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Dental Health (Expert Forum)
failed root canal
Answered by
Matthew Baron, D.M.D. - Dental
Questions in the Dental Health forum are answered by Dr. Jerome Tsang and Dr. Jerome Bogin. Topics covered include bridges, cavities, crowns, and x-rays.
failed root canal
by ljd, Mar 02, 2007 12:00AM
Hi
I had a root canal last year in top molar 14. A few months later I went to for my cleaning and mentioned a pimple like object on my gum. I was told it was normal. Now at my next 6 month checkup I again mention my pimple and was told it is a fistula from the root canal. I was referred to an oral surgeon for an apicoectomy. My question is should I have been referred long ago? I have had this infection for just about 1 year. Do you think the surgery has a chance of being successful? My appointment is next week. Thanks for your help.
I had a root canal last year in top molar 14. A few months later I went to for my cleaning and mentioned a pimple like object on my gum. I was told it was normal. Now at my next 6 month checkup I again mention my pimple and was told it is a fistula from the root canal. I was referred to an oral surgeon for an apicoectomy. My question is should I have been referred long ago? I have had this infection for just about 1 year. Do you think the surgery has a chance of being successful? My appointment is next week. Thanks for your help.
Doctor's Answer
by Matthew Baron, D.M.D., Mar 02, 2007 12:00AM
, Mar 02, 2007 12:00AM
But the other two, they were getting worse and worse and worse and my dentist just kept wanting to "watch it" and finally I'm the one who took myself to an oral surgeon who agreed that both of those two (not the third) were in definite need of apicos. The procedures went great and those two teeth haven't felt so good in years and years.
That oral surgeon, and another before him (I went to while living elsewhere for something else) both said when I'd questioned them about it that a lot of general dentists like to take the "wait and see" approach but in the long run usually oral surgery like apicos are needed. My dentist was right about one (the first one above my front tooth) but wrong about the other two, because they ended up needing it.
So, if you are at your regular cleaning and have anything questionable, make sure to talk DIRECTLY to the dentist and don't trust the hygenist's judgement.