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Is it important to finish the root canal treatment?

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My dentist started a root canal on one of my teeth but she couldn’t  finish it because the root was longer than expected. When she used longer files, I had a lot of pain. So she stopped. The office called my insurance company and got approval for me to see an endodontist. Is it really necessary to complete the root canal or can I just get the tooth capped? – Jade

Jade – A root canal treatment is performed because there is an infection in your tooth. In order to ensure that the infection is removed, the entire pulp of the tooth, including the tips of the roots must be cleaned out and sealed off. If you leave the tooth untreated, the infection will linger and there is a possibility of it continuing to spread.

The tooth will need to be protected with a dental crown, frequently called a “cap,” but it’s important to ensure the infection is removed first.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune, a New Orleans Magazine Top Dentist whom many patients think is the best dentist in New Orleans.

My tooth keeps bleeding

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What is the best medication to use in treating a constantly bleeding tooth? Every time I brush my teeth, a molar on the lower left bleeds really bad for about an hour. – Tim

Tim – If you are experiencing regular bleeding after you brush your teeth, you should see your dentist. If you don’t have a dentist, an emergency dentist will be able to see you. You can often receive an appointment the same business day.

It could be that the tooth is infected, or that your gums are bleeding as a result of gum disease. A dentist needs to examine the tooth and determine the cause of the bleeding. In the beginning stages of gum disease, a deep cleaning around the teeth and beneath the gums may be all that is needed. Oral antibiotics may be used after the deep cleaning to help control the infection.

You should see a dentist promptly so the situation doesn’t worsen and cause more problems. An infected tooth can result in a lot of pain. If there is an infection, it will continue to spread until the tooth is treated. A root canal treatment may be required.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune, whom many patients consider to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Best way to fix two loosened teeth

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I was involved in a domestic dispute over the weekend, the day after THanksgiving, and a blow to my mouth caused my front two teeth to loosen. I don’t want to be taken advantage of with dental work that I don’t need. I will be making an appointment this week, but will you please tell me what is the proper treatment for my teeth? Vanessa

Vanessa – We are very sorry to hear about your incident and the damage that it did to your teeth.

If the roots of your teeth are not fractured, a dentist needs to bond your teeth into the correct position so the bone will heal. Your teeth should be fine after that. You will need a follow-up appointment with the dentist to ensure there is no nerve damage to your teeth.

A root canal treatment will be needed if you do have nerve damage. If the root canal treatment is needed, the dentist will ensure that crown of the tooth is free of cement. This prevents the tooth from darkening with time. If your tooth was in good condition prior to the damage, it’s unlikely that you need a porcelain crown, which will likely weaken the tooth.

Best wishes on the repair of your teeth.

This blog post is sponsored by Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

 

What can be done if my root canal treatment didn’t work?

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I think that I got a bum root canal treatment. I had been reading about how not to worry about it because it’s a simple procedure but I have pain behind my ear on the same side as the tooth that had the infection. I went to an endodontist to be sure that I wouldn’t have no problems with it. The pain is not really all the time but every now and then during the day there is this sharp pain behind my ear. What can I do if the root canal didn’t work? – Tony P from Tennessee

Tony – It is possible for a root canal treatment to fail, but it might not be true in your case. Jaw or tooth problems can present themselves with pain behind the ear.

Regardless of the care that a dentist takes to clear the root of infections, there are times where all of the pathways cannot be reached. In those cases, a root canal treatment might not be successful. In rare cases, even an endodontist (root canal specialist) performs a root canal that fails.

You didn’t indicate how long it has been since you received the root canal treatment, but usually there are no symptoms of failure until an infection develops, which may take three to six months or longer.

It is best to return to the endodontist for him or her to exam your tooth to determine if it is the source of your pain. If infection is present, the endodontist will determine if another root canal treatment is required, if surgery is needed to access the root tip from the outside so it can be sealed, or if the tooth should be extracted and replaced with a dental implant or a dental bridge.

 

This blog post is courtesy of New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie