Separated instruments in canal spaces do not necessary mean anything more
than a less than perfect appearance on the x-ray image.  If the tooth is
failing and separated instruments are found, it is sometimes tried (removal
of the pieces) as a first  line of attack.  However, most failed RCT (in
this modern era) are due to tooth fractures un-related to the RCT itself.

On Oct 15, 9:37 am, "mpearl...@gmail.com" <mpearl...@gmail.com> wrote:

It really depends on the practitioner whether they will help you out.
If a patient of mine called me up and informed me that they had to see
an endodontist because of a failing root canal that I did, I'd be more
than happy to reimburse them the fee for the RCT towards the
retreatment if the cause was directly related to what I did.  It
doesn't happen very often so I think for the goodwill, it's not worth
keeping money for something I did that ended up not lasting a long
time for the patient.

You could tell the office staff about how much the retreatment is
going to cost you, and that you could have the endodontist forward her
findings to them to verify it if they wish.  They might only offer a
credit, but maybe ask if they could transfer the fee for the failing
root canal to the specialist to offset your costs because of the $800
hardship to you.

Usually if there is no hope or the chances are pretty bad, an
endodontist will tell you outright that an extraction is the best
option.  When they suggest that they could try doing the retreatment,
my impression is that there may still be a chance that it might work.
I don't know your endodontist nor your case details so it's like
asking some guy on the street whether you should go ahead with having
that heart transplant.  ;-)  You really have to decide whether you
want to spend the money and save your natural tooth or look at the
alternatives.

Also, talk with your dentist and ask his opinion.  He knows you, your
tooth, the specialist, and he can talk with the endodontist to find
out more if needed.  He probably can help you decide better than a
bunch of strangers here.  He's there for you, and you paid money to
see him.  Get him involved in helping you decide.

I wish we could get the endodontist on the line at sci.med.dentistry
and get the low down.  Sometimes the endodontist will lay out the
risks and complications facing you, and only after working on the
tooth a bit can they better judge what the outcome will be.  That one
irretrievable, separated instrument portion does worry me.

If you could get some funds back from the original dentist, it may
help your decision especially if say the retreatment then only cost
you $200 or $100 for example, wouldn't it?

Regarding fractures causing most root canal failures in modern times,
I'm not sure would agree with that 100% in my area at least.
Certainly it does happen often, but I find that other common causes
can be due to leaking coronal restorations, endodontic misadventures,
over and under fills, and hidden unobturated canals.

Zzzdentist
www.dentalminds.com

Well if they want that, they can try to go into the dental office
unannounced on Friday afternoon demanding to be seen right away to
have a bridge prepped right that instant.   ;-)

I actually meant *conventional* bridge, but you know how the
mentalmind does sometimes wander.  :-)

Zzzdentist, asleep at the drill and apparently the keyboard
www.dentalminds.com