Root Canal problems

Idiom

I got a root canal done about 2 months ago. Got it in the bottom back right, the one just before the wisdom tooth.

I was getting a few fillings done aswell, but when it came to the root canal they had to get a specialist in to do it. She broke the drill off in my tooth and i think she tried to cover it up, only for the some french assistant one who said "oh oh its broken" i would prob not have known, lol. She said it happens somtimes but not to worry and she left the drill in and finished the canal.

All done, all fine and no pain at all, until about 1 month later i start getting absolutely vicious pain in the tooth from either hot or cold. I nearly died from pain a couple of times, was worse than anything even in dentist and happened every time i ate. It died down and went away after about 2 weeks, and then everything was fine again.

Just the other day the tooth started to cause pain again, but this time its not hot/cold, its physical pain from biting down on it. This is very annoying and painful and is currently causing me to eat on one side. I think this pain will not go away either, its here for good.

Must ask a few questions -

I have a few ideas about whats causing this, but would like peoples opinions?

Did i get a crap root canal from somone who might not have been suitable?

If i have to go back to the dentist, and i can prove that the problem is their fault, are they under any obligations to fix it for free or extract for free? (root canal + cap / 350 + 250 = 600 euro was the cost).

If its not resolved, can i sue? (i dont want to, but if i pay 600euro to get screwed i might consider).

Incase its an infection, whats the best over the counter stuff i can get from pharmacy?

Oral Surgeon

Welcome to Boards op but stand down the legal team for now....

Sorry to hear that you are having problems.

First, you should check if it indeed was a specialist endodontist who did it.

Odd that you had hot and cold pain as the nerves are gone!! More classic to hear of the pain and tenderness to bite on- this is textbook root canal failure.

Root canals need to be done because the tooth is compromised by decay, a deep filling or trauma to begin with. If you are in root canal territory, the only other treatment option is an extraction... While you are pointing fingers, you also need to accept that you are in this position because of your own decay etc etc...

That said;
Root canals done correctly have a 90-95% success rate so all patients (in their already compromised position) need to accept that 5-10% do not succeed. I wouldn't expect a refund but a clinic may decide to do a free re-treatment or extraction or come to some arrangement as a gesture of good will.

Fractured instruments (probably a file) happen but usually not to experienced operators. Endodontists have the kit and skill to remove fractured instruments so you can certainly question this as a role in the failure. Back when I did some general dentistry and some root canals- I fractured a file in a canal, stopped straight away, put in a temporary filling, referred to a specialist endodontist and didn't charge for that visit- problem solved for all.

Go back and have a chat to them. Ask if the fractured file was a factor. Ask if an endodontist should be involved or what can be done to resolve this issue... If you stomp your feet and demand your money- you'll get nowhere.

As for over the counter stuff... Painkillers for now. If it becomes swollen, you'll need a prescription for antibiotics. Sounds like you need operative treatment to clear this up.

Good luck,
OS

Idiom

Thx for reply.

Yeah it was weird with the hot/cold sensitivity because i thought it was just an empty tooth. I did read somwhere that it could be to do with a neighboring tooth or some nerves in the gum. Its completely gone now tho so its not a problem. Could it have been an infection that cleared up?, as there must be some reason why it stopped.

The pain now is just the pressure pain, which is strange aswell because it only started very recently and there was zero pain beforehand, even right after the procedure and for the first few days there was no pain at all. How can that be? Im wiggling the tooth right now actually, it dosent hurt when pressed down, but hurts when moved side to side or pressed at an angle, maybe that can give an idea or what the problem is.

If i have to get that tooth out, a tooth that just cost 600 euro, ima gonna bust some heds :mad:. Thx for reply again.

Oral Surgeon

The hot/ cold thing is a red herring I think...

There are a few reasons for having a painful tooth to move/ bite or tap.

High bite on the tooth, maybe the new filling is too high and needs to be adjusted down?

The tooth is fractured and the pain is caused by differential movements along the gum/ ligament of the tooth.

The root canal has failed or is failing.

Unfortunately, you need to be seen again to check these out and treat accordingly....

OS

btkm8unsl0w5r4

OP sorry your having trouble with what is usually a very predictable treatment.

It would be very odd that a specialist would not be able to retrieve a separated instrument using their microscope & special instruments, but usually the instrument is sterile and can be filled around to seal to canal system properly. The amount of money you spent is very low for this treatment, I would suspect that at 350 for a molar root canal you were not at a specialist, and 250 for a cap (crown or filling?, because it should have a crown to avoid breaking in the future if it has not already?) If by that you mean a crown then that will be a total POS also. If you were mislead into thinking that the person was a specialist then thats a major issue however the extremely low price is a hint. A endodontist would charge between 700-1400 for the root canal alone, that may seem expensive but you would not have problems now and looking at even more expensive retreatment.

Idiom

Why is the hot/cold sensitivity a red herring? That maybe she missed a canal or somthing?

The tooth was very badly damaged, the middle and the side of it were gone and it was gaping open, hence the crown was needed and not a normal filling. The broken drill was fused to the tooth so it could not be retrieved.

Thx for replies guys, i might go to a different dentist to see what the problem is before i go back to them, just to make sure they dont try and pull a dirty one on meh ;P.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Look idiom, a 250 euro crown and a 350 euro molar root canal is a ridiculously low price, probably in a high speed, low cost clinic using the cheapest low quality lab work and no investment in the latest technology, techniques or equipment. And certainly not attracting skilled, experienced dentists or specialists.

A specialist molar root canal and a good quality crown with a general dentist would cost around 1400 euro minimum and take at least 4 visits spread out over several months to check the root canal is good before crowning.

You may have tried to find a cheap dentist, but unfortunately you found one, my advice is find a decent dentist and get it fixed forget about this expensive mistake. Nothing is more expensive than buying cheap.

Idiom

I wont mention the clinic for obvious reasons, but its a pretty good one that does alot of buisiness in a large population zone. Its defo not a back street operation.

2 visits for the root canal and a third for the cap.

Ill post again when i find out what the problem is.

davo10

Idiom, firstly files do break in canals, the more convoluted/curved the roots are the more difficult it is to get the files down the canals to clean them. When a file breaks it may not necessarily effect the outcome of the root canal treatment. If rubber dam was used and the canal was cleaned and irrigated with a sterilizing solution prior to file fracture, the file actually forms a very effective seal at the apex and in these cases the incidence of future problems is less than 3%. Files do break and it is not negligent, in fact contrary to what was said above, endodontists break files occasionally in canals but they are able to work around them with the specialist equipment they have. I had reason to discuss this with an endodontist recently and he said that size 30 new files are the ones that are most commonly broken by endodontists.
If the tooth was sensitive to hot/cold the the tooth in front and behind should be investigated. Tenderness can be due to inflammation at apices of roots/grinding/biting something hard on a particular tooth and slightly inflamming the supporting periodontal ligaments/fibres/cuspal fracture etc. Go back to the person who did it, describe the symptoms, they will examine you and take x-rays and go from there. Do not shoot the dentist yet as your pain may have nothing to do with the treatment provided.

Susie564

Miranda Straight Spot wrote: »

Look idiom, a 250 euro crown and a 350 euro molar root canal is a ridiculously low price

I paid 520 for my root canal nearly two years ago, and that was just with my own regular dentist. No problems with it since but I never had a crown on it. He did say at the time that I may need one in the future. I've been back a couple of times since and he's not mentioned it again although he always checks it (well he kind of taps at it and asks me if it's sore - I guess this is how one checks a root canal???). This forum always makes me worry that I should have one

Idiom

I forgot about this thread, oops.

It was an infection at the tip of one of the roots. Two weeks of augmentine antibiotics and the problem is gone.

Chances are it will come back at some point in the future, but until then, it was 600euro well spent, and i still have all my lovely teeth .

Gunnygirl

Idiom wrote: »

I got a root canal done about 2 months ago. Got it in the bottom back right, the one just before the wisdom tooth.

I was getting a few fillings done aswell, but when it came to the root canal they had to get a specialist in to do it. She broke the drill off in my tooth and i think she tried to cover it up, only for the some french assistant one who said "oh oh its broken" i would prob not have known, lol. She said it happens somtimes but not to worry and she left the drill in and finished the canal.

All done, all fine and no pain at all, until about 1 month later i start getting absolutely vicious pain in the tooth from either hot or cold. I nearly died from pain a couple of times, was worse than anything even in dentist and happened every time i ate. It died down and went away after about 2 weeks, and then everything was fine again.

Just the other day the tooth started to cause pain again, but this time its not hot/cold, its physical pain from biting down on it. This is very annoying and painful and is currently causing me to eat on one side. I think this pain will not go away either, its here for good.

Must ask a few questions -

I have a few ideas about whats causing this, but would like peoples opinions?

Did i get a crap root canal from somone who might not have been suitable?

If i have to go back to the dentist, and i can prove that the problem is their fault, are they under any obligations to fix it for free or extract for free? (root canal + cap / 350 + 250 = 600 euro was the cost).

If its not resolved, can i sue? (i dont want to, but if i pay 600euro to get screwed i might consider).

Incase its an infection, whats the best over the counter stuff i can get from pharmacy?

Hey, the very reason I came on this is because it happened me too. I know it can happen as its a very fragile thin drill bit. My dentist tried to recover it for half an hour & could not get it. She showed me the x ray of it afterwards and it can be seen perfectly. She said I shouldn't ever have a problem because of it as the drill bit covers the hole to where my nerve was. That was 8 months ago. I'm just back from holidays today & when we were landing I got this pain in the exact spot where the drill bit is. Its like a very sore bruise and when I touch it its like I'm pressing a needle Into my jaw. When I open my mouth or tilt my head its sore. Just wondering has anyone else experienced the same.
Yes it was from a proper qualified dentist.
Thanks