What happens when a root canal fails

Why would an old root canal start causing pain? What is the recovery time after a root canal? When should I Call my doctor if I had a root canal treatment? How dangerous are root canals?

A root canal fails when a tooth that has been previously treated with a root canal procedure becomes infected at the root.

If this infection is allowed to continue to develop without proper treatment, the infection can potentially spread to other teeth in the area or cause illness in other parts of the body. The procedure involves in the removing of the damaged area of the upper tooth, pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the region and then filling and sealing it with a cap. To perform a root canal , the dentist drills a hole in your tooth in order to expose the pulp cavity, the central chamber in your tooth that contains the nerve, bloo and lymphatic tissue that supplies your tooth with life-giving oxygen and nutrients. Tiny files are then used to remove the contents of this cavity. In this case, an old root canal that has failed is draining pus and infection from the tooth.

As the picture shows, the drainage presents as a pimple on the surface of the gums on the outside surface of the tooth. A root canal is likely to have failed if symptoms begin again and this can happen many years after the treatment was completed. Symptoms may be pain, tenderness on biting, swelling of the gum overlying the roots , increased mobility or the presence of sinus pus.

Cracked root : By root canal therapy, roots of the tooth become bit brittle and can fracture on chewing which can further cause failure of root canal treatment. Dental crown after root canal treatment prevents fracture of tooth on chewing. Fracture of the root may occur during root canal treatment procedure and cause root canal treatment failure.

Your crown has an open margin (in the location of the decay) and as such no longer creates an intact seal over the tooth. The tip of the root may be cut off and the area is cleaned and sealed from the end of the root. Sometimes, pain after a root canal can be difficult to diagnose and can be caused problems unrelated to the root canal treatment like gum problems, sinusitis, TMJ, pain from an adjacent tooth or heart attack. Endodontic treatment, commonly known as root canal treatment , is needed when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. Inadequate instrumentation (some amount of pulp tissue is still left which gets infected) 2. In some cases, retreatment is possible, but for others, tooth extraction and replacement may be necessary.

The treatment decision is a personal one, and no solution is right for every patient. While the procedure does have a high success rate, there may be canals or branches within the tooth that are impossible to detect. The infection spreads to these areas, causing you to feel continued pain in the tooth.

Root canals will fail if a small amount of bacteria is missed and it is packed into the tooth. The bacteria will continue to multiple and eat away at the tooth. When the root of the tooth is remove the tooth is now considered weak and can break over time.

A dental crown is used to protect the tooth,. A broken instrument being left inside the root canal.

A root canal failure occurs because bacteria remain present in the root canal, or find a way to re-enter the tooth after treatment. The tooth basically dies during root canals due to the removal of the pulp. This saves the tooth from infection but causes the tooth to become brittle. Crowns are recommended to strengthen the outer area of the tooth. Failed Root Canal When root canal treatment works, it is a great treatment–a great way to save your tooth.

However, in about to of the cases, a root canal or endodontic treatment will have failed. Root canal complications can cause a failed root canal , but the tooth has usually a second chance. If the treatment has faile the dentist will evaluate the condition of the tooth and the reasons of the root canal complications, in order to decide if the tooth can be saved.

Teeth with root canal often have a periapical abscess or other types of inflammatory tissues that must be carefully removed this is important for proper healing and regeneration of bone. Complete tooth removal –. Davis, Age 4 Encinitas, CA After undergoing two standard root canals , I was afraid to go back to the dentist when I started to feel pain again.