Hi I have a 4 year old root canal and crown and yesterday was told I have an infection under the root canal in the bone. The fix was to clean out the root canal and get rid of the infection or take out the tooth. The tooth clean is over $2000. Ant advice on the best way to go would be great. Mark

Hi Mark,

I'm in the dental field and can clarify what it means to have an infected root canaled tooth.

The infection is actually inside of the tooth and it has spread into the jawbone. This is a common problem with root canaled teeth because the infected nerve material cannot be cleaned out of the canals completely which means there will always be some degree of infection inside of the tooth irrelevant of the number of times the tooth is root canaled. So a re treatment will not "clean out the root canal" or remove or decrease the infection in the tooth.

Sometimes a surgical treatment called an apicoectomy is suggested. This procedure is very painful, very costly, and will not remove or decrease the infection inside of the tooth.

The source of the infection is the tooth which means the infection will be present as long as the tooth is present. The only sure way to remove the infection is to remove the to remove the tooth.

I know this is not the news that you want to hear..... but I hope this information is helpful to you.

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,

My name is Ken
I had a root canal in Nov 12, the a crown in early Feb 13. Now i have infection adn of course my dentis has referred me to an endo dentist for a $2000 re-canal job which I hear you saying probably won't work. He also gave me a precription for penicillin.

It sound like the best course of action is to have my $1000 crown extracted.

WHy are dentists allowed to do so many root canals if they almost alwayd get infected???

Ken

The reason these specialists re-do RC is that there is alot of money to be made. In my own research, I believe it. I put in about 2,000 on one tooth that did not hold up and got infected anyway. The infections can't be treated deep within those canals, they just don't tell you that. My own dentist, told me that as well as Bryanna. I had mine out, end of pain, end of problem, end of the money drain which really made me upset. I have a partial now and am happy to be back in shape. Best choice I ever made. I wish the professionals would be honest, but I have not found that to be what they do. ginnie

Hi Ken,

Your question....
<<WHy are dentists allowed to do so many root canals if they almost always get infected???>>

ANSWER....
ENDODONTIC THERAPY (ROOT CANAL TREATMENT) IS THE MOST LUCRATIVE FORM OF DENTISTRY AND MOST PEOPLE CAN BE SOLD ON THE TREATMENT NOT JUST ONCE, BUT TWICE.... SOMETIMES THREE TIMES. THERE ARE INSTRUMENTS THAT NOW ENABLE A DENTIST TO PERFORM A ROOT CANAL IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW MANY PATIENTS CAN BE SEEN IN THE COURSE OF ONE DAY... AT APPROXIMATELY $2000 PER PATIENT.

SECONDLY, MANY PEOPLE DO NOT ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCEDURE BECAUSE THEY ARE USUALLY IN PAIN AND ARE SCARED TO DEATH TO LOSE THEIR TOOTH.

THE DENTIST USUALLY FAILS TO INFORM THE PATIENT THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE ALL OF THE INFECTED NECROTIC NERVE MATERIAL FROM INSIDE OF THE TINY CANALS AND HOW THIS BACTERIA WILL PROLIFERATE FROM THESE CANALS INTO THE PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT... INTO THE JAWBONE... INTO THE BLOODSTREAM.... AND OFTEN BEYOND.

THEREFORE THE PATIENT IS ALSO NOT INFORMED OF THE SYSTEMIC CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH RETAINING THIS INFECTED TOOTH.

IN DENTISTRY WHEN THE WORD "CURE" IS REFERENCED WITH REGARD TO THE ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE OR APICOECTOMIES OR ROOT AMPUTATIONS... IT SIMPLY MEANS NOTHING MORE THAN "RETAIN".

MY STANCE ON THIS SUBJECT IS SIMPLE..... INFORM THE PATIENT ABOUT THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE PROCEDURE AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RETAINING AN INFECTED TOOTH..... OFFER OPTIONS SUCH AS REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT... AND LET THE PATIENT DECIDE WHAT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST. IF THE PATIENT DECIDES TO STILL GO AHEAD WITH THE ROOT CANAL TREATMENT, AT LEAST THEY HAVE BEEN HONESTLY FOREWARNED.

HOPE THIS ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION....

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,
I just found this site, and you sound really knowledgeable. I have been having health problems for while, which have gone into my nervous system, and my best guess up till now, has been that they are related to chronic lyme disease. (I had a tick bite that remained red for a year, and I got sick around that time. However, tests were negative. Antibiotics helped but never totally cleared up my symptoms, so I have been trying with herbs and other naturopathic remedies)

But things are pretty bad now, and I am wondering about a different hypothesis. I just heard a friend's story about her long term chronic health problems (in her case bad migraines), which she finally discovered were due to infections underneath root canals. She had her root canaled teeth removed, and they cleaned out a lot of diseased toxic stuff under there, and her headaches went away. She sent me a link which alerted to me to the fact that there are often hidden infections underneath root canals, and which can lead to a variety of health problems, including neurological issues. Right now I feel like I have a permanent feeling of some kind of infection -- almost like I am drunk, tired, achy, and I have neuropathy in my hands and feet. ( I do not have diabetes-- been checked.)

I have one root canal, and it's been in the years since I had it that I have been feeling worse, which is also the same time period since I had the tick bite. But I have not had any particular teeth problems. How could I tell if I have an infection under my root canal?

thanks,
john

Hi John,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some help here.

First as you have already learned on your own, root canaled teeth are a frequent source of toxic bacteria. Because it is not possible to remove all of the diseased nerve tissue from the microscopic canals, root canaled teeth are chronically infected. So the infection that is often seen on the xray of a root canaled tooth appears to be underneath the tooth. However that darkened area does not mean the tooth is healthy and the infection is limited to just that spot. It means the tooth is over whelmed with bacteria and it is spreading beyond the tooth. I just want you to be clear on that. When the tooth is removed, the oral surgeon is suppose to then thoroughly debride (scrape out) the diseased tissue, cysts and bone. That is what your friend described to you.

Regarding your tooth.... irrelevant of whether the xray shows an area underneath or not, all root canaled teeth are diseased as I have explained above.

You do not have to have oral pain or other tooth related symptoms with an infected tooth. Again, all rc teeth are infected irrelevant of symptoms.

Anytime you become ill with a chronic or undiagnosed condition such as Lyme disease your immune system is going to be strained. Because the body knows where the weak areas are (ex: root canaled teeth) it is not uncommon to have a systemic consequence or complication due to the original infection. Meaning your tooth could be contributing to your overall ill health and may actually be what is preventing your immune system from dealing with the Lymes. All infections in the body will become friendly with each other..... like a symphony.

I would suggest that you see your dentist for evaluation of this tooth. However, I warn you that if he does not see clear evidence of an area underneath the tooth, he will probably tell you the tooth is fine because most dentists only look for obvious pathology even though they know that rc teeth are chronically problematic. It is then up to you to decide if you feel this tooth is a contributing factor to your ill health.

I would also suggest that if you decide to have this tooth removed, that you only see an oral surgeon for the removal as they are often better equipped to remove rc teeth. Make sure he knows that you want all diseased tissue and bone removed after her removes the tooth. This is suppose to be done every time without question...... unfortunately it is not.

The other thing is the Lyme.... I think it may behoove you to retest for Lyme disease. See a specialist if at all possible because there are specific tests that only they know to do.

I'm sorry you are feeling so poorly. I urge you to move forward with this tooth and the Lyme dr as soon as you can. Please check back with us and always feel free to ask your questions here.

Bryanna

Hello, Bryanna, I browsed this entire thread, and I am so thankful that you graciously provide such pertinent information. I am a 26yo college student and have no dental insurance. I have a dental discount plan, and that's it. I went for my 6mos cleaning and checkup in late August and discovered a bunch of issues and began a treatment plan.

I have always had trouble with my teeth because I am a grinder/clencher. I have been so my whole life, but only recently got a mouth guard in 2012. It has helped immensely since then, but a lot of damage had already been sustained. I have 3 RC'd teeth in my mouth currently and 2 or 3 silver fillings from when I was a kid. I wish I'd seen your info before I'd gotten my most recent RC on tooth 7 (which was about 3.5 weeks ago). The tooth had no bulging infection visible on the x-ray, but a very small filling I didn't need had been placed right on top of the nerve (I got this done abroad, and the dentist thought he was "helping" me by filling in a small area of staining in my tooth without permission. The tooth had no decay. It had given me no issues for a year or so after, so I thought all was well). It became extremely painful (though not while chewing) to the point that it hurt to place my mouthguard on, yet at the same time, the pressure from me clenching while asleep produced throbbing pain when I awoke. So, I had it RC'd and all pain/sensitivity is gone. I never received any antibiotics or oral pain meds before or after the procedure. I actually did inquire about a dental implant but the dentist said, you're far too young to need something like that etc...

I was also told around the same time (and saw the x-rays for myself) that my RC'd tooth from 2009 was re-infected (I believe tooth 31 or 30). It had a very tiny area of darkness near the tip of the root filling. I was also told (and again shown) that this happened because the Endo who filled it, didn't fill the entire canal like he should have. And indeed, when you see the x-rays, the left side of the tooth is not as... "filled" as the right side. They told me it would be easy to "save" my tooth with another RC because the infection wasn't widespread (I lol at that after reading what you've written in this thread).

Well, I wasn't sure what to do, and was told I had time to wait since the infection wasn't "bad." In fact, up until this very night, the tooth had been asymptomatic. Tonight, after pressure on the tooth from lack of a mouthguard (have to get another one made due to the recent RC), I assume, I woke up with it throbbing to the touch. I began researching re-infected RC'd teeth and happened across this thread.

I definitely don't want to get another root canal. I am thinking that because the infected area is so small, I probably would be able to get an implant without needing a bone graft. I am a generally healthy person who has a lot of subsequent dental problems from clenching and grinding. However, your post concerned me in regards to implants because it seems they have a very high risk of failing when replacing a root canal? I am absolutely AGAINST any type of denture/partial denture/or bridge. I want something that will stay in my mouth forever. I'm too young to worry about removing dentures and all that.

Funny, while researching, I also came across a Yahoo Answers thread: Should I get an implant after a failed root canal? (I can't post the link because I'm new); And it just makes me wonder why some dentist are intent on RC's. The first DDS that responded to the young woman didn't have anything to gain financially and yet still told her to try and save the tooth as a first line of treatment... WHY don't all dentists know what you know Bryanna??

I am so afraid & frustrated. I figure I can take out some sort of care loan to pay for all this, so I'm not as concerned about the money. I just want a healthy mouth, and I feel screwed with both options. I just want to burst into tears thinking about it

Hi Pallas,

First let me clarify that ALL dentists do know what I know about root canaled teeth. Conventional minded dentists rarely if ever offer their patients the information that I do. Why?.... 1) root canal therapy is very profitable 2) it takes time to educate a patient about the risks associated with root canals 3) to say that the procedure is flawed could create a huge stir as dentists have been selling this procedure for many years without offering any information about them. So if you go on any blog online that has conventional minded dentists who are offering information.... most likely all of them will suggest root canal therapy.

FYI.... The tooth that was root canaled in 2009.... has been unhealthy since the rc was performed if not sooner than that depending on what was wrong to begin with. It is not a question of the canals being partially filled or the procedure being done wrong.... it is the simple fact that a tooth can never be sterilized and made well again because the tiny canals called dentin tubules cannot be cleaned out. Along with that fact the blood vessel supplying the tooth with nutrition and vitality gets permanently cut off during a root canal procedure. Many other negative issues follow eventually rendering the tooth very unwell.

Regarding the placement of a bone graft after an extraction... this should only be done when the bone is believed to be healthy and when the surgeon feels that the site would be compromised if the graft were not done. The graft is meant to encourage the growth of new bone which can be beneficial when the time comes to actually place the implant.

Regarding the placement of an implant in the bone where there had been a root canaled tooth..... The reason it is risky is because the bacteria from the tooth proliferates into the jaw bone. There is no guarantee that the bone will ever be completely healthy again once the tooth is removed. The one thing to take in to consideration is that the longer the rc tooth is present, the more diseased the bone becomes. Everyone has an individual healing response which mostly depends on the health of their immune system.

Generally it is not ideal to extract an rc tooth and place the implant immediately. It is often better to extract the rc tooth and monitor the healing of the bone for 3-6 months before placing the implant.

I caution you about purchasing a dental plan on your own. If you buy something inexpensive and have to see a participating dentist.... the dentistry will not not be very good. These plans offer very low benefits.... so the dental work will reflect that. If you purchase a plan with decent coverage and the freedom to see the dentist of your choice then the premium for these plans will be fairly high. So you really have to weigh the pros and cons as the insurance may be too costly for the benefits you will get out of it.

I know this a bit scary but educate yourself as much as you can about root canaled teeth so that you can make decisions that are truly in your best interest. Sites like Dr Mercola and Dr George Meinig .... are two places that give the most factual information.

Please keep us posted on everything....
Bryanna

my dentist removed my infected root canal tooth last night. it was a horrible experience that took over an hour to complete as the tooth got pulled piece by piece. I also got diagnosed with a double lung infection several days ago. could the lung infection have stemmed from the infected tooth??