If you don't complete the root canal that you started, the tooth may become infected. The infection can spread to other parts of your mouth, such as your jawbone and the surrounding tissues. It may also cause severe pain and swelling in the tooth and mouth.
What Can Happen if My Root Canal Was Left Partially Done? During a root canal the infected area is cleaned out and sealed. If the root canal is not complete this can allow bacteria to enter the area again and cause infection. The infection can spread to other areas of the mouth or jawbone.
It's also possible for a second, separate occurrence of decay or injury to the tooth or crown to undo the effects of successful treatment. It may be necessary in these cases to conduct a second root canal treatment, one that may be more complicated or challenging than the first one.
During the second appointment, the temporary filling is removed. The tooth is then filled with a permanent filling. If the dentist deems necessary, prior to the filling being placed, a pin will be placed inside the tooth to ensure its integrity.
This visit is normally a lot easier to complete in comparison to the first stage of the root canal treatment that you have already gone through. Another reason why it's less painful is that the nerve tissues were already removed during the first visit. This makes numbing the tooth a lot easier the second time around.
The maxillary molars, especially the second molars, have the most complicated root canal system in permanent dentition. There are many variations in canal number and configuration in maxillary molars. Treatment may be unsuccessful because the dentist may fail to recognize the unusual canal configuration.
Serious Or Prolonged Pain 1-2 Weeks After Treatment Is Not Normal. If you have severe, sharp pain, or pain that's still very intense up to 1-2 weeks after your treatment, this is not normal at all, and it indicates that your root canal has failed, and the infection is still present in the tooth.
Root canal reinfection isn't common, but it isn't unheard of either. Root canal procedures are overwhelmingly successful; however, a previously treated tooth can become reinfected days, weeks, months, or even years after the initial procedure.
Typically, a root canal procedure requires one or two visits. Each visit can vary between 30 to 90 minutes on average.
Although highly angled canals are rare, when they exist, the probability of needing a repeat root canal increases. Retreatment has a 50 – 75% success rate. And if a highly skilled dentist performed the first root canal treatment, a second one might not work.
Root canal therapy is recommended when teeth can be saved with treatment, while an extraction is performed when the tooth's structure is too damaged, or a crack goes beneath the gum's surface, not leaving enough structure for stability or use after the repair.
Your dentist may be responsible for a bad root canal treatment. It ultimately depends on why your root canal failed. If your dentist did not provide an acceptable standard of treatment or live up to their duty-of-care mandate, you might incur unnecessary pain and suffering with root canal complications.
A root canal retreatment may be necessary if a previously root canal treated tooth fails to heal or if a recurrent infection is evident. Root canal treatment has a very high rate of success, but as with other medical or dental procedures, infection or inflammation may persist or recur despite our best efforts.
Tooth Pain After Root Canal: An Incomplete Root Canal
Similarly, if the dentist happens to miss any of the damaged nerves inside the tooth that need to be removed, you may still experience pain when that tooth comes in contact with heat, cold, or something acidic.
On average, a tooth can last between 10 to 15 years after undergoing a root canal treatment. However, the lifespan can increase significantly if the dentist includes a dental crown along with the treatment.
Most root canals can be done in one to two appointments. The first appointment is the procedure itself when the infected pulp is removed. The second (and maybe third) appointment is when the root canal gets cleaned and filled with a crown or other filling to prevent infections.
How many dental visits does a patient need for root canal therapy? Two visits for most patients. The first visit is when the actual procedure will be performed and the second visit is when the patient will undergo necessary tooth restoration.
A dentist can repeat a root canal treatment on a tooth two or more times. While teeth that undergo a root canal procedure can last a lifetime, some of these teeth may not heal properly due to salivary contamination and other reasons.
While it does not happen very often, it is possible for a tooth to still get infected after undergoing a root canal procedure. There are a few different reasons why re-infection can occur, making it essential for every dental patient to understand these reasons so they can avoid experiencing another tooth infection.
Although it is not common to get an infection after a root canal treatment, it is a possibility. Infections can result from bacteria entering the tooth and soft tissue during the treatment, a slight perforation to the soft tissue of the tooth and/or inadequate initial root canal therapy.
You should avoid biting on hard foods until your treatment is complete. After your final treatment, your restored tooth should no longer be painful, although it may feel sore for a few days. You can take over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to relieve any discomfort.
Root canals are considered to be the most painful because they require removing the nerve tissue on a tooth's root. The removal of the nerve tissue is not only excruciatingly painful but also commonly leads to infection.
If a dentist drills too deep, he or she might cut through the bottom of the tooth. This can create an infection, swelling, and failure of the procedure. A failed root canal may lead to loss of the tooth, damage to the jaw bone, and gum issues.