When infection or decay damages a tooth, a root canal treatment may be necessary to remove the infection from the pulp. This treatment is usually performed when the bacteria deeply infect the pulp, and you have to prevent the condition from spreading to the neighbouring tooth. When the infection is not completely removed it leads to a failed root canal.
Root canal treatments can save your infected tooth and prevent further infection when performed successfully.
This blog discusses the various treatments performed by a root canal specialist for a failed root canal treatment.
What Is a Failed Root Canal?
It is normal to feel discomfort after a root canal treatment. You should become more concerned about the pain if it continues long after that, impacting your daily life and making it uncomfortable to eat or speak.
Root canals fail when the treatment doesn’t remove all the infection, or the tooth becomes infected again. If left untreated, saving your tooth becomes more difficult as the infection could spread. At this stage, only a root canal specialist, also known as an Endodontist, can perform root canal treatment.
Failed Root Canal treatment Causes
Traumatic dental injuries such as a crack in the affected tooth can lead to reinfection in the root. Some cases have complex roots, similar to twisted or narrow nerves. You may have further canals than the dentist anticipated. If your previous treatment is not maintained properly, it could lead to another infection that might affect the root canal.
Thus, visiting an endodontist for root canal treatment is better than seeing a general dentist- as Endodontists specialise in root canals and can guide you precisely on what needs to be done for complex cases like a failed root canal.
Your endodontist confirms the root canal failure by taking a dental X-ray. A failed root canal won’t get better without treatment. Let’s discuss the treatment options available for a failed root canal treatment.
Treatments for a failed root canal
Your endodontist will explain several options, including retreatment, apicoectomy and extraction. Retreatment is the most common procedure for failed root canals. Your endodontist will treat the infection and fill and seal it again to save the tooth’s integrity.
Read more about Which is the best option root canal treatments VS tooth extractions
Apicoectomy Treatment
An apicoectomy is performed by penetrating the infection through the infection. This system provides direct access to the infected pulp. Once the root’s tip has been removed, it’s filled and sealed. A few hours of rest is required to heal, and it is essential to maintain good oral hygiene to prevent any damage.
Root Canal Retreatment
The root canal retreatment procedure involves drilling through the crown and filling to remove reinfection. The tooth is refilled and covered with a new crown. A root canal retreatment has a success rate of around 90%. After the retreatment, the dentist will prescribe appropriate medications and mouthwash for maintaining your oral hygiene during the healing period.
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Tooth Extraction and Implant
If none of the treatments seems effective, then there is no other option but to extract the infected tooth. After extraction, the infected area is cleaned and prepared for a dental implant. An implant made of a titanium rod is fixed to replace your missing tooth. Most endodontists try to restore the natural tooth with retreatment, and this treatment is only recommended as the last alternative. tooth extractions
Conclusion
It can be frustrating to go through a failed root canal process, however, do remember that there are treatments to save your damaged tooth. We at Post House Dental provide the best dental services for all your oral issues. To learn more, visit our website!
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