specialist who also said my root canal tooth looked fine, spent some serious $$$ on a new splint, only for my jaw to swell up last week. Fast forward to now, I have a full blown infection in the old root canal. I was told by an emergency dentist to have the tooth extracted due to how large the infection was and the bone loss, but my dentist said to try and save the tooth and sent me to an endodontist who drained the infection (which was a fun experience) and now I'm looking at getting a re-treatment next week.

I'm a little freaked out. How would an 11 year old root canal get reinfected?? I shouldn't be worried because I've had this procedure done before and he said if I could do the I&D I had performed on my infection without sedation, this will be a breeze. But it's the first root canal I'm having done without sedation so I'm a little scared. My anxiety is off the charts with me thinking my tooth is actually not savable and they won't find out until I'm in there (which is what I get for Googling 'cracked root canals' all week even though I know endodontists are trained specifically for this.) Has anyone had this done before? I know I'm doing the right thing by attempting to save it, but after this past month of treating the wrong thing, my nerves are shot.

 

[Paige2018]

I had 3 root canal retreats about a year and a half ago (original root canals were about 8-10 years ago). Personally, afternthe retreats, none of them felt “right” after the healing process. Unfortunately, I discovered about 2 weeks ago that one of them had a fractured root, and this past Tuesday, I had to have it extracted. Not trying to scare anyone, just sharing my own experience.

 

[Judythecat]

I had a root canal (upper molar) retreated last year. In my case it was causing no trouble, and had sat quietly for about 20 years - an x-ray on the neighbouring tooth showed one canal was completely empty!

Mine was done by a very expensive endodonist, who was concerned there might be a root perforation, and explained all the potential risks before starting. There wasn’t, and he did a great job, although it was two really long appointments (1h 45, then 2h), then a follow-up a few months later before the crown was done.

Touch wood, all has been well since. I hope you have a good result.

 

[Judythecat]

Oh, and I didn’t have any sedation. It was fine, just really boring, and tiring on the jaw. You will be VERY numb!

 

[Mike]

Oh, and I didn’t have any sedation. It was fine, just really boring, and tiring on the jaw. You will be VERY numb!

Love the boring comment - I’ve had patients fall asleep during a root canal treatment! That’s with me having far more interesting chat than an endodontist too ?

To answer the original question, root canal treatments can and do fail even after some time. It can be due to decay or a leaking filling letting bugs in from the crown of the tooth or sometimes because no matter how hard we try we don’t get all the bugs out, techniques have moved on in the last few years though

 

[Judythecat]

Love the boring comment - I’ve had patients fall asleep during a root canal treatment! That’s with me having far more interesting chat than an endodontist too ?

To answer the original question, root canal treatments can and do fail even after some time. It can be due to decay or a leaking filling letting bugs in from the crown of the tooth or sometimes because no matter how hard we try we don’t get all the bugs out, techniques have moved on in the last few years though

Actually, I made a bit of a show of myself. In the first session I fell asleep, and in the second it went on so long I had to stop and go to the loo before he did the filling. He had a fancy TV thing in the roof above the chair, and I feel like I didn’t get my money’s worth out of it!

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Judythecat..

oh I so get all you are saying.. about falling asleep I nearly did as well on my retreat. the endodontist was way less entertaining than my angel dentist. but he was still very kind and gentle. and I had to laugh as I took a side trip to the loo right before the filling as well... ha. Dr MIke you sound like a very personable and kind dentist , welcome to DFC. haven't gotten the chance to say that yet.

 

[amicx92]

Thanks for the replies! It’s calming me a bit. I’m still a little swollen from the infection/having to get it drained, so I think that’s adding to my fears and frustrations.

 

[Kns]

I had 3 root canal retreats about a year and a half ago (original root canals were about 8-10 years ago). Personally, afternthe retreats, none of them felt “right” after the healing process. Unfortunately, I discovered about 2 weeks ago that one of them had a fractured root, and this past Tuesday, I had to have it extracted. Not trying to scare anyone, just sharing my own experience.

How did you or your dentist discover the fracture? Sorry to hear it needed extracted but hopefully you’re feeling better now!