ian27
04-13-2004, 03:15 PM
I recently had two root canals done on two separate teeth for an abscess. One of them seems to have worked but the other has failed, so I spoke to my dentist today about extracting the tooth. She seemed quite reluctant to do it and is encouraging me to have a 2nd root canal done on the same tooth. In my opinion if it's gone wrong the 1st time, it could well do on the 2nd time round too, whereas if I have it extracted that's the end of the problem - correct?
I was wondered if anybody else had any experience of this and whether it was a positive or negative one? Any advice?
Ian
I was wondered if anybody else had any experience of this and whether it was a positive or negative one? Any advice?
Ian
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Dance4jc
04-13-2004, 10:53 PM
Ian,
I have done both at different times. In one tooth after it failed I had a second root canal because it was a better options for me at the time instead of having it pulled. The second tooth was a back molar which already was not of much use since I did not have a tooth on the bottom for it to do me any good, so with this one I had it extracted.
Honestly it is best to try and keep your teeth as long as you can. I have lost many and spent WAY to much money in my mouth :(
If you are not sure if your dentist knows best, try to see an endodontist and get their opinion.
Good Luck
I have done both at different times. In one tooth after it failed I had a second root canal because it was a better options for me at the time instead of having it pulled. The second tooth was a back molar which already was not of much use since I did not have a tooth on the bottom for it to do me any good, so with this one I had it extracted.
Honestly it is best to try and keep your teeth as long as you can. I have lost many and spent WAY to much money in my mouth :(
If you are not sure if your dentist knows best, try to see an endodontist and get their opinion.
Good Luck
indy gal
04-13-2004, 11:46 PM
Try and see if they will retreat it for free. After having endodontic surgury to remove the root tip of an abscessed molar, I continued to have problems. Since the previous procedure had maxed out my insurance for the year and didn't tecnically "solve my problem", the endodontist offered to re-treat the root canal for free. It is always worth a shot. Having the tooth extracted should be a last resort. (Had mine been the last molar in my mouth, perhaps I would have pulled it, but then I would have had to worry about a bridge or an implant. Too much hassle in my opinion).
MAPLMN
04-14-2004, 12:43 PM
I had a root canal redone and it still bothered me so they ended up cutting the root tip (apicetomy) sp. I have had ongoing issues with it. It is best to try and keep the tooth but all of these procedures are expensive. Unfortunately even when you have insurance you reach your max awful quick. If I had to do it all over I don't think I would have had mine redone as it wasnot successful. That's my experience, yours may work, it's hard to know what to do.
JenniferWalker
04-14-2004, 02:22 PM
Unfortunately, doctors often fail to let patients know up front that the success rate of root canals is about 90%. Any procedure is not a guarantee, despite the best effort.
I would say if its a front tooth, I would try to retreat it. Again, maybe not all of the tissue was removed the first time around and it reabcessed. Like another said, if it was a 2nd molar and was not being used, then I would consider an extraction.
It depends on what you would do with that space if it was pulled? If you can afford a bridge, then that is an option.
Your finances are certainly a big factor as well as your expectations.
Also, if this is a general dentist you are seeing, ask if she would refer you to an endodontist, even just for an evaluation. They do have special training in this area, but you will pay a great deal more for it though.
Sorry I couldn't give a direct answer to your problem.
I would say if its a front tooth, I would try to retreat it. Again, maybe not all of the tissue was removed the first time around and it reabcessed. Like another said, if it was a 2nd molar and was not being used, then I would consider an extraction.
It depends on what you would do with that space if it was pulled? If you can afford a bridge, then that is an option.
Your finances are certainly a big factor as well as your expectations.
Also, if this is a general dentist you are seeing, ask if she would refer you to an endodontist, even just for an evaluation. They do have special training in this area, but you will pay a great deal more for it though.
Sorry I couldn't give a direct answer to your problem.
brwneyez9
04-14-2004, 03:46 PM
Unfortunately, sometime a root canal is not scuessful the first time. Sometimes what happens if the nerve of the tooth is removed during a root canal.Like others have said maybe it wasn't cleaned out all the way before it was filled. When the nerve of the tooth is removed the canal is now like a straw(hollow). So the canal after the nerve and infection is all cleaned out they place a filling into the canal. In my office we use a filling material is has to be heated and then placed into the tooth it's called guta percha. It is usually organe. That is heated and then placed in each canal. Molars have 3 canals sometimes 4. A premolar has 2 canals sometimes it can have just one. Then any tooth in fornt of that have 1 canal. Sometimes when the guta percha is placed into the canal it may not get to the end of the canal or it may come out the end of the canal. If it doesn't get to the end of the canal this leaves space in the canal where infection can still get into. Which can lead to another abcess/infection. When it comes out the end it could cause the tooth to hurt also. There are alot of things to consider before you have a tooth removed. Like what tooth is it, where in your month is it located. I don't agree wiht pulling a tooth if there is another option out there that is better for you and the tooth. If it's not the farthest tooth back(last tooth) then you have to think about shifting of the other teeth. If the tooth has other teeth around it what could have are those teeth start moving into that space. It usually happens with the tooth behind the one you have taken out. There is also the problem of what is under that tooth. Do you have a tooth that chews with that tooth? If you do then you have to think about the tooth supererupting. Meaning when you take the tooth out above it the one it chews with the tooth wants to fill in that spot. So the tooth starts erupting up to fill in the messing space. Which in both these case could cause you to loose more then if it supererupts to much so the tooth shifts to much. If that tooth where to shift to much then you could loose chew ability with that tooth.Also very time you take a tooth out you loose bone in that area. Your teeth help keep the bone there ( unless you have gum disease) and your teeth and bone keep your facial features. It is completely your discussion on what you what to do.Good luck. Just give it alot of thought. You can always have a tooth taken out but you cannot put the tooth back(the real thing). again good luck.
ian27
04-14-2004, 04:16 PM
Thanks for all your advice. Argh, I really don't know what to do for the best. The tooth in question is one on the front on the bottom, so if I get it pulled it is going to look pretty awful. The cost isn't too much of a problem because I'm living in the UK and have an NHS dentist which means my fees are somewhat reduced. My dentist has offered to build me a bridge if I decide to have the tooth extracted. I've always said that I would never attempt to retreat a root canal as I've done this with one of my molars and it failed, so I've had a bad experience of it. But now that the situation has come up again I'm kind of tempted to give it another try. Although my family are giving me quite a hard time about it saying I'm a fool to try to retreat it and should just extract the thing and be done (I think they're sick of hearing me go on about it). If I was to try to retreat it and it failed I would never hear the end of it. It's a tricky one.
Has anybody had any success with a retreated root canal? My appointment isn't until a week on Friday so I still have quite some time to make up my mind.
Has anybody had any success with a retreated root canal? My appointment isn't until a week on Friday so I still have quite some time to make up my mind.
brwneyez9
04-14-2004, 07:46 PM
I have never had a retreat done, but i know patients that have and everything went great no more problems.There is always that chance. You had one retreated unsucessfully. The other thing to think about is the same dentist retreating the tooth that retreated your other rct(root canal). Even is that same dentist do the retreat that did the rct. How long ago was this rct done the first time? My dentist is a general dentist which means we do everything in our office. We do rct,but he will not retreat them. He will send it to a specailist(endodontist). Even if it's an rct that we retreat in our office the first time(sometimes he works something out with the specailist or the patient about the money factor) he refers out to the specailist.If money isn't a factor than i would go with the retreat.Good Luck. Don't let your family or anyone else make this discussion for you. It is your month and tooth. Go with what you think is right. I am glad to know that with everyone on this board you are well informed of the pros and cons on the retreat and the extraction. Alot of people make this move without all the information. Maybe that is what you should do weigh the option write down the pros and cons for each for you. Maybe that will help make your mind up.Goodluck
ian27
04-17-2004, 02:35 PM
Thanks for all the advice. I had a chat with a couple of mates the other evening and asked them what they would do, and they both said that if they were my position they would try to save the tooth. So I contacted my dentist the following day to ask her advice and she strongly advises me to go for the retreat, and she even said that she will only charge me half the fee if I choose to go down this route - which I thought was good of her. So I'm becoming more swayed to giving it another go. I don't have to make the decision until Friday - and knowing me I still won't have made my decision when I arrive at the dentist and will be asking people in the waiting room what they would do:) I really need to sort myself out!
brwneyez9
04-17-2004, 04:52 PM
Don't let others talk you into something. Just get information the facts.Like you know it is a fact that the tooth is close to the front and people will notice it's gone. Other facts our that the teeth behind it shift and the tooth above it could supererupt. you cannot get that tooth back once it's out and you will loose the bone in that area that the tooth was. If you decide to have it out you could get a brigde this would keep the other teeth from shifting, but won't stop the bone loss. If money isn't at concern and your dentist has offered to do it at half price. Then me personnally i would have the retreat. I would have the retreat no matter what. I work in this field and know alot about what could and couldn't happen. If you at least do the retreat and it doesn't work then you could have the tooth out. Then at least you know that you gave it all you could to save the tooth. Good Luck. I hope it all comes out well for you.
HELLOKITTEN
04-19-2004, 03:21 PM
The dentist should explain all the pros and cons of EXTRACTION OR REDO RCT to the patient and let the patient decide. I can't really say that if you should or should not but patients often think that pulling a tooth out would solve all the problems and this is not the case. Root canal is not cheap but if you choose extraction, you may want to also considering getting a pvc (crown) afterward because the teeth right next to it would tend to collapse towards that empty space after extraction. If the extracted tooth is one of your lower teeth, the tooth right above that tooth would also tend to move downward. That can case a lot of problems. Now if you get a pvc, there involves many steps and take time. Many visits and often the problems with the crown and need to be sent back to the lab. The whole process from making an impression to do a crown to actually getting a well fitted crown can take up to one month or sometimes more. Of course a dentist would suggest redo RCT because just like a Vet, if a pet can be saved, the Vet would want to save it instead of putting it asleep. As for patients, $ and time would also need to take into consideration.
Thanks
Joyce
Thanks
Joyce
ian27
04-23-2004, 02:25 PM
Quick update: I've been to the dentist today to have this abscessed tooth sorted out and have come home with the damn thing still in my mouth. Basically, I had a chat with the dentist and it was decided that I should have the tooth extracted but if I wanted to replace it with a bridge or a false tooth I would have to wait another week until they have made me the temporary false tooth which would have to go in for 3 months. She said she couldn't take the tooth out and then give me a false tooth later as my gums will shrink and teeth will close together so it wouldn't fit or something.
Anyway, I asked if I could have some more antibiotics for the pain until I could get the tooth extracted and she refused because I have already had two loads of antibiotics and she didn't want to give me any more. Now I've got the bloody awful abscess pain again and have to wait until 4th May - what should I do?
Ian
Anyway, I asked if I could have some more antibiotics for the pain until I could get the tooth extracted and she refused because I have already had two loads of antibiotics and she didn't want to give me any more. Now I've got the bloody awful abscess pain again and have to wait until 4th May - what should I do?
Ian
martid
04-24-2004, 01:23 AM
Hi Ian, did she give you anything for pain?? you said antibiotics for pain, but antibiotic do not get rid of pain. As far as not pullling the tooth until you are ready to replace, she is right about the fact that your gum will shrink and the rest of the teeth will close in if you wait too long to replace it, it's too bad it had to be in the front of your mouth. It could also be that she is waitting for the infection to go away before she extract it ??.Have you had that dentist a long time ? This may be the perfect time to get a second opinion if you don't feel good about her treatment plan of if you doubt her in any way. Sure hope you feel better soon, a toothache is las thing anyone want to experience I know. By the way I'm from France originally, are the dential healthcare in the UK as bad as it is in France, I hope not, I have nothing but nightmares and bad memories from France's dental healthcare. Martid
ian27
04-24-2004, 10:54 AM
Bonjour Martid,
After yet another sleepless night of pain I decided to go and see the emergency dentist this morning to get something for the pain. She took one look at it and said that I have massive swelling and prescribed me antibiotics and pain medication for it and said that it would be unwise to pull it out at the moment anyway because it wouldn't numb up properly. It's strange because when I see my usual dentist she doesn't seem to know what she is doing sometimes!
Anyway, on another note - I actually used to live in France until 1993 when I moved back to the UK. My experience of French dental healthcare was awful and it cost a fortune. In fact I remember I had an overlooked abscess which went on for months despite my constant visits to the dentist he thought the pain was in my mind. When I returned to the UK the dentist took it out right away as it was so badly infected. So on that scenario, yes the treatment in the UK does seem to be much better.
Ian
After yet another sleepless night of pain I decided to go and see the emergency dentist this morning to get something for the pain. She took one look at it and said that I have massive swelling and prescribed me antibiotics and pain medication for it and said that it would be unwise to pull it out at the moment anyway because it wouldn't numb up properly. It's strange because when I see my usual dentist she doesn't seem to know what she is doing sometimes!
Anyway, on another note - I actually used to live in France until 1993 when I moved back to the UK. My experience of French dental healthcare was awful and it cost a fortune. In fact I remember I had an overlooked abscess which went on for months despite my constant visits to the dentist he thought the pain was in my mind. When I returned to the UK the dentist took it out right away as it was so badly infected. So on that scenario, yes the treatment in the UK does seem to be much better.
Ian
martid
04-24-2004, 12:05 PM
Salut Ian, glad you at least got something for pain. Have you checked into an implant to replace that tooth when it's gone. I know they are expensive here and I hear they are just as expensive in the UK. It just beats a bridge since they don't have to alter the other teeth next to it to anchor a bridge. I've had multiple implants placed thanks again to lousy dental care growing up, now I'm paying for it, thousand of $ in implant restoration. Oh well. Where in France did you leave ? I'm from Nancy, Lorraine and hoping to get to come home this year if all my dental work does get in the way. My periodontist says I'll probably set off the security system with all the implants in my mouth (smile) Great !!! I hope he was jocking. Bonne journee, Marti.d
ian27
04-24-2004, 01:36 PM
Hi Marti,
Yes, implants are very expensive here, about £1500 I think. At the moment I'm not too bothered about what replaces the tooth, I just want rid of the pain then I can get on with my life again. I seem to have had so much time off work with this that my business will start to suffer if I'm not careful.
I take it that you are currently living in the US and may be moving back to France - correct?
I lived in two different places when I was there. A place called Dreux which is about 60km west of Paris and a small town called Nuits-Saint-Georges near Dijon (it is famous for it's wine). I have never been to Nancy though. But I LOVE France (not the dentists though). I have some of my best memories and closest friends there.
I'm actually leaving the UK soon and emigrating to Australia. I believe that dental healthcare is rather expensive in Oz though which is why I'm trying to get most of my dental work done here before I go:)
Speak soon.
Ian
Yes, implants are very expensive here, about £1500 I think. At the moment I'm not too bothered about what replaces the tooth, I just want rid of the pain then I can get on with my life again. I seem to have had so much time off work with this that my business will start to suffer if I'm not careful.
I take it that you are currently living in the US and may be moving back to France - correct?
I lived in two different places when I was there. A place called Dreux which is about 60km west of Paris and a small town called Nuits-Saint-Georges near Dijon (it is famous for it's wine). I have never been to Nancy though. But I LOVE France (not the dentists though). I have some of my best memories and closest friends there.
I'm actually leaving the UK soon and emigrating to Australia. I believe that dental healthcare is rather expensive in Oz though which is why I'm trying to get most of my dental work done here before I go:)
Speak soon.
Ian
martid
04-24-2004, 03:06 PM
Hey Ian, no I would never move back I love it too much here and have been here much to long, this is home. Australia ?? Sounds like fun, I've always loved to travel and see new places. I hear New Zeland is the new California or frontier for smart and educated people. I guess thats what they want to recruit over there now, very smart move if you ask me.... I know what you mean when you say you just want to get rid of the pain. How about the pain killers, do they work yet ?? Should also help if you can find something over the counter to sort of numb the gum around the tooth. We have something like this here, I think it's calle embesol or something like that (don't know the spelling). Always hate the fact that since english is not my first language, my spelling is lousy. Hope no one makes fun. Yes I love France too, but not anough to go back and live there. Hope you tooth get taken care off so you can have a great week-end. Marti.d