What to be done if a root canal fails, and is it painful?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been requested to have an apicoectomy on a tooth since the previous root canal treatment was unsuccessful. What needs to be done, and is it painful?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Upon review, these were the findings-

Root canal treatment failure in the affected tooth, along with secondary infection.

Specifically, these need to be performed.

1. Reopen the root canal, clean the debris, allow for total infection to be disinfected, and obturation of the root canal again. This is one option. In your case, as you have been asked for apicoectomy, it is done to seal the root apex from the oral environment and does not allow reinfection.

2. There is a need to detect if there are any lateral dentinal tubules of the root that may have caused root canal treatment failure.

3. IOPA (intraoral peri apical radigraphs) of the affected tooth it required. If the root canal treatment done earlier was more than three months old, any reinfection could be seen on an X-ray.

4. Reopening of access cavity, root canal, and obturation after thorough disinfection. Disinfection is a must. Pain relievers could be used for pain.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

An apicoectomy is not routine, and the procedure has to be approached by exposing the root apex, then cutting the root apex, and obliterating the exposed apex with filling to close from the oral environment and allowing the healing of the exposed procedural wound.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.