NeuroTalk Support Groups - Root Canal Retreatment or Pull the tooth?

Hi tonyalmeida,

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

In the US tooth #26 is a lower right front lateral tooth. Outside of the US a different tooth numbering system may be used. I assume based on your description that your #26 is maybe a pre molar?

I am going to re post some of your thread and answer you in bold type.

<<I had a root canal on tooth number 26 (sort of in the top middle) eight years ago. I only put a crown on it about 5 years later I did the root canal (about 3 years ago)>>

ALL ROOT CANALED TEETH CONTAIN DEAD AND INFECTED NERVE TISSUE INSIDE OF THE TINY MICROSCOPIC CANALS BECAUSE THERE IS NO ACCESS TO THESE CANALS TO REMOVE IT DURING THE RC PROCEDURE. SO IRRELEVANT OF WHAT IS DONE TO THE TOOTH, IT WILL ALWAYS CONTAIN THIS UNHEALTHY NERVE TISSUE. SO THAT MEANS THAT THIS TOOTH HAS HAD A CHRONIC INFECTION IN IT FOR AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS.

VERY OFTEN TOOTH PROBLEMS DO NOT SHOW OBVIOUS SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS UNTIL THE PROBLEM HAS ADVANCED.

<<Now, currently, abscess has formed on the gum next to tooth 26.>>

THE ABSCESS APPEARS TO BE ON THE GUM NEXT TO THE TOOTH. HOWEVER, THAT IS JUST THE LOCATION THAT THE ABSCESS IS TRYING TO DRAIN FROM. THE ACTUAL INFECTION HAS BEEN BREWING INSIDE OF THE TOOTH FOR 8 YEARS AND THE "SYMPTOM" OF THIS INFECTION IS NOW VISIBLE ON YOUR GUM AS THE BACTERIA SPREAD FROM THE TOOTH, INTO THE JAW BONE AND NOW TRYING TO COME THROUGH THE GUM.

<<I have gone to my dentist and he thinks the chances of saving the tooth are slim. My general dentist recommends pulling the tooth and putting an implant in. My dentist has told me in his opinion a retreatment root canal has such a low chance that he is not willing to undergo the procedure.>>

THE WORD "SAVE" WHEN PERTAINING TO INFECTED OR ROOT CANALED TEETH SIMPLY MEANS "RETAIN". IT DOES NOT MEAN MAKE HEALTHY OR CURE. THERE IS ZERO CHANCE THAT A RE TREATMENT OF THIS TOOTH WILL ALTER THE CONDITION OF THIS TOOTH BECAUSE OF THOSE INACCESSIBLE TINY CANALS. THERE IS NO DENTAL PROCEDURE, OTHER THAN EXTRACTION, THAT WILL CURE THIS TYPE OF INFECTION.

<<However, my dentist has told me that if I wish to ensure that the tooth is not savable and for my own piece of mind, I can see an endodontist who will perform re treatment root canal if in his opinion it can be saved.>>

HE IS OFFERING THIS TO YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE UNDERSTANDABLY HESITANT TO REMOVE YOUR TOOTH. HE KNOWS THAT YOU WOULD BE WASTING YOUR TIME AND MONEY ON RE TREATING THIS TOOTH.

<<Now my only question is...should I get the endodontist's opinion (which will cost me a few hundred dollars just to get his opinion) or should I just pull the tooth and stick with my dentist's recommendation (without getting a second opinion)?>>

THERE IS NO DENTAL PROCEDURE THAT WILL CURE THE INFECTION BREWING INSIDE OF THIS TOOTH. NOT A ROOT CANAL OR AN APICOECTOMY WILL ALTER THIS TOOTH TO BECOME HEALTHY AGAIN.

<<The rest of my teeth are in good health. From what I have been reading retreatment root canals do not have a high success rate, but in your position, would you get the endodontist's opinion first, or just pull the tooth?>>

RE TREATMENT OF ROOT CANALED TEETH IS DONE TO PROLONG THE INEVITABLE, WHICH IS REMOVAL OF THE TOOTH. IT CANNOT "CURE" THE PROBLEM. SO THE "SUCCESS RATE" OF RE TREATMENT IS REALLY ZERO WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROCEDURE IS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE BACTERIA THAT IS CAUSING THE TOOTH TO BE INFECTED.

<<I'm looking for the most viable long term option, because honestly, after I am done with the root canal, it is going to cost me close to the entire removal procedure after the crown is put on it to.>>

THE HEALTHIEST LONG TERM SOLUTION IS TO CURE THE INFECTION WHICH MEANS TO REMOVE THE SOURCE, WHICH IS THE TOOTH.

REGARDING DENTAL IMPLANTS... ANYTIME A ROOT CANALED TOOTH IS BEING REPLACED BY A DENTAL IMPLANT THERE IS AN ELEVATED RISK OF BONE INFECTION AND FAILURE OF THAT IMPLANT SIMPLY BECAUSE THE BONE SURROUNDING THE RC TOOTH IS NOT HEALTHY. THE LONGER THE INFECTED TOOTH WAS PRESENT, IN YOUR CASE 8 YEARS, THE MORE DETERIORATED THE BONE BECOMES. WHEN THAT TOOTH IS REMOVED, THERE WILL BE SOME BONE LOSS AND THE AMOUNT OF LOSS CANNOT BE DETERMINED UNTIL THE TOOTH IS REMOVED AND THE AREA HAS HEALED FOR A FEW MONTHS.

THE BEST OPTION TO AVOID ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS IS TO REMOVE THE TOOTH, LET IT HEAL FOR 3 MONTHS, AND THEN HAVE AN XRAY DONE TO SEE HOW THE BONE HAS HEALED BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE IMPLANT.

PLACING AN IMMEDIATE IMPLANT IN AN AREA OF JAW BONE THAT IS NOT HEALTHY, CAN RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE IMPLANT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT CAN JEOPARDIZE YOUR HEALTH AS THE MULTIPLE STRAINS OF BACTERIA TRAVELS THROUGH YOUR BLOOD.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HEALTH ASPECT OF ROOT CANALED TEETH ... GOOGLE DR. MERCOLA AND ROOT CANALS.

I know this information is probably not what you expected to hear. Do as much research as you can and please keep your overall health in mind when you make your decision. Only you know what is best for you.

Bryanna