I had a root canal treatment done several years ago. A couple of weeks ago it started hurting again. I went to see my dentist and he decided there was an infection there again and did what he called a root canal re-treatment, then prescribed me penicillin I had started to feel a little better, but then a few days later it started hurting again. I called him back and he told me that some people take longer to heal and because I had started getting better it will continue. I’m on day 13 and I am in more agony than ever. What do I do?
Patricia
Dear Patricia,
I’m so sorry for the pain you are in. It sounds excruciating. In actually, this should have already resolved itself. I don’t have much confidence in the way your dentist is handling this. The fact that you started to get better and then got worse is especially concerning. That’s a sure sign the infection is returning, not getting better.
Your dentist should have known this. This is especially true because when it comes to having a root canal re-treatment, they are only successful about 1/2 to 3/4 of the time. Chances of root canal failure go up with each retreatment. At the very least, he should have prescribed you a different antibiotic.
I’m actually concerned that the infection is back. I would consider this a dental emergency. Call an endodontist (a root canal specialist) and explain your situation. They’ll very likely call you in a new antibiotic in order to get the infection under control before they try another re-treatment. Just be aware, each successive root canal has less of a chance of being successful.
When a Root Canal Treatment Won’t Work
If the infection can’t be brought to a point of complete healing, you will have to extract the tooth. One thing to be aware of is it will be important to replace that tooth. This isn’t just for appearances sake, though that is important too. The longer that spot is open, the more your other teeth will shift and tip into the open spot.
Your best tooth replacement option is a dental implant. If that is an option for you, it would be what I recommend. It is the closest thing to having a healthy, natural tooth in your jaw again.
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