The Symptoms of a Failed Root Canal

A root canal is the best treatment to preserve a tooth that has severe decay. Even though many people get stressed when they know they have to get a root canal in NW Calgary, the truth is that it is a successful procedure approximately 90% of the time, and it can be completed in one dental visit.

Root canal therapy is necessary when the pulp in the tooth becomes infected. If you are worried about pain, you can make sure that your dental professional will give you a local anesthetic; this way, you won’t feel any pain. Then, the dentist will access the canals to clean them and fill them with a biocompatible sealing material. If the tooth is too weak, it may be necessary to place a post before the sealing material. The final step is placing a temporary filling to protect the tooth. Afterward, you must replace the temporary filling for a permanent restoration — a dental crown.

Even though it has a high rate of success, there is always a minimal risk for root canal therapy to fail; hence, you must know what symptoms you might experience if this is your case, and why it failed in the first place.

Why Does a Root Canal Fail?

Root canal therapy can be compromised after it was completed. Let’s see what the main causes are:

• The crown breaks – The dental crown is as important as the root canal itself because if it breaks, the tooth gets exposed to bacteria and becomes re-infected.
• Inadequate cleaning – If your dentist misses an infected canal, a re-infection is likely to occur.
• Severe trauma or tooth decay – If a treated tooth gets exposed after an accident or tooth decay, the success of the root canal therapy might be compromised.

How Do I Know That the Root Canal Has Failed? 

If you experience severe pain after getting a root canal, you better contact a dentist near you as soon as possible. The following signs are typical due to root canal therapy failure:

• Swelling in the gum – you may experience swelling in the affected area.
• Severe pain – It’s normal that you feel some discomfort during the next 48 hours after the procedure; but, if days pass and you are experiencing severe pain, there might still be an infection.
• Thermal sensitivity – You might experience high sensitivity to hot and cold drinks and foods.
• Discoloured tooth – If you suffer tooth discolouration following root canal treatment, visit a dentist in NW Calgary to get it checked.
• A pimple that doesn’t go away – This can be a sign of drain pus; hence, a re-infection.
• Asymptomatic - In some cases, a tooth that underwent a root canal can get re-infected and show no symptoms at all.

You should pay attention if you notice any of the symptoms above after getting root canal therapy near you, and visit your endodontist right away. He/she will likely give you the following options to proceed:

• Retreatment – As the name suggests, it is a second root canal treatment. Your dental professional will remove the filling material and repeat the whole process.
• Apicoectomy – It is an endodontic surgical procedure that consists of the removal of the root tip and the surrounding infected tissue.
• Dental extraction – A dental extraction might be an option if the patient doesn't want to undergo another root canal treatment, or if the treated tooth has severe damage.

Every case is different, and every person may or may not experience symptoms if a root canal fails. What’s important is that you know how to recognize them so you can get assistance as soon as possible.

What Is There To Know About Root Canals?

Root canal treatment in NW Calgary is a dental procedure that is designed to remove the infected pulp and bacteria from the root of your teeth. Millions of teeth around the world are saved with this procedure. Sadly, not all people are willing to go through root canal treatment due to the common misconceptions about it. By explaining the nature of this procedure, we hope that more patients with decayed, damaged or infected teeth will consider this option.

Things You Should Know About Root Canals in NW Calgary

There are various reasons why the tooth’s pulp will be infected. You may have a chipped or cracked tooth, tooth decay, tooth trauma, or it can be caused by a recent dental procedure. If a patient is feeling severe pain in his tooth and the cause of that pain is an infection of the pulp, the dentist in NW Calgary will recommend root canal treatment. Here are more facts about this dental procedure that you ought to know.

1. Signs That A Patient May Need Root Canal Treatment

Not all forms of dental pain indicate a problem in your root canal. However, if there is an infection in the pulp, you may experience some symptoms such as severe toothache when you are applying pressure on your teeth. You will also notice that your teeth will become extra sensitive to cold and hot food. A bump that resembles the appearance of the pimple is also a sign that an infection is present. The swelling of the gums and darkening of the teeth may also be related to an infection.

2. Does it Hurt?

Before the start of the procedure, the dentist that specializes in root canals near you will administer anesthesia. Therefore, the root canal will not be painful unlike other dental treatment. However, you may still feel some discomfort and soreness if the effect of anesthesia subsides. Nonetheless, most patients can return to their work or school after getting root canal treatment. Note that you should only start eating if the numbness disappears.

3. How Much Does It Cost?

Aside from the fear of pain, most patients will also be worried about the cost that it entails. In reality, the cost of this treatment will vary depending on how intricate or complicated the problem is. If it involves your molars, the dental office near you will probably charge you more. Fortunately, there are dental insurance coverages that will help you shoulder the cost of this endodontic treatment. Usually, teeth restoration and endodontic procedures will be more affordable compared to tooth extraction. Once the tooth has been removed, it should be replaced with a bridge or implant to restore the function of the teeth and to prevent facial collapse which is an additional expense.

4. Does it Require Special Care?

Before the infected tooth can be restored by your dentist in NW Calgary, it is advised to avoid biting or chewing using the infected tooth. The affected tooth can be fragile and vulnerable to cracking and chipping. You will have to book for a dental appointment first and see if the dentist can fully restore the function of these teeth. Your tooth that has been fixed with root canal treatment should last long just like the rest of your natural teeth. However, there are some cases when reinfection can occur, and the dentist may conduct endodontic treatment once more.

Once the root canal in NW Calgary is finished, you should follow the instructions of the dentist. You may have to temporarily avoid sticky and hard food. Other than that, you should still brush your teeth at least twice a day.