Did you know when you get a root canal performed on your infected tooth, it’s not always guaranteed to work? Five percent to 15 percent of all procedures fail, leaving you not only in physical pain but emotionally distraught as well, especially if you have dental anxiety like I do! I suspected I had a failed root canal and I’m glad I stuck with my gut instinct otherwise I could be facing some serious and potentially very serious health hazards had the infection lingered. Here’s what to expect when this happens:
Common Causes
Not Thoroughly Cleaned
A root canal will fail if it isn’t cleaned properly. Sometimes our teeth have a hidden hairline root that the dentist has a hard time detecting on the x-ray machine. All areas, even hairline thin, need to be cleaned in order for it to work. Other times if you have a curved root, it can be difficult to get the dental instruments down far enough. If you have difficult teeth, your dentist may refer you to an endodontist like I was (though my endodontist laughed at how easy and straight-forward my roots were and how any trained dentist could have not cleaned them thoroughly!).
Broken Dental Tools
As scary as this may sound, the most common root canal complication occurs when the dental instrument breaks inside the tooth, the dentist doesn’t notice, and the tooth is sealed shut. I personally know of one woman who this has happened to.
Extensive Decay
Sometimes if the tooth is so far beyond repair and almost entirely rotted out, no treatment will be able to save it. Your dentist may try, but sometimes an extraction is necessary.
Symptoms
Persistent pain
While pain for a day or two after the root canal is completely normal, especially around the gum line, it should not last longer than a week or two. When the dentist removes the entire root and infected pulp, there should technically be nothing left that would cause you discomfort. Consider you might have a failed root canal if the pain doesn’t seem to die down.
Never-Ending Abscess
This was what really convinced me my infection was still running rampant. Before getting the procedure I had a lump on my gum called an abscess. The dentist told me it was essentially a bacteria-filled puss pocket from the infection that was bulging outwards giving the appearance of a pimple on my gum. When a root canal is successful, the abscess slowly heals because there is no more infected pulp for the bacteria to thrive on. I waited about a week and noticed it hadn’t improved, so I called my dentist. He told me to wait another week or so. Over a month passed and there was still no improvement. My dentist thought I was just exaggerating, but I insisted on an x-ray. Lo and behold, my infection was still there and I was referred to an endodontist, or specialist in root canal therapy.
If you discover you still have an infection, there are three options:
1) A second root canal (and crossed fingers)
2) An apisectomy, or endodontic surgery, to remove the tip of the root through your gums.
3) Extraction
Your dentist will help you determine which route is best for you.
After my second root canal and several thousands of dollars later (and that’s without the crown), the abscess finally went away and my tooth was saved. I divorced myself from my old dentist and couldn’t be happier with my new one. If you think you still have an infection, listen to your gut instinct. It never hurts to ask for an x-ray just to check — that is, unless you have a failed root canal!
