What Happens When A Second Root Canal Fails?
It's an unfortunate case when a tooth needs two or more treatments after a root canal. When you find yourself in this situation, you're probably not eager to spend a lot of time retreating your tooth. Here is some information about why this situation arises, and what you should do.
Reasoning for Multiple Root Canals
In certain situations, you can end up having multiple root canals on the same tooth. That happens a lot when you forgot to get the restorative crown put in place on a previous, temporary root canal filling. Biting down on a hard surface might also crack the crown and leave the tooth vulnerable to infection.
Botched root canals can also happen if the root canal was not successful due to an error on the part of the dentist; they may accidentally chip the crown or tooth, or leave a gap at the ends of the root, where infection can take place. There may also be a fluke mistake that causes lasting infections. For instance, in a small number of root canals, the metal edge of the filing tool can get lodged in a person's gums and be impossible to retrieve.
Ask for Reconciliation
Your new endodontist may ask you to reconcile the issue with your previous dentist if they caused an issue with your root canal. A root canal is a voluntary procedure, and dentists aren't obligated to take responsibility for a mistake. However, most dentists are proud of their work and are willing to try and make things right with a patient if their work causes further discomfort or pain. This means they may offer to redo the root canal or help pay for further treatment.
Get Treatment
A root canal that still includes an infected tooth is a bad situation. You have a few options, You could have the tooth extracted and treated for infection. This is the cheapest option on a tooth that's probably already costed you a lot of money. But it could be a bad solution for the surrounding teeth, which are now able to move around and take over the space left behind by that tooth. Another, more foolproof option is to have oral surgery; your dentist will extract the tooth and have a dental implant put in place. Yes, this will cost more money, but it has a much higher success rate. You shouldn't have to worry about your tooth again after getting a permanent tooth prosthetic, such as a dental implant.
For more information on the best type of treatment for you, contact a dental provider like DSW Dental.