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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / October 2005More Dumb Questions: Do Root Canals Go Bad?
Do root canals go bad, fail, need to be redone, go off or what ever the right term is? Would having the tip of the canal not being filled with the canal filling material cause problems? Would a tooth with a bad root canal hurt like hell for a day or so and then stop hurting? I am aware that it would be best if I brought the teeth in question to be inspected in person, but Iack dental insurance. I'm trying to figure out just how deeply in debt I may become. I have excellent medical coverage, though, and since the root of the primary tooth in question (#11) enters the problematic nasal sinus, I hold out hope.  Signature"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner." - Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather >Do root canals go bad, fail, need to be redone, go off or what ever the >right term is? They sometimes go south. This is why there are os many people in Florida. They want to follow their teeth. >Would having the tip of the canal not being filled with >the canal filling material cause problems? Would a tooth with a bad root >canal hurt like hell for a day or so and then stop hurting? This is normal. There are nerves in the alveolus (jaw bone). Joel PS~ Ask Ann for the rest of the answer. She thinks I am odd anyway, so let her jump in and explain the normal answer. >I am aware that it would be best if I brought the teeth in question to >be inspected in person, but Iack dental insurance. I'm trying to figure >out just how deeply in debt I may become. I have excellent medical >coverage, though, and since the root of the primary tooth in question >(#11) enters the problematic nasal sinus, I hold out hope. > >Do root canals go bad, fail, need to be redone, go off or what ever the > >right term is? > > They sometimes go south. This is why there are os many people in > Florida. They want to follow their teeth. Damn, and to think I went west. No wonder I'm short seven teeth (true, four were widom teeth, and I have most of the rest in a drawer). > >Would having the tip of the canal not being filled with > >the canal filling material cause problems? Would a tooth with a bad root > >canal hurt like hell for a day or so and then stop hurting? > > This is normal. There are nerves in the alveolus (jaw bone). I thought the jaw bones were the maxilla and the mandible ... Wait, I think you're telling me that the tooth socket has nerves, even though the tooth itself shouldn't after a root canal, right? I'm not kidding when I say I'm full of dumb-a.s questions. > Joel > > PS~ Ask Ann for the rest of the answer. She thinks I am odd anyway, so > let her jump in and explain the normal answer. Oh, I know you're odd, but you're also quite helpful. Thank you. Signature"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner." - Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather > Do root canals go bad, fail, need to be redone, go off or what ever the > right term is? Sometimes. Would having the tip of the canal not being filled with > the canal filling material cause problems? Not necessarily. My old professor Dr. Kedeshian told me (in his charming Armenian accent) "It is not important what you put into the canal. It is important what you take out". This may be a bit of an overstatement. Leaving a canal unfilled means that tissue fluid can flow back into the canal space, where it can decompose and become an irritant. However, I have seen many, many underfilled canals with no apparent problems afterward. Would a tooth with a bad root > canal hurt like hell for a day or so and then stop hurting? \ The only rule is that there are no rules. You may have a chronic low-grade infection with no perceptable pain ever. Or you may have mild discomfort with no other evidence clinically or radiographically that there is any problem. Steve > I am aware that it would be best if I brought the teeth in question to > be inspected in person, but Iack dental insurance. I'm trying to figure > out just how deeply in debt I may become. I have excellent medical > coverage, though, and since the root of the primary tooth in question > (#11) enters the problematic nasal sinus, I hold out hope. Signature{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}} {\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.15.1507;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20 Remove "nospam" to reply\par } > > Do root canals go bad, fail, need to be redone, go off or what ever the > > right term is? > Sometimes. In the broadest general terms, are there any warning signs that the tooth owner would notice, or is this something that, in general terms, is usually noticed by a professional upon examination? > Would having the tip of the canal not being filled with > > the canal filling material cause problems? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > decompose and become an irritant. However, I have seen many, many > underfilled canals with no apparent problems afterward. I wondered, since the last time I had dental insurance, I was told in tones of doom that that crown, post and canal would cost me even more money in the future due to the space at the end of the tip. It *is* a lousy crown, and when it didn't fit, the tech ground down one of my few intact natural teeth to get my mouth to close around the crown until I suggested she take down the back of the crown. Should have been my signal to say thank you and leave, but I didn't know any better then. But I digress. > Would a tooth with a bad root > > canal hurt like hell for a day or so and then stop hurting? > \ > > The only rule is that there are no rules. You may have a chronic > low-grade infection with no perceptable pain ever. Or you may have mild This is not mild. The pain is worse than passing a kidney stone (which I do with regularity) and prevents sleep. > discomfort with no other evidence clinically or radiographically that > there is any problem. Thank you for your reply and information. I have been treating like a sinus infection (since I do have cheekbone pain when the tooth hurts) and see my internist, and it seems to respond well to antibiotics. Signature"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner." - Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather > In the broadest general terms, are there any warning signs that the > tooth owner would notice, or is this something that, in general terms, > is usually noticed by a professional upon examination? Either or both. Right now, my wife is getting discomfort around one root of an upper molar treated by an endodontist almost a year ago. She's had the discomfort all that time, more or less unchanged. There is tenderness over the tip of the root. At this point that is clear evidence that something isn't right. When the root canal was done, there was a clear area of bone resorption at the tip of one root. Over the months it has diminished slightly on x-ray. Shrinking of such a periapical radiolucency is usually a good sign, but with the discomfort something will have to be done. Often I see the reverse--no discomfort, but clear expansion of a radiolucency. You've got to use all the information you've got, and try to make the best decision open to you. >> Would having the tip of the canal not being filled with >> [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > This is not mild. The pain is worse than passing a kidney stone (which I > do with regularity) and prevents sleep. This is somewhat unusual for a failed root canal. Usually a tenderness to pressure, maybe pain to biting pressure. I hope that root fracture can be ruled out. Steve >>discomfort with no other evidence clinically or radiographically that >>there is any problem. > > Thank you for your reply and information. I have been treating like a > sinus infection (since I do have cheekbone pain when the tooth hurts) > and see my internist, and it seems to respond well to antibiotics. Signature{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}} {\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.15.1507;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20 Remove "nospam" to reply\par } >> In the broadest general terms, are there any warning signs that the >> tooth owner would notice, or is this something that, in general terms, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >periapical radiolucency is usually a good sign, but with the discomfort >something will have to be done. Missed canal, MB2 ? MB root fracture ? Send me a film or post it here. > Often I see the reverse--no discomfort, but clear expansion of a >radiolucency. You've got to use all the information you've got, and try [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] >> sinus infection (since I do have cheekbone pain when the tooth hurts) >> and see my internist, and it seems to respond well to antibiotics. -- W_B Take out the G'RBAGE wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com >>>In the broadest general terms, are there any warning signs that the >>>tooth owner would notice, or is this something that, in general terms, [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Send me a film or post it here. I guess I've already violated HIPAA. ;-) Anything's possible, but this endodontist is a pro, working with a microscope, the whole thing. The lucency is at the apex of the MB root, so I couldn't r/o an MB2. I doubt it's a root fracture though. Steve >> Often I see the reverse--no discomfort, but clear expansion of a >>radiolucency. You've got to use all the information you've got, and try [quoted text clipped - 51 lines] > Take out the G'RBAGE > wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com Signature{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Arial;}} {\*\generator Msftedit 5.41.15.1507;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs20 Remove "nospam" to reply\par } >> Missed canal, MB2 ? >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >Steve Then I would seriously consider apico of just the MB root. Sinus proximity ? -- W_B Take out the G'RBAGE wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com > >> The only rule is that there are no rules. You may have a chronic > >>low-grade infection with no perceptable pain ever. Or you may have mild [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > to pressure, maybe pain to biting pressure. I hope that root fracture > can be ruled out. Thank you again for replying. I have had a root fracture in my now absent #4, and while the pain in/around #11 can be excruciating, it is nowhere near as bad as a root fracture. I know I need to see a dentist, but you have helped ease my mind about just how much trouble I may be in for with this tooth. Signature"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner." - Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather |
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