Is Root Canal Retreatment really needed?

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DoktorDB - 16 May 2007 15:12 GMT

I have a molar on the lower left side of my jaw that had root canal treatment
30 years ago. Last week the acrylic face started coming off and the dentist
is sending me for retreatment of the root canal.

Is it necessary? The tooth has two silver points in two roots which look
fine on the xray. The third root has some kind of resin but is incompletely
filled. There is a gap in the third root. Since resin material settles -
wouldn't this gap have been created 30 years ago? Why mess with it now?

There is no pain, no sensitivity to hot or cold, no discomfort at all. Only
the acrylic on the outer face of it broke apart. The rest of the cap is
still holding on tight. There is no "looseness" in the tooth. Is that
enough of a reason to undergo retreatment?

Thanks for your help.

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Amatus Cremona - 16 May 2007 15:20 GMT

Post an x-ray image and we can give some useful advice. Without it, we are
whistling in the dark.

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/

Amatus

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>I have a molar on the lower left side of my jaw that had root canal
>treatment
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Thanks for your help.

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DoktorDB - 16 May 2007 16:57 GMT

>Post an x-ray image and we can give some useful advice. Without it, we are
>whistling in the dark.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>>
>> Thanks for your help.

I wish I had access to my xrays. I'd really like to know if this "gap" just
happened or if it has been that way for 30 years. If it has, why bother it
now?

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Mark & Steven Bornfeld - 16 May 2007 15:25 GMT

> I have a molar on the lower left side of my jaw that had root canal treatment
> 30 years ago. Last week the acrylic face started coming off and the dentist
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks for your help.

    Given your very legitimate questions, you deserve a comprehensible
answer from your dentist.
    Statistically, they say that "silver wires always fail eventually".
However, I've seen old silver-wire endos (no one's done them in years in
the states) that have no evidence of breakdown after 30 years.
    Of course, Murphy's law applies, and sometimes redoing the crown will
stir things up, and that will make the NEW dentist look bad. No one
likes surprises.
    As AC says, I'm whistling in the dark (I like to do that sometimes),
and an x-ray would help. So would your dentists rationale.

Steve

Signature

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

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DoktorDB - 16 May 2007 17:00 GMT

>> I have a molar on the lower left side of my jaw that had root canal treatment
>> 30 years ago. Last week the acrylic face started coming off and the dentist
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
>Steve

So far all I have from my dentist is there is a gap in one root of a tooth
with an old root canal and so I must go to the endodontist. Does the
endodontist always do a retreatment?

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Mark & Steven Bornfeld - 16 May 2007 20:56 GMT

>>> I have a molar on the lower left side of my jaw that had root canal treatment
>>> 30 years ago. Last week the acrylic face started coming off and the dentist
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> with an old root canal and so I must go to the endodontist. Does the
> endodontist always do a retreatment?

Only where warranted.

Steve

Signature

Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

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Newbie - 17 May 2007 15:23 GMT

>> So far all I have from my dentist is there is a gap in one root of a tooth
>> with an old root canal and so I must go to the endodontist. Does the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>Steve

And the criteria is "can the RCT be improved ?" for
conventional re-treatment.

If not and there is a problem, the feasibility of endodontic
surgery is then considered.

After that about the only thing left is extraction.

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Newbie - 16 May 2007 19:12 GMT

>I have a molar on the lower left side of my jaw that had root canal treatment
>30 years ago. Last week the acrylic face started coming off and the dentist
>is sending me for retreatment of the root canal.
>
>Is it necessary?

Unable to tell you without at least an x-ray.

> The tooth has two silver points in two roots which look
>fine on the xray. The third root has some kind of resin but is incompletely
>filled. There is a gap in the third root. Since resin material settles -
>wouldn't this gap have been created 30 years ago?

Maybe

> Why mess with it now?

Good question.

>There is no pain, no sensitivity to hot or cold, no discomfort at all. Only
>the acrylic on the outer face of it broke apart. The rest of the cap is
>still holding on tight. There is no "looseness" in the tooth. Is that
>enough of a reason to undergo retreatment?

Maybe, maybe not.

You could ask the dentist to try refacing the crown.

Sometimes when you disturb a sleeping dog you end up getting bitten.

>Thanks for your help.

Wish there was more help to offer you.

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