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Failed Root Canal - anyone had one fail??

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  • 08-08-2009 3:31pm
    #1
    Scarlett68
    Closed Accounts Posts: 166 ✭✭


    Hi Guys,

    had to have a root canal done on a molar tooth and two months down the line I still have sensation in it. After several return visits to my dentist to check for abcessess (there is none!) he maintains that i may have a micro crack in the tooth. He's not a b******* artist as I have researched this a lot and root canals fail for two reasons: 1) A missed root (which would lead to further abcesses or 2) a crack in the root. He has suggested, that given my level of discomfort is relatively minute, to crown it as it may help to keep the tooths structural integrity and help resolve the issue. A crown will cost E950 on top of the root canal which was E550. I am a bit reluctant to spend more on the basis of a "maybe". Has anyone else had this problem? And did it get resolved??

    P.S I dont want to get it extracted as it is the side of my mouth where i chew most of the time.
    Tagged:


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    #2
    BryanL
    Registered Users Posts: 1,124 ✭✭✭BryanL


    Crown it ASAP


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    #3
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,538 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    Agreed, all root canal treated back teeth (and most front teeth) should be crowned to avoid catastrophic fracture in the future, a quick fix is to get the dentist to put a orthodontic band around the tooth. If the symptoms abate, then this confirms a crack.

    Was the root canal done by a root canal specialist (endodontist) ?


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    #4
    Scarlett68
    Closed Accounts Posts: 166 ✭✭Scarlett68


    Kole Delicious Banner wrote: »

    Was the root canal done by a root canal specialist (endodontist) ?

    No, Fitzgeme but he did offer to make an appointment with one for me while he was on holidays if I needed it....so I felt that he really feels that he hasnt missed a root. He reiterated this offer on Thursday when I was with him if I felt I needed a second opinion

    Should I possibly be looking at getting a root canal done again by an endodontist, before the crown?? Id really appreciate the advice. I would HATE to lose this tooth or any tooth for that matter.


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    #5
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,538 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    Maybe Res-Ipsa our local endodontist can shed some light on this..........RES?


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    #6
    Big_G
    Moderators Posts: 1,589 ✭✭✭Big_G


    Agreed this sounds like a crack. Possibly a vertical root fracture. It would be prudent to at least get examined by an endodontist who will have a scope and high resolution digital radiography.

    This type of thing happens. It's unfortunate, but what is also unfortunate is often times there is no successful treatment, and treatment can be a bit of a guessing game.

    I have had this very issue arise twice. Once it was due to a slight overfill of the root canal, and the patient was happy to leave it as the symptoms were only very slight. The other was a vertical root fracture. Fortunately it arose before completion of the treatment and the patient opted to have the tooth extracted and an implant placed.

    Sorry for your bad luck, hopefully you have a successful resolution to this problem.


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    #7
    res ipsa
    Registered Users Posts: 692 ✭✭✭res ipsa


    Hi Scarlett 68,
    i would be reluctant 2 recommend a crown if symptoms are still present, as you imply it might be throwing good money after bad.
    I think I would go for that 2nd opinion with an endodontist.
    For the record, when I see cases like this, (some where I did the initial root canal), I usually end up removing the root filling & place a medicament for at least 3 weeks & then review as it is residual infection in the complex root canal systems that is usually the problem.
    Hope that helps!


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    #8
    Scarlett68
    Closed Accounts Posts: 166 ✭✭Scarlett68


    Thanks so much for that res ipsa. I suppose if I am being honest with myself I really feel that I should be going for that second opinion. I have the weirdest sensation in the tooth like the tooth itself is sore (...even when you are not pressing it upwards against the gum). The tooth feels no different really after the root canal than it felt beforehand (it was never bad just this weird sensation, an occasional low grade throbbing and a metallic sensation from it - does any of this sound familiar or make any sense???)


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    #9
    Scarlett68
    Closed Accounts Posts: 166 ✭✭Scarlett68


    I got an appointment today for an endodontist but its over a month and a half away.....now I am panicked about the structural integrity of this tooth. Is it normal to have such a long wait to see an endodontist????


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    #10
    res ipsa
    Registered Users Posts: 692 ✭✭✭res ipsa


    Yes, that is a long time to have to wait, especially if you are in pain.Did you make it clear that you were in pain to the reception staff?


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    #11
    Scarlett68
    Closed Accounts Posts: 166 ✭✭Scarlett68


    Yes Res I did and that was even stated in my dentists referral letter too.


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    #12
    res ipsa
    Registered Users Posts: 692 ✭✭✭res ipsa


    Scarlett68 wrote: »
    Yes Res I did and that was even stated in my dentists referral letter too.

    All endodontists will see someone in pain, you just need to ring the practice and make sure the endodontist is told you are in acute pain(if you are) and you need to be seen within 48 hours.
    If you don't get any joy, ask your dentist to ring the endodontist.
    Unfortunately it is a case of those who shout loudest get bumped up the list.
    Your first appointment will normally be for consultation & no treatment is usually carried out at this visit so it could be three months before you get treatment if you are not proactive.


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    #13
    busterh
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭busterh


    I had 2 failed attempts at a root canal on my left molar at the back and it cost me a fortune, about 500 euro, each attempt I was charged a huge amount even though they were unsuccesful. Finally I got an extraction which saved me from a third attempt and ALOT more money! The dentist will always make out it will be the end of the world if u lose the tooth but I've never felt better and I have a bit of change out of the whole ordeal!!


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    #14
    btkm8unsl0w5r4
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,538 ✭✭✭btkm8unsl0w5r4


    You are always better keeping your teeth if possible, thats obvious. Shame you could not keep yours, sometimes despite best efforts on the dentists and patients part treatment does not work, its the same in all medical/dental areas.


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    #15
    Big_G
    Moderators Posts: 1,589 ✭✭✭Big_G


    Wow, that's cheap. I just had a patient come in to me after two attempts and it cost her €1500 and I thought that was reasonable. Especially considering you only get the one tooth, and nothing in dentistry is as good as a natural tooth.

    I have a few patients that have a similar attitude. I would guess that a good few of them will be back in a few years time complaining that they don't want to transition to wearing full dentures. And I will say: sorry, there is very little I can do. Unless you want to spend €40000-€80000 on a full mouth rehabilitation at a specialist clinic.


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    #16
    res ipsa
    Registered Users Posts: 692 ✭✭✭res ipsa


    busterh wrote: »
    I had 2 failed attempts at a root canal on my left molar at the back and it cost me a fortune, about 500 euro, each attempt I was charged a huge amount even though they were unsuccesful. Finally I got an extraction which saved me from a third attempt and ALOT more money! The dentist will always make out it will be the end of the world if u lose the tooth but I've never felt better and I have a bit of change out of the whole ordeal!!

    I am sorry to hear you had a bad experience with root canal treatment. Molar root canal treatment is a technically difficult procedure and molar teeth often have 4 or 5 times as many canals as front teeth, some of which are smaller than a human hair and can only be detected with subtle colour changes visible under a microscope.
    Modern root canal when performed by a skilled operator using contemporary armentarium such as microscopes and other techie gadgets is MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN EXTRACTION in eliminating pain so please dont be put off by one bad experience.


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