All kinds of interesting questions come me almost on a daily basis and it is amazing how many repeat themselves over the years. I guess that is why they are called frequently asked questions. A little while ago a patient came in and required a root canal. When I told her she required a root canal treatment she asked me "my friend had a root canal treatment and she said that after the treatment the tooth just fell out. Is that what happens?" I smiled at the patient ( I have heard this question before) and told her that this was not true. I had a root canal in a front tooth of mine when I was about 9 or 10 and it is still there almost 40 years later (yes now you can figure out how old I am). Many times people do not realize that a tooth that has had a root canal must have a filling and crown placed on this tooth. This is because teeth that have root canals are usually broken down or have large fillings to begin with. When the root canal is done even more tooth structure is taken away to do the root canal. So what you are left with is a severely weakened tooth. You must first restore the tooth with a filling and possibly posts and pins, then the tooth must be crowned to hold it all together. This is the case for posterior teeth, front teeth may be different due to the function of these teeth. In any case a tooth that is not properly restored after the rootcanal is in danger of breaking and eventually being extracted. I have seen it happen literally within a week of completing the root canal and we didn't have enough time to place the crown. Those are really sad cases because the patient did not neglect the treatment but just didn't have enough time to finish it. In other cases this may not occur for years but many times a patient will come in saying they have broken a tooth and of course it is a rootcanal tooth that did not have the crown that we recommended. I always tell my patients having root canals on their back teeth that they will need crowns after the root canal treatment.
In short I assured my patient that teeth that have root canals do not just fall out after the treatment!
http://www.rondentist.com/
i had root canal treatment done and three weeks later my filling fell out, i am now left with the root of my tooth which cant be removed and so i was informed by my dentist that my gum would have to be cut to remove the root. i am now in a lot of pain in the tooth next to the affected one, it feels like it could explode. Do you think there could be an infection?
ReplyDeleteDear cad_p,
ReplyDeleteSorry for getting back to you so late but yesterday was quite a hectic day at the office.
You have a number of possibilities here and without seeing and checking, I can’t tell you for sure. But lets go over a number of possibilities.
If your tooth feels like it is about to explode then there is building pressure somewhere and until that pressure is relieved you will not feel better.
The pressure can be in the tooth itself or at the end of the root. If the pressure is in the tooth, it needs to be opened and a root canal treatment done. If the pressure is at the end of the root you may still need a root canal. All this assumes that it is the tooth ahead of the one that already had the root canal. Another possibility is that something (such as food) is wedged between the tooth with the root canal and the one ahead of it causing pain and pressure. If something is wedged between the teeth it needs to be removed.
Now, there also exists the possibility that the pain is coming from the tooth that had the root canal and the filling is now gone. Something must be wrong there or else you dentist wouldn’t have said that it needs to come out.
I wish I could be a little more specific but there are just to many possibilities without examining the teeth. My recommendation to you is to see your dentist ASAP and if you are not comfortable with him/her then find a new one.
I hope it all works out for you.
Keep me posted
Dr. Ron
www.rondentist.blogspot.com
www.rondentist.com
hello doctor, I have done my root canal in three of my posterior teeth's.One of them was done 5months ago and the others last week.The earlier treated root canal teeth started paining again after three months,Finally after few medications the doc removed it,I lost lot of money n my tooth.the doc said the tooth got affected again thro the gums,is tat a possibility or that an improper treatment ?!!? again I have done my root canal with him,going to crown them,but the question is what if I experience the same problem again ? Can i check with another doc n crown them or can I proceed with the same doc.
ReplyDeleteThanks in adavance
rajkumar (India)
Hi Raj,
DeleteThe most important thing about doing a root canal is a proper diagnosis and explaining to the patient what are the possibilities of success or not. In your particular case I don't have enough information to make a proper diagnosis and tell you what happened but I can comment on your points.
I don't know what it means that the tooth got infected through the gums. If there was a problem in the gums then why not treat the gums or if the problem was so bad in the gums the tooth should have been taken out at the beginning. If there was another infection as a result of the tooth, there could have been a fracture in the tooth, there could have been a missed canal not cleaned, the treatment may not have been done properly. Exactly what the problelm was I can not tell you without actually examining the tooth and seeing the xrays. The bottom line is that if you don't feel comfortable with this dentist then get a second opinion
After bumping my front top tooth it became really loose, this when I was 9 I think and had to get a root canal done. I am 25 now and am kinda worried about it falling out, every now and then I get small little pains in that area. The last time went to the dentist he said that I might have gingavitouse I can't remember if he said I did have it or might get it. I keep my teeth well brushed and there pretty wight but I have quite aces cavities and a impacted wisdom tooth. I was just worried if any of thoughs this could cause my tooth to fall out. And plus back then my mom was on welfare and I'm not sure if it could account for the dentist to be not as good as another.
ReplyDeleteHi Jorge,
DeleteNext time you go to the dentist, ask him or her specifically what is the situation with this tooth? Is there a root canal in this tooth? If so, does it look healthy or is there an infection in the bone around the root canal? Is there gum disease around the tooth? ( this has nothing to do with the root canal that you had or bumping your tooth but you could lose your tooth from this.) Do you have cavities in this tooth? (Again, this has nothing to do with the bump or root canal but if your tooth is rotten then it can still break apart and need to be taken out)
When your dentist asnwers these questions you will know exactly the situation and this will put your worries to rest as to wether this tooth is in good shape or not?
Dr. B
I had a root canal on my very back lower molar years ago and realy there is very little of that tooth left just a huge filling. Today the rest of the filling fell out along with a long wire that I assume is the root canal. I am concerned about the opening left. I have hardly any tooth, it is broken to the gum line. I have no pain. What can be done> should I be on antibiotic since essentially I have an opening in the root of that old broken off tooth.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisodo,
ReplyDeleteSorry for replying back so late but I apparently missed the comment. I just saw it today.
As far as your tooth I am sure you have taken care of it already but if you haven't this is what I recommend.
The tooth has to be closed immediately with at least a temporary filling as leaving the root canal open can allow bacteria from the mouth to move into the root canal and cause an infection.
The tooth has to be assessed as to any decay present. If there is a lot of decay the tooth may have to come out. If there is no decay and assuming the original root canal treatment is OK, the tooth should be built back up and a crown placed.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
My son had a root canal done when he was 13 front top tooth from an accident.
ReplyDeleteHe is 26 now and had a bike accident a few weeks ago hit his front teeth and it has been feeling strange since. Now he thinks it has discolored a little,went to a dentist out west where he moved. This guy is sending him to an endo to have another root canal on same tooth. does this sound right? worried cause this doc found 7 cavities that his dentist here last year did not talk about.
Well you really have me over a barrel here. There is really not enough information here for me to give you much help. Having said this, I can tell you that a tooth with a previous root canal will not discolor after a blow. Only a tooth that has not previously had a root canal will discolor after a blow. So perhaps it is not the same tooth that previously had a rootcanal. If it is the same tooth that previously had a root canal perhaps there is a problem with the previous treatment. As to the 7 cavities, one of these two dentists is right and you should find out which. I would advise getting one more opinion.
DeleteI hope that I have helped a little.
All the Best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
Hello Dr Barzilay,
ReplyDeleteI had a root canal many years ago and since the crown falls out all the time and it bleeds and smells really bad. After telling my dentist over and over again they referred me to a specialist who just found out that the dentist who did the first root canal missed a canal and it got infected that's why i was having so much pain. My question is if i get a crown on it again will it keep falling out? Or did it fall out because it was infected. Also my appointment to get my crown on isnt until 2 weeks from now how do I keep this clean from getting infected again I have a huge hole there it is my number 3 tooth. Thanks
Jen
Hi Jen,
DeleteYou have some really good questions here, so much so that I wrote a blog on it. Please refer to my blog of Aug.25, 2012 for your answers and if you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
I had a root canal done when.i.had insurance and it fixed the pain issue i was unable.to.crown it and now.im.in.pain when.i.put pressure.on.it i.want to.get it looked at but have no insurance and dont.now what to do.any.suggestions?
ReplyDeleteHi Mark,
DeleteI feel for you because this is a problem that a lot of people run into. Read my blog of May 22, 2012 regarding the issue of insurance. Regarding what to do with your tooth now, well you are going to have to visit a dentist to find out what the problem is and what the solution maybe including cost. The possibilities range from, believe it or not, maybe it is a different tooth. Maybe the tooth is broken or decayed and needs extraction. Maybe bacteria have filtered along the old rootcanal and have caused an infection and it may need to be redone. Possibly a canal may have been missed. There maybe other possibilities but you need to get checked out to find out what to do. Again as far as the money goes you may want to find a dentist who does 3rd party financing, that may help you out. If you have been with a dental office for a long time and they know you then speak to them. They may give you financing or payment options of their own. Being a long time patient the dentist has the possibility to really help you out. ( a good reason to be a regular patient and build a good relationship with your dentist)
Let me know what happens.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
Hello Doctor,
ReplyDeleteMy question is that I've been notify I had a root canal. I haven't had the time and budget to go get it fixed. Also my wisdom teeth in the back are starting to grow so I didn't want to waste money putting a crown and teeth when my wisdom teeth could be pushing it out of the way.
Anyways my main point is that I have left my teeth the same way and haven't got it fixed except having one filling done to it about a year ago. The filling later then felled off and I still i was left with a hole in my teeth.
Couple months back I was eating and I heard something crack. I thought bone? But NO! it was my teeth so my (square) teeth in the back was cracked almost in half and 1/3 of my teeth was gone.
Just yesterday night I yawn and probably scrunch my teeth to hard and guess what (CRACK). Woke up thought it was dream, I checked and a broken part of my teeth was sitting in the hole of my root canal. It seems gross but it's ok to me.
So now basically my root canal teeth is more than half way gone. Is it okay to leave it like that or will there be any infection? I don't feel any pain or anything like that as of now. Just that it's almost like an empty space now.
HI Kleegirl,
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question. It is not ok to leave it like that because sooner or later there will definetly be infection and PAIN. It will also come at the worst time for you, such as on vacation or at a wedding. (because that is the way these things go.) Go see your dentist and see if it is still possible to save or not. Depending on your age and the way the wisdom teeth are growing, by extracting this tooth it may allow the wisdom tooth to come down into this position. This is something you may want to speak to your dentist about.
I know money is a big issue for everyone but it really is cheaper and better in the long run to take care of your teeth than letting your mouth fall apart and having a tooth extracted every time there is a problem.
Check out my blog of May 22, 2012 on this subject.
I hope I have helped a little.
Good Luck and all the best.
Dr. Ron Barzilay
PS. Let me know what happened
Hi Doctor,
ReplyDeleteI've had several consults and a CT scan for my wisdom tooth. Several oral surgeons have that extracting my wisdom tooth will result in paralysis due to the position and proximity of the nerve.
A possible solution is doing a root canal and "letting nature take its course". Since there is no opposing force biting down on the bottom wisdom tooth, the idea is that it will continue to erupt maybe with help from braces and fall out on its own eventually.
It that even possible?
The wisdom tooth is fully erupted and straight.
Hi Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what your wisdom teeth have to do with this post but that is not important. Did the Oral Surgeons say that extracting your wisdom tooth would cause paralysis or might cause paralysis? In every wisdom tooth extraction nerve paralysis is a possibility although a small one. What percentage chance are we talking about? 97% chance of paralysis or 2% chance of paralysis? Why does your wisdom tooth have to come out in the first place? (if it is fully erupted and straight) Can you post a panoramic xray? I can't comment on doing a root canal and tooth eruption and what you should do without seeing xrays and photos and getting some further answers to my questions.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
Hello Dr. Barzilay,
ReplyDeleteI was just now eating a piece of broccoli and I heard a snap. I think I broke the post of my root canal in my upper left lateral incisor. It feels a little weird, but it doesn't hurt. It's definitely a little loose, but doesn't feel like it's going to just fall out.
Reading the posts in this thread, I'm not sure if the dentist who did the root canal put a crown on the tooth. I guess I should know, but I haven't had many problems with my teeth, so I'm not sure what the crown would look like.
In any event, if the post is broken, what are my options? As it so happens, I have an appointment with the local dental hygienist school next Tuesday, so I can probably get it x-rayed, though they won't do any actual treatment. Thanks.
Hi Phillip Ruth,
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late response but I was out of the country and I just got back yesterday.
Well if you heard a snap and it feels different then you are most likely correct and something broke. It can be the crown of the tooth (natural crown or prosthetic crown). The question will be how far down is it broken and can this tooth be saved. You are better off going directly to your dentist to have a look. Either the crown can be repaired with perhaps a new post and then crown. ( gum surgery may be required ) Or perhaps the tooth may need to be extracted and an implant placed or a bridge made.
Those are most likely your options of course without seeing an x-ray and the actual tooth these are my best guesses. Your dentist will give you the bottom line.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
Hi Dr!
ReplyDeleteIn a nasty bike accident ten years ago one of my front teeth almost got knocked out. This was during the summer holidays, so I had to see a dentist that wasn't my own. The tooth was half-way out, and the dentist instructed me to bite on a piece of hard plastic to re-insert it in the gums. A couple of years later I went to see my dentist (I was a lazy teenager) and he noticed that the tooth "pin" had snapped off and that I had an enormous infection. My tooth was dead and they did a root canal. I had to do it over 4-5 sessions because they inserted some bacteria killing stuff before they could fill it.
The problem, right now, 10 years after, is that I am terrified of it suddenly falling out. I sometimes feel a little pain, but mostly not. What I do feel is that when I touch it with my tongue, it moves a little. It isn't loose, but it doesn't feel far from it. I don't dare floss because I'm afraid it will loosen further, something which causes intermittent swelling (infection?) in the gums surrounding that tooth. It always goes away, but it leaves me terrified for a week or two, where I barely eat and constantly think about it. I just can't live like this anymore. My dentist says that "if it can't take a little flossing, it isn't worth having". Easy for him to say, he's not the one worrying about the tooth suddenly falling out or the cost of getting it fixed if it does.
As you can tell from my rambling, I'm going a little crazy over this. What would you do?
HI Cecilie,
DeleteWhat would I do?
The answer is quite simple and I think you know the answer. I would deal with the problem.
You definetly have a problem there that is only getting worse and by not dealing with it in a timely fashion you are setting yourself up for discomfort and embarrasement. If you are worried that flossing will knock this out then you know there is trouble here. Now I can't tell you exactly what the problem or solution is without seeing an x-ray and examining the tooth. What I can tell you is by putting treatment off the situation is getting worse. Existing decay is getting larger, infection is eating away at bone that may be needed for implants, gum tissue may be deteriorating that is needed for an aesthetic outcome. All of this may be happening. What is definite is that this will all come to a head on that vacation you had planned for so long or on your wedding day. (Trust in Murphy's Law) So easy for me to say since I am also not worrying about the tooth coming out suddenly or dealing with the cost but however you look at it if you don't deal with it the tooth will come out and you will have to deal with the cost at a time that may not be good for you.
Take the bull by the horns, go to your dentist and find out what has to be done and how much and then get it done.
You will be alot happier when you have solved this problem.
Let me know how it turns out.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
I will, thank you for your reply. Got to save up money for a month or two first, though :) I'm a student and on an extremely tight budget.
DeleteLast bit of advice. If you have a good relationship with your dentist, he may be able to help you with payments or something of that nature. You don't know if you don't ask.
DeleteAll the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy 10 yr old lost a tooth last night ( a molar) I sat in on the top of my sofa so I wouldn't forget about it. The temp in the house was about 78. It was out of his mouth for 2 hours at best. I heard a POP/CRACK sound and something struck me on the shoulder as if it were thrown at me. I just up to inspect and only half the tooth remained. The other piece is what hit me. It spontaneously popped/exploded like a popcorn kernel. PLEASE, is there a logical scientific explanation for this?????? I would not have believed it had I not seen in with my own 2 eyes
ReplyDeleteHI Jenny,
DeleteSounds really weird. I assume it was a baby molar that had come out as the permanent tooth was coming in. They are usually just shells of the former tooth and can break easily. But to have it fly across the room as it broke... no explanation unless someone was playing a trick on you and threw it at you and then it broke. If you find out the answer let me know.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI had a root canal done on Feb 21, and just today I noticed that it was really loose. I can actually see it move when i touch it gently. And it feels like It felt when i was a kid right before I lost a tooth. While I was there they sent something to a lab and i'm scheduled for crown on Thursday.
No swelling, redness, tenderness. It really doesn't seem to be loose when i'm eating either only when i touch it.
The temporary seems to be fit a little strange compared to how my tooth use to feel and some mouth movements knock on it now. Do you think after the crown and some adjusting that it will harden back up or will I be getting my tooth extracted instead of a crown placement on thursday?
HI Ray,
DeleteSpeak to your dentist and ask him if it is really loose. First of all it is difficult to tell if a tooth is loose if you touch it with your fingers as the fat pads on the fingers move and give you the feeling that the tooth is loose. The temporary crown may actually be loose without the underlying tooth being loose. The tooth may have been loose before the root canal and you didn't realize it and now after the root canal is done it will tighten up. A lot of different scenarios, there are others I haven't even mentionned. Don't worry about it, you have an appointment in 2 days. You will discuss it with your dentist and find out if there is a problem or not.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
PS let me know what happenned.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHi Dr. I got my root canal done by endodontist a month ago. He said that i need to go to my dentist for a cown 4 weeks after root canal is done. I have my dentist appt on 13th but I am seeing that the feeling actually went up in my teeth. I didnt see anything falling out. What happens in this case? Please advice.
ReplyDeleteHi Chandni,
DeleteThe endodontist places some cotton pellets in the tooth and then seals it with a temporary filling. This temporary filling is "temporary!" So after a while of eating on it, it will compress into the cotton pellets below ( which is just volume of air). After a while it feels as if the filling is missing or the filling has gone up into the tooth. Not to worry, it is still there, but you should get the tooth built up as soon as possible and the crown placed. You want to get the tooth repaired because when that filling pushes up you will get bacteria going back into the tooth and that is not good. Also you want that crown on so that you don't have that tooth breaking on you.
I hope this helps.
All the best
Dr.Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Thanks in advance if you are able to answer...
ReplyDeleteLast week one of my pre-molars broke laterally in half, right down to the gum line in the back (non-visible) part of the tooth. I went Tuesday for an exam and the first available appointment for a root canal is in two weeks, making total time with a broken, exposed tooth nearly three weeks. Is this a long time? Should I be concerned about infection in the meantime? Will the crown be placed the day of the root canal (my dentist said that we can save the tooth with a peg and a crown).
Thanks for your time!
HI Sarah,
DeleteTry to keep the area clean. Is it a long time to go without treatment? Well, if it hurts it is a very long time and if it doesn't then it is OK. You are the only judge of that but if it is painful, call your dentist and try to get in earlier. Do not be concerned about anything in the meantime because what's the point. Your appointment is in 3 weeks and if you have a problem in the meantime you will call your dentist and they will get you in earlier. The crown will not be placed at that appointment as from what you have written, you will have a root canal done then. (root canal 1-2 appointments).After that you will have the "peg" and crown done. (another 2-3 appointments.)
Let me know how it goes.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hi Dr.
ReplyDeleteAbout 9 years ago I had three root canals done on my bottom front teeth after someone tried to knock my head off. At the time I was told that I was lucky to keep the teeth (at the time of the incident I was wearing braces and my teeth were still attached to them but had split through the gum).
Anyway, to cut a long story short I noticed today that one of these teeth has become loose. I was told that this may happen due to the nature of my injury but luckily for me it has last 9 years rather than the 4-5 years I was told.
The sad thing is that I haven't been able to go to the dentist for a couple of years as I haven't been able to afford it. I still probably can't afford to have have an implant now. I am planning to sign up with a new dentist in the following days to at least get a check up.
However, I was just wondering if you could give me some advice/reassurance?
Thanks
Beau
In relation to the above comment. My root canals didn't have crowns.
ReplyDeleteHi Beau,
DeleteI have no specific advice to give you since it will all depend on the reason that this tooth is loose. It may or may not need an implant I just can't tell you . It may be a problem with the gums, it may be a problem with the root canal they originally did or it may all be related to the original injury which doomed this tooth to a shortened life span in your mouth. There just isn't enough info here for me to be specific. What I can advise you is to pick a good dentist! Ask friends, family and make sure he/she has a clean record with the local liscensing authority. He/She will guide you with good advice as to what to do and that is your reassurance.
Let me know how it turned out.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehello i had had a situation where on of my top front teeth broke verically. i went to the dentist and they performed a root canal and put in some temp filling to close part of it until i could get my post and crown. today i was eating and it seems my tooth and filling broke to the gum line. i called my denteist but what can be done now?
ReplyDeleteHi Lauren,
DeleteIt all depends on how much tooth structure is left below the gum line. If there is a fair amount, a post and crown can still be done as you still have tooth to grab and distance of the crown margin from underlying bone. If however the crown is not only broken at the gum line but also at bone level then you will either have to do a gum surgery called crown lengthening so you can make tooth available to hold onto or just extract the tooth and have an implant placed. Having the tooth extracted and implant placed is the most predictable outcome.
Without an xray I can't tell you exactly.
Good luck and let me know what happened.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi, I had a root canal done on a back molar about 3 yrs ago, it was crowned as well. it was collecting a lot of food between it & the tooth in front of it right from the beginning. I told my dentist this & she said it was fine when she checked it. Well, today, the post & crown came out!! Not just the crown, everything, so root canals do fall out. my question is, do i need to go back and have it repaired? or will the hole close up on its own? If there is one thing that i am terrified of is the dentist so i take care of my teeth on a daily bases but i am willing to not do anything if that is possible. I am not in any pain or anything. They also did another molar on the top right at the same time & that one i still get pain in if i eat on that side of my mouth. i have gone back & they say there is nothing left & it is just in my head. The tooth in front of that tooth is an implant so I know its not that one hurting & the molar behind it is fine they say. So, why is that tooth still hurting? Why can't i eat on that side?
ReplyDeleteHi Floridagal68,
DeleteWell, where do I start? NO, teeth don't fallout after rootcanal treatment!!
You say the crown and post fell out, I assure you the tooth is still in there. You will need to have the crown recemented if possible, if not then have the tooth extracted. The hole in the gums is where the tooth is still sitting and you have to do something. Lets back it up a little. This tooth may have come off for a number of reasons. Perhaps there may not have been enough tooth structure to begin with and the tooth should have been extracted instead of all this work done. Perhaps, where the food was getting stuck, decay developed and the tooth just rotted away under the crown and then the crown came off and left the rotten roots below. Perhaps there was a fracture in the tooth and as the parts moved everything loosened up. I have a lot more scenarios that could keep me typing for some time. The reality of your situation, I don't know without actually examing. So what now? The hole will not close. You will either have to extract the roots of the tooth or possibly recement the crown or make a new one. Speak to your dentist about this. You can not leave it as it will start to hurt at some point. As to the other side, If it hurts then it is real. They just may not see the problem but the problem is real. I won't start to speculate why that side is hurting you because there are just too many possibilities. What I feel here is that you are not satisfied with what is happening at your dentist and it may be time for a second opinion as things seem to be falling apart.
No question that you have to do something. Either go to your dentist or find a new one. Let me know what happened.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Thank you for your response. I am going to the Dentist tomorrow. I don't know what they are going to do but I doubt much because I will be to scared to let them do anything without taking something first. I can't even believe I am not sick right now thinking about going. I will let you know what they say tomorrow after I get back. Thanks again & have a great night.
DeleteGood Luck and let me know.
DeleteTalk to your dentist about oral sedation or laughing gas. It will make life easier.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
I had a root canal and never got a crown because I couldnt afford it. After about a year or so, the tooth fell out. I just left it with a hole because I had no pain. Skin grew over and it was fine. Now all of a sudden a year later the hole seems to be opening up and it looks like a rotted tooth is tryig to break free. It is very painful. i feel like I can feel the pain all the way in my jaw. What do you think is happening? Please help!!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen,
DeleteWell obviously the tooth didn't fall out because there is still something in there. What happenned was the crown of the tooth broke off after a year ( which may not have happenned if you had a crown - sorry, not trying to scold). Since you had a root canal it has not been painful. What is happening now is the roots are rotting under the gum and you are most likely starting to get an infection there. My advice to you is go to your dentist and have the roots removed before it gets worse (which it will).
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
HI,
ReplyDeleteI was reading online that you can do pulp capping as an alternative to root canal. do you recoomed that.
Hi David,
DeletePulp capping is not an alternative to root canal. It is a treatment that can be done in certain situations when it is advantageous to keep the nerve of the tooth alive. But it is very case specific depending on the exact situation ie. it is not a treatmen that you can go to your dentist and say "I want it!" A situation where it may be done is a young permanent tooth where the roots have not fully developed and a root canal would be difficult. It would be advantageous to cap the nerve (keep it alive) and let the roots continue to grow. This presupposes that the nerve is still alive. If the nerve is already necrotic then you can't do this. In many situations the nerve may be alive but so damaged that this is not a viable treatment. There are many other situations where this can be done but of course each one is case specific. With todays materials there are definite indications for this treatment but definetly not as an alternative to root canal but rather as another instrument in our armamentarium ( another tool in our toolbox.)
Thank You,
DeleteHow should i take care of my teeth so the root canal is done, it can last and not get loose and the toth to fall out.
David,
DeleteAfter a root canal the tooth should have a crown. Every situation is different and you should speak to your dentist about your specific situation.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hello, about 5 years ago I was advised to get a filling on one of my upper molars and ever since I got it the tooth has been having sensitivity problems. Until recently it has gotten really sensitive, I've also had cases where I'd bitten on a chewy piece of meat and felt really bad sharp pains. About 5 months ago I told my dentist all this and through the scans and diagnosis he could find nothing wrong with it, so he redid the filling and told me to come back 9 months later if the problems were still present to undergo root canal treatment. I feel no pain or sensations during the day and I can quite easily avoid cold/hot liquids from touching that tooth as well as not eating chewy textured foods on that side. I was wondering if you had any advice for as to what I should do and what the problem could be or is it just the case of a extremely sensitive tooth? As i'm not too keen on getting a root canal due to a number of factors. Thanks
ReplyDeletePlease check out my Blog of March 28, 2012 on cracked teeth. This blog really talks about fractures and what may be happening when your dentist doesn't find the problem. SO READ IT! The other possibility is that the old filling was already so deep that there was long term damage to the nerve and you will need a root canal and crown.
DeleteI hope this works out for you.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
I had two root canals done a few months back and I knew I needed to get crowns but financially I was trying to wait the two months for my insurance to lapse back over and cover some of the expense. Not two weeks afterwards both teeth completely shattered down past the gum line. They don't hurt but I'm just curious would I still be able to receive a crown as both teeth are pretty much gone and I now have two hollow spots where molars use to be? I truly don't want a partial because one tooth is top and the other is on the bottom.
ReplyDeleteHi Annette,
DeleteSorry for the late reply.
As a dentist, I never know when and if the tooth will break. Sometimes it happens after years and sometimes the very next day after we finish the root canal. Whether the tooth is savable now depends on how the tooth has broken. In other words, do we have enough tooth structure to build a new tooth on. Without an x-ray I can't tell you what can or can't be done. It doesn't hurt because there is a root canal there but you can't leave it like that because if it is savable you don't want it to start to decay. If it needs to be extracted then better sooner than later, as later you will get infections and bone loss which will make implants more difficult.
The bottom line is you will have to see your dentist and he will tell you if it is savable.
All the best
Dr.Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
i am in a heap of trouble. i have lost all my back teeth plus a bi-cuspid and (well lets just say i have 6 teeth on top and 7 on bottom. the reason for this (started 7yrs ago) i went into a new dentist office with a broken back tooth. the tooth needed to be extracted. fine! remember i had all my teeth then. a few months later i went back as i had a toothache which needed a root canal. fine. the dentist i went to is a one stop fix all. after the first root canal from him he told me i would need a crown pretty soon. i ended up coming back to him sooner that i thought, another toothache, another root canal. at this point no mention was made about a crown as the dentist busied himself taking many x-rays only to discover i had quite a few cavities. they needed to be filled. fine. each time i went to the dentist he'd be drilling and while i was on the gas and frozen he would tell me that it was a lot worse than first appeared, i need a root canal. it wasn't always the case, but i seemed to be needed many. eventually i was at the dentist practically every month having work done. remember the crown i was supposed to get after the first RC?? well he didn't. he became focused on my bite and said that until my mouth was in proper alignment he would not crown the teeth because the misaligned mouth could be causing all this rapid decay. he sent me to an oral surgeon - she wasn't as concerned about my bite as he was but offered that i didn't produce enough saliva and there was something off with my pH levels. okay, i am 47yrs old. and now i need dentures - reason: he became obsessed with the alignment of my teeth and chose not to crown them until was jaw was settled into a happy place . so, each and every one of those teeth that he performed a root canal on either broke below the gum line - couldn't repair it - extraction necessary, or the entire tooth fell out. I AM WONDERING WHETHER HE WAS NEGLIGENT! I AM SO ANGRY. this did not have to happen. So when you are looking for a dentist, get second opinions etc... i have spent thousands of wasted dollars on treatments that failed.
ReplyDeleteapologies: in a few instances there are 'tense' errors. some places may be missing a word, the reason, i was reviewing the post, changed a few things but couldn't see the whole shebang and ended with this grammatical horror. I'm thinking you got the point of my post tho'.
Deleteagain. thanks for ignoring the glaring errors.
alyssa
HI Alyssa,
DeleteFirst of all I am sorry for the anguish that you have been going through. I am sure it hasn't been pleasant and you are not done yet as you still have to replace your missing teeth and really determine what caused your teeth to be lost. This is important as it will influence your future treatment. You don't want to start a treatment and then have your remaining teeth decay and break. You need to get to the bottom of this.
Was your dentist negligent? I have no idea and I can't possibly know from your story. All I can tell you is that if you have lost confidence in your old dentist (which you obviously have) then find a new one. You may want to obtain your old records, including radiographs so that you may be able to determine the progression of the decline of your teeth. That maybe a clue as to whether treatment was appropriate or not. Tell your new dentist the story and hopefully he will be able to get your mouth back in shape. I hope everything works out for you and keep me posted as to what happened.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hi, I had a root canal on my front tooth about a year ago after a face injury. I recently was accidentally hit in the same tooth which shifted my teeth I have been wearing my retainers for about a week now and its back in place, but that tooth still feels really loose. What is possibly wrong with this tooth, and what are possible treatments.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca,
DeleteThere is a possibility that the tooth that was shifted has shifted back with the help of your retainers and when you get these movements the teeth are loose for a while and then harden up. That is the best case scenario. The other possibility is that because of all these blows that the tooth received the tooth/periodontal system may be damaged and the tooth may require extraction. This is one of those you need to see your dentist ASAP to determine what the problem is and what the treatment is. If it hardens up, that is simple but if it needs extraction then you may need to think about possible implant placement and that requires planning.
All of this is pure guess work on my part and you need to see your dentist ASAP.
Let me know how it goes.
All the best
Dr.Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
I got a root canal done when I was a child on a molar. A few months ago it fell out, along with pieces of the tooth. I now have a hole. There is no pain which I see is normal. I have no tooth that I can see in the hole and am wondering what my dentist will say. I have major anxiety when I go to the dentist because of having the root canal done and the laughing gas not working. It caused lots of pain during the procedure. So I am very nervous and would like an idea of what to expect when I go in. Can my dentist just clean out the hole and close it up?
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say I don't know of it was ever capped. No dentist commented on it either way.
ReplyDeleteHI Emily,
DeleteWithout examining the tooth I obviously can't "tell" you what to expect but I can take a guess. First of all the root canal did not fall out, the top part of the tooth broke apart and fell out but rest assured that the root canal is still there. If the top part of the tooth (or crown of the tooth) broke off and this was a few month ago then most likely there is decay there. Depending on how much decay will tell us what the treatment will be. There is a good chance that this tooth may need to be extracted. There is also a possibility that the tooth may be saved (although a smaller chance.) Bottom line is, only your dentist knows for sure when he takes an x-ray and examines your tooth.
Good luck - let me know what happens
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hello, doctor. I had a molar with a big filling. The filling fell out. I went to my dentist. He said that I needed a root canal and sent me to an endodontist. The dentist put in a temporary filling. The next day the temporary filling fell out. I went to the endontist and had the root canal. HE put in a temporary filling until I got a crown. That one fell out the next day. I do not want another temporary filling- obviously it will just fall out in one day, after another appointment. Is it okay if I leave it as is until I see the dentist, in 1.5 weeks? I'm frustrated and considering asking the dentist to just pull the tooth out if there are any more complications, like needing to go to a periodontist for gum buildup and such. Thanks so much for your time.
ReplyDeleteHI Deneen,
DeleteNo it is not ok to leave it. If the tooth is left open and the root canal is exposed to bacteria from the mouth then those bacteria can percolate around the root canal treatment and jeopardize the root canal treatment. As far as fillings falling out and the need for a periodontist. Speak to your dentist and ask him what is happening. Either you do or don't need a periodontist. What is the long term prognosis for this tooth. Nothing worse than having crowns come off and eventually the tooth being lost because perhaps the tooth was too far gone to begin with and should have been extracted. Having said that, of course there is nothing better than saving your own tooth. Speak to your dentist and discuss your concerns so that you can feel more comfortable with your treatment.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hello Doctor
ReplyDeleteI had a root canal on a second from front tooth about 1-2 years ago. Recently my focus has been on this tooth and it has been bothering me. It does not hurt but seems strange. It has a very dull pulsing at times and feels like it does not belong. It just feels like a alien tooth in my mouth that does not want to be there. I have also had a mild discomfort in my cheek also but this has diminished. Would this be a failed root canal. I had an xray at the dentist and he said there is nothing wrong with the tooth. But I have had another root canal on another tooth and I do not notice this tooth at all a present.
Dear John,
DeleteSometimes in the early stages an x-ray may not show anything until an infection busts out of the bone. At that point it would become visible. Other possibilities are the teeth beside could be radiating to this tooth. You may want to have it checked out by a specialist (endodontist) and have him give his opinion as to whether this is a failed root canal and can be treated or something else. ( there are new x-rays today - CBCT - which can see 3d into the bone, he may have access to this type of machine.)
Sorry I couldn't be of more help but I would really need to examine the tooth.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hello Doctor,
ReplyDeleteI had root canal almost 11 years back when i was in India 10 days back by mistake i hit somethinh ahrd now its paining and root cannled teeth is bit shakky i feel it has slightly come done. what could be possible problem i'm living in Mississippi how much could be avg cost of my treatment
HI Vishprass,
DeleteI don't have much information to go by so I can only give a few guesses. If you hit it hard you may have broken something. If it had a root canal and didn't have a crown the tooth may now be broken and then the question is, can it be fixed? If the tooth is now "shaky" then either the tooth itself is broken or perhaps you did have a crown and the crown is loose. These are all guesses since I don't have enough info to go by. As far as the cost, without knowing the problem I couldn't say. Regardless, my price is for Ontario Canada, I doubt it would help you as every jurisdiction has it's own prices.
Good luck and let me know what happens.
Dr.Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hello Doctor,
ReplyDeleteI had my root canal done on my front tooth about 3 and half weeks ago and going to get a crown in September. Before the root canal treatment, I fell and my tooth became just slightly loose, and my dentist said after my treatment it will tighten up, however it still feels the same? Also, when I bite down on my tongue, my root canal treated tooth still feels sore but it feels fine if I dont bite down, is that normal? One more question, the fall pushed my tooth back, is it harmful to get a spring retainer to get my front tooth realigned and should I wait after I get the crown or before and if my tooth doesn't tighten can I still get it?
HI Taylor,
DeleteAs usual without an x-ray and without examining your tooth, the best that I can give you are some educated guesses on what may or may not be happening.
The most concerning thing here is that the blow you received has pushed your tooth inward. The reason you most likely had the root canal down was that the movement of the tooth tore it's nerve and blood supply. There may have been pain or not but with the nerve and blood supply damaged then a root canal is required. Other problems can occur. There may be damage to the surrounding tissues including the bone and you may get resultant movement of the tooth. If these tissues heal up nicely then the tooth will most likely harden up but it takes some time. If everything is going well then you will steadily feel better, if not you need to find out why. Of course I don't know what the condition of these tissues were before the blow. If there were pre-existing periodontal issues then that may complicate things. As to the realignment of the tooth, your dentist will determine the right time for that but my assumption is that if there was a big movement it must be realigned. If the movement was small then perhaps when making the crown the new crown can correct for the movement. If you are going to do an orthodontic movement, you will want to wait until tooth is in the corrected position before placing a crown otherwise if you place the crown and then move the tooth a margin of the crown may become visible after the movement and then you may have an aesthetic problem.
I hope I have helped a little but these are just guesses at the situation that you have described. Without my actual examination I can not know.
Good luck and all the best
Dr.Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
When I was very young I chipped my front tooth and almost half of it was gone. I went to the dentist and they just put a piece of a fake tooth on it and sent me on my way. Years later I had to have a root canal. It has been 5 years since then and there are 2 cracks on my tooth from the fake part all the way to my gums. One of the cracks has a black spot in it and sometimes there is pressure on that tooth. I don't have insurance right now and I was wondering if I should extract the tooth and get a bridge or if I should just wait it out and see what happens?
ReplyDeleteHI Shayla,
DeleteWell you know that waiting it out really means lets wait till it gets worse and then I have to do something. The tooth won't get better by itself that is for sure. As to the treatment that needs to be done I can't advise you without seeing an x-ray and doing an examine. What I can tell you is that if you can save your tooth that is the best. If the dentist says he can fix it but because of what is underneath he doesn't know how long it will last then think about an implant crown or bridge. If the dentist says the tooth is hopeless then obviously it will have to come out and be replaced. The short is you need to find a dentist and go have an exam and discuss your options regarding this tooth. The exam isn't that expensive and knowing what is coming will allow you to plan your finances accordingly.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteMy dentist began a root canal a few months ago however; due to financial restrictions I have been unable to get it completed. I just noticed that part of the damaged tooth is now loose. Is it possible to still get a root canal or will I have to have an extraction?
HI Chiquila,
DeleteWithout seeing and examining the tooth I can only guess. Something loose is either a part of the tooth or a temporary filling. Can you complete the root canal or will the tooth have to be extracted? You have to go back to your dentist to find out. If your tooth has become so rotten that it can't have a crown placed on it or be fixed then it will need to come out. Otherwise you can still have a root canal done but your dentist will need to be the one to tell you.
Good luck and all the best.
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
I am not sure whether I had a root canal or not. A couple years ago my front tooth broke. The dentist clean and drill the tooth. He put in a fake tooth with metal screw. Today the fake tooth with screw fell out. Is there anything I can do to glue it back in for a couple months before I get my insurance. Thanks for your help.
ReplyDeleteHi Rob,
DeleteIt all depends on the state of the root that is left. If the root is broken then nothing will hold. If the root is not decayed the post may be glued back in. Even if there is some decay it usually can be glued back in with a strong cement, at least for a few months. If it is heavily decayed (rotten) then it may not hold for very long.
Bottom line, go to your dentist and see what he says. Hopefully he will be able to put it back in as a temporary measure until you get your insurance. Unfortunately without examining the tooth I can only guess.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hi! My 18yr.old son fell at school in April & broke his front tooth in half & chipped the other front tooth :..(. His pediatric dentist, who repaired it, said when he turns 18 we can talk about a crown. He turned 18 in Aug. His repair (she "glued the other half of the tooth back on) stayed on til about a month ago when he woke up & it just fell off. So, I took him to my dentist who took xray and recommended a root canal- he said that, at first glance, the tooth looked fine. Then upon further exam., he said the gum over that tooth seemed a little more puffy than the gum over other tooth. He saw a small white spot on the xray which made him ask me if the dentist said the nerve was exposed when he fell. I told him I don't remember her saying that, but I was a mess so it's possible. He said it may have been exposed since the break in his tooth was that far up, so he sched. a root canal (I emailed a dental surgeon and she said she would've been looking for a black spot vs. a white spot...??). I've canceled the appt. until I get more information. I keep hearing he doesn't need a root canal & that there are alternatives. What do you advise? Thank you in advance.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing......someone suggested that he just get the tooth pulled as opposed to having a dead tooth in his mouth (which apparently causes other issues!). What is your take on this as well? I'm assuming if it is pulled, an implant would be warranted? Because a crown just sits on top of another tooth, correct?
DeleteDear SM19,
DeleteSorry for the late response.
Should he have a root canal or not? That can only be answered by the dentist assessing your son. I can only tell you what I would look for but it is never an exhaustive list and never covers every possible situation so if you think that you are going to come up with the proper decision by e-mailing a whole bunch of people then you are mistaken. At the end of the day your research may better help you understand the situation but you will have to find someone that you trust and then rely on their assessment.
The first thing that I would check is whether the tooth in question (and possibly the surrounding teeth) is dead or alive. The dentist takes a cold substance and places it on the tooth. According to the reaction which the dentist compares to "normal " teeth the dentist will know what needs to be done. The dentist will check the x-ray for any breaks in the root (which I assume there is not since someone would have told you that already) or any changes in the surrounding bone. Changes could be dark areas or white areas. (rarefying or condensing osteitis). The dentist would also look at the condition of the gum surrounding the tooth to see if there is any swelling or fistulas in the area. It is really not such a hard diagnosis to make although there may have been a change in the condition of the nerve of the tooth from the time of the blow until now. If you want to be sure, take your son to see an Endodontist (root canal specialist) who will know for sure. In any case, I believe that any dentist can make this assessment. (through e-mail I definitely can not).
To those that say he doesn't need a root canal and there are alternatives I am curious who "they" are and what qualifies them to give expert opinion as to the treatment of your son. I am an expert and I have just told you that I can not give an opinion without actually seeing your son.
As to alternatives, what does that mean?
As to the last person who gave you advice, read my blog of Oct. 1, 2014.
Good luck and let me know what happened
Dr.Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hi dr,
ReplyDeleteI fell from a swing when I was 9 years old, and had a crack on my tooth. I noticed a change in colour when I was 21 and I went to see a dentist. He said I needed a root canal treatment and an apicaetomy..consulted 2 oda dentists and they claimed a root canal would solve the problem. Soo I went back to the first dentist asked to have just d root canal.. he performed the root canal and put a wool in the hole and said when I got back for the apicaetomy, he wouldnt have to drill again. Anoda dentist removed the wool and the hole has bn open since then. Now it is 16months and the tooth is about to fall off. Pls what is likely to b d problem and what can I do? It is my front tooth and I cant afford to loose it
Dear Lanre,
DeleteIt is difficult for me to tell what the problem is without seeing the tooth and seeing an x-ray. Nevertheless I can make some comments. I don't know what you mean by wool but if this tooth has been open for 16 months without a proper filling then that may be the source of the problem. If you have a whole in the back of the tooth it can not be cleaned out when you brush and the tooth may decay (or get rotten). If it is decayed it may be at a state where it can not be fixed anymore and may be moving and may need to come out. Also if the tooth has been open for 16 months, even though a root canal has been done, if the treatment is open to the bacteria of the mouth, they can get around the root canal and cause infection and then of course the tooth may start to move.
And perhaps it is something else which I can't know without seeing the tooth and x-ray.
So you ask "what can I do?" You have to go to a dentist who can see the tooth and tell you what is actually going on.
From your description it does not sound good so you have to get in to see someone as soon as possible.
Let me know what happens.
All the best
Dr.Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hi Dr. in April I had my 2nd upper left molar removed after a failed RCT attempt where the canal curved to an extreme and the endo in good conscience thought it would not be properly filled. After this it's like my whole mouth went out of wack since I had my mouth open for almost 4 hours. Mainly for the past 6 months I have been getting pain on my two upper 1st molars (left and right). Both RCT and crowns. The left is an older one from high school when I was 19 (I am 28) and the right is a 3 year old RCT. I get get they occasional aches on both of them that are maybe a 3-4 pain out of 10 and sometimes sinus pressure. The right side was done by a former general dentists and my current dentist (uncle) says wasn't done that great because the canals weren't fully filled maybe, plus the crown has leakage. My uncle says my teeth show no signs of pathology on the x-ray and no swelling and he thinks it's because I clench and grind my teeth thus I have sprained the ligaments. He made he a high end mouth guard but I still get they occasional aches. Some days it's here and there, other days it's all day, and other days I am pain free.
ReplyDeleteI know you have't seen my x-rays but can we eliminate my uncle's ligament theory? or is their some merit to it? I know eventually these teeth are going to cost me a fortune because they will need to be redone (RCT) or they will need to be replaced with implants. In my situation for cosmetic, health, and financial reasons to think I should I retreat the RCT if need be? or Just got for short implants if implacable?
HI JRasero,
DeleteSorry I missed your post and I just saw it while answering someone else. Your situation is complicated and very difficult to give exact advice without examining the tooth. There is merit to your uncles theory especially if you feel somewhat better while wearing the mouthguard. Also when you get teeth hurting on different sides of the mouth at the same time then we think that clenching and grinding maybe the source. I think that before doing implants or retreating teeth you need to get a more definitive diagnosis because if no one is sure what the problem is then you may do treatment and at the end still end up with the pain.
Perhaps get another opinion, your uncle sounds like he is on the ball but a fresh set of eyes never hurts.
Wish I could be of more help.
Good luck and let me know what happened
Dr. Ron Barzilay
I had a root canal done on the back.lower molar about 10years ago... about 4 months ago it cracked i went to after hoirs they put me on meds and said it may all kust pall put i was in no pain or anything. Today the rest of the tooth came out no pain no blood no nothing.. just a hole where the entire tooth was.. i jave no insurance and the clinic doesnt have any openings dor over a month... im am scared to death of the dentist too... is there something i can do to help the hole close?
ReplyDeleteHI Unknown,
DeleteSorry for the late reply.
The answer to your question is there is nothing you can do to close the hole. The reason is because I don't believe that the whole tooth came out. Most likely the top broke off and the roots are still underneath the gum and one day will cause you an infection there. The gums may over grow the hole but it will still be there. Your best bet is to see a dentist and extract the remaining roots and then the hole will close. (small possibility the tooth did come out but you would need and x-ray to check that)
All the best and good luck.
Dr. Ron Barzilay
Hi, doctor, about 2 years ago i had a filling come out in the back and the tooth started breaking , little by little. Now there is little to no tooth above the gum. About how much would it cost me to get the rest of the tooth removed?
ReplyDeleteHI Unknown,
DeleteAny office that you would walk into would charge an exam fee and xrays. Then there is the cost of an extraction whether simple or complicated. Of course if you wanted sedation that is extra but most patients are good without. Since outside of Ontario Canada the fee would be totally irrelevant I will not quote you anything. If you are in Ontario you can always call the office and get a range.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
I have such a fear of dentists. I had a root canal filling about 15 years ago. About ten years ago a bit of the tooth that was left cracked. I had that filled. Then a couple of years ago the last bit of tooth that was filled came lose. The dentist took it out and made the filling smooth. That filling only lasted for about a week. It came out. I was too scared to go back to the dentist. So I was left with this block of filling only, with no tooth surrounding it. Just tonight during eating the top block of filling just came out in my mouth! I am not in any pain, it feels a little strange as my gum around where it was feels numb, also there is a gap (on a back tooth, so not noticeable) I am not really bothered about this, but is the numbness just the gum going into shock. I cannot bear to go to a dentist as my phobia is awful. Do you think I can leave it, as I am not in pain?
ReplyDeleteLouise
Dear Louise,
DeleteCan you leave it? Well if it is not hurting and not bothering you then you don't have to do anything. BUT!!!! Both you and I know that eventually it will bother you and you will have to do something. Eventually it will abscess and when it does it will hurt, so it is not if but when. Regarding your phobia, there are many dental offices for sleep dentistry, you go and they put you to sleep. No anxiety, no waiting for the next toothache. That is really what you should do before you have any more problems.
All the best and let me know what you did.
Dr. Ron Barzilay
Hi Dr Ron! Thank you for providing this service! I have two quick questions.
ReplyDeleteI just had a RCT in #31 done by a well respected endodontist in my area a few days ago and am scheduled for a crown placement on 11/19 (4 days from now) with my regular dentist. It was a "hot tooth", but the RCT looked textbook after in the xrays.
It only took a couple of days for the majority of sensitivity in the tooth to subside, and I only needed ibuprofen and acetaminophen to get by.
But the teeth on that side of my mouth, bottom and top, feel with my tongue to have some sort of rough substance on them now, as opposed to the usual smooth "bony" feel of the teeth on the left side of my mouth.
This feeling is present on all of the bottom right teeth, inside, on top, and on the outside of the teeth. With the top right teeth, this feeling only presents in the top of the teeth (not the inside or outside). I slide my tongue on them and feel the same thing on top of all of those teeth
My question is could a substance used by the endodontist during the RCT procedure have gotten on the other teeth to cause this feeling? Or could it be a problem with the nerves in those teeth?
They definitely didn't feel this way before the RCT.
Another question is what's to prevent the remnants of the original tooth involved in the RCT from decaying further under a crown? Won't the crown have to be removed if any more decay ever does present in it? Although I know you'd need to see xrays to say for sure, I'm generally curious how much more can be done to that tooth before an extraction or other procedure is done.
Thanks again!
HI Unknown,
DeleteFirst, the feeling you feel on your teeth has to come from some material used. Just tell your dentist or the endodontist. The material can most likely be removed if it hasn't fallen off already. It doesn't sound major and they just need to clean it off. As to the second question, what is to stop further decay? Simple, you are!! Take really good care of your teeth. Floss and brush and see your dentist regularly. If you take care then you will not get further decay there. As to how much more can be done on this tooth? Sorry but that one really depends on many factors such as amount of tooth structure left, relationship to gums and bone, analysis of replacement benefit versus attempt at salvaging the tooth and more........
and without my examination of the tooth I can't tell you.
Hope I have helped you a little.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Thank you Dr Ron! The strange feeling on my teeth went away. I had a permanent gold crown put in on Dec 8. And everything is going well! I'm actually having some persistent cold sensitivity in the two lower back teeth on the other side after getting fillings in them on the same day the gold crown was put in. But the crown itself is doing great. Thanks again!
DeleteHi Dr Ron. I had to have a temporary crown put on tooth 24 last week. The tooth had been previously bonded twice in the past and there was a cavity. Here's the problem, I'm going on vacation next week and the permanent crown won't be ready until I get back... We tried to put it off until I returned but there was pain and we didn't want to get into root canal territory. The temporary looks fine, she did a pretty good job matching it up and besides feeling a little weird and feeling like I'm talking funny it's fine. They said they would use a stronger cement then they normally use on a temporary because of the travel. I am still so nervous about it falling out or cracking that I'm afraid to eat anything except soup and pudding. I've always kind of babied that tooth due to the bonding but I feel like at any moment this is going to pop out or even worse when I get to Los Angeles it's going to break or pop out. How strong are these temporaries?
ReplyDeleteDear Unknown,
DeleteThe purpose of a temporary is to protect the underlying vital tooth (if vital) from sensitivity and prevent the teeth around the prepared tooth from moving. The temporary must be strong enough to resist breakage for a short period while flexible enough to be easily removed. In answer to your question, I do a lot of crowns and I don't remember the last time one broke or popped out and I cement them with the weakest cement. So if your temporary was done well it should be fine for the week or two you go on vacation. Again, as I write here many times, I have not seen the work and don't know how it was done or what materials were used but assuming it was done well you shouldn't have a problem. Going easy on that side and on that tooth will give you a little extra confidence.
By the way, since I don't know where you live, the tooth number you gave me refers to 2 different teeth depending on the naming system used.
Hope this helps you.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Thank you for your quick response. I'm sorry I thought teeth were numbered the same everywhere. I'm in Florida. It's the front bottom tooth to the left. I'm not sure what she used but made it chairside and the color match up is pretty decent. It's smooth not rough like people have described. Just bulky. I will just have to be careful and make sure I have dentist numbers for LA and Vegas with me. I wonder if I could've paid extra for a rushing the crown. Ironically the crown is being made in Vegas. Too bad I couldn't grab it while I'm there. Thanks again
ReplyDeleteThank you for your quick response. I'm sorry I thought teeth were numbered the same everywhere. I'm in Florida. It's the front bottom tooth to the left. I'm not sure what she used but made it chairside and the color match up is pretty decent. It's smooth not rough like people have described. Just bulky. I will just have to be careful and make sure I have dentist numbers for LA and Vegas with me. I wonder if I could've paid extra for a rushing the crown. Ironically the crown is being made in Vegas. Too bad I couldn't grab it while I'm there. Thanks again
ReplyDeleteHello Dr. Ron, thank you so much for helping us get answers. I know this is a late response, but I would like some input.
ReplyDeleteAbout four years ago I got a root canal done on my bottom, far, right tooth. When I got it done my insurance covered the root canal itself, but not the crown. I was told every time I visited the dentist from there on out to get a crown ASAP. I did not listen nor got the money around for it. It has been a while since I had visited the dentist. Well, a year ago my root canal just fell out completely. It left a hard hole in my mouth that caused me no pain. I was ebarassed. People around me told me that the roots were dead & such, not to worry. A month ago I started experiencing extreme pain & it constantly bleeds. I started to regret not going to the dentist when it happened or when i had insurance. Currently, I have a small peice of the tooth that is left loose & about ready to fall out. I cannot handle the pain it is causing me & I am in the process of getting insurance back. Could you tell me what I have to look forward too when I finally get in to see a dentist?
Please & thank you, Lou.
Dear Lou,
DeleteBy the history that you have given me I think the dentist may tell you that the tooth may need to be extracted. You most likely have an abcess which is giving you pain. By your description of what is left of the tooth and it's painful nature I am thinking it needs to come out.
Again, I may be wrong as I have not seen the tooth so always bear that in mind.
I hope this helps a little and let me know whether I was right or wrong.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
Hi my name is Kory and I had a root canal done on my first, top, left molar about 14 years ago. Today, while eating, the false tooth that was placed over my molar broke off. There is metal in the middle of the tooth that broke off and I guess that's how it was attached? I'm not sure exactly how it is all put together. I now have the little bit of real tooth I have left exposed and it looks like it is partially rotted and black in color. I can't tell what exactly is or isn't exposed within the middle as it has gunky stuff in there. I am wondering if I should be concerned about bacterial exposure from the sight or if it is at risk of becoming infected? Also, can I see a dentist about this to possibly have it completely removed or do I need to see an endodontist? My current insurance does not cover dental so I also have to consider what is most affordable. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHI Kory,
DeleteThe first thing I would do is see your dentist so he/she can tell you exactly what is going on. What they are going to tell you is whether this tooth can be saved. If it can be saved they will tell you the cost and if it can't be saved they will also tell you the cost of replacing this tooth with an implant. As you consider what is "most" affordable, you should also consider that when you lose the molar that you have described, you will lose a big portion of your bite and that can become uncomfortable as food goes into this big hole between your teeth. The reason I say this is because you also have to consider what will be most cost effective long term. This will only become an issue if the tooth is salvageable.
You don't have to worry about bacterial exposure from the site but if it is left like this for an extended period it can become infected.
Hope this has helped a little.
All the best
Dr.Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
I have tremendous amount of dental wok, crowns fillings root canals. In 5 months my crown chipped , tooth/filing fell oout and now a root canal I had 5 months ago filling fell ot on tooth broke. The tooth is now really loose what do i do keep spending money of fixing my teeth or pay for impkants! The dentist just keeps bandaging and costing me big bucks after he works on my mouth. What should I do. Mike LYNCH
ReplyDeleteI have tremendous amount of dental wok, crowns fillings root canals. In 5 months my crown chipped , tooth/filing fell oout and now a root canal I had 5 months ago filling fell ot on tooth broke. The tooth is now really loose what do i do keep spending money of fixing my teeth or pay for impkants! The dentist just keeps bandaging and costing me big bucks after he works on my mouth. What should I do. Mike LYNCH
ReplyDeleteHI Mike,
DeleteObviously without checking your mouth I can't tell you what to do. I can only give you some friendly advice. If you are not happy or confident in what your dentist is telling you then go for a second opinion and maybe even a third. Tell them what you told me and tell them you don't want things falling apart all the time. Just realize that anything that undergoes wear and tear, there will always be a cost to for that wear and tear. Even if you have implants, you should know that there is wear and tear and dental work on the implants will break down at a certain point and you will have costs.
Hope that this helps a little.
All the best
Dr.Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
It's interesting that many of the bloggers your tips helped to clarify a few things for me as well as giving.. very specific niche content. And tell people specific ways to live their lives.Sometimes you just have to yell at people and give them a good shake to get your point across.
ReplyDeleteDental Hospital In Chennai | Laser Root Canal Treatment In Chennai | Best Laser Clinic In Chennai
Hi, this is a very interesting blog. I'm here as I'm undergoing a troublesome root canal. My dentist started the root canal on 15th December and since that day I have had moderate to severe pain. I returned on 22nd December and the canal was cleaned out but the pain returned. The tooth is an upper front incisor and the final restoration has not been completed as yet. I am worried that a lot of time has passed and the pain is still there. It is a throbbing/ aching pain. I spoke to my dentist today who said to give it another week. I have had two courses of amoxicillin which I didn't feel were making a difference at the time but now I have completed the second course I feel that the pain has slightly worsened without the antibiotics. I'm struggling with everyday life/ tasks as I do not cope well with pain. Does this sound like a lost cause?
ReplyDeleteHI Rebecca,
DeleteThis is one of those cases that I wish I could see and examine to really be able to answer your questions. Lets start with my questions, why was the root canal done in the first place? Did you have pain or swelling? Was there no pain but the dentist saw something in the xray? When you say the final restoration is not complete do you mean the root canal is not complete or do you mean the root canal is complete but there is only a temporary filling there? Let's start with your throbbing pain. Usually if there is throbbing pain there is pressure somewhere looking to get out. Does it feel like it is throbbing inside the tooth or somewhere above the tooth? If the root canal is not complete the tooth can be openned to allow pressure out. Well obviously I have a lot of questions whose answers would affect my answers to you. So having said this let me give you some possibilities. 1. Let us assume that the right tooth has been diagnosed and the pain is not coming from another tooth. 2. If the root canal is done properly you can have pain (even severe pain) after the rootcanal treatment which does go away after a short period. 3. The pain will either get better or you will swell up. So what do you do? Call your dentist and insist that he/she see you. It is over two weeks now, you should start to see improvement and if not something needs to be done. If your dentist tells you to wait then ask for a referral to an Endodontist (root canal specialist) for a second opinion. You can also see a Endodontist without a referral from your dentist. Defintely not a lost cause but it sounds like it has reached the border of "too long" and you have to be more aggresive. If your dentist can't help you then let them send you to someone who can.
As I told you earlier, I can't really tell you much as I haven't examined you but the last part is common sense.
Let me know how it goes and what happens, if you have any further questions just send them.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hi Dr Barzilay. Thank you for your reply and apologies for the delay getting back to you. The situation is now that the root canal was done 9 weeks ago. It was diagnosed as I was having some mild pain in the tooth and the dentist said it could be a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. There was some infection at the root identified on the X-rays. The final restoration was completed just over two weeks ago yet the tooth still hurts. The pain seems to be more localised to the gum than the tooth. The dentist admitted that he had 'pushed too far' in the initial root canal 9 weeks ago and probably pushed the infection through the end of the tooth...does this have a bearing on healing time? I've been reading a lot online about sprained tooth syndrome and wondering if this could be the issue? Since the last time I wrote to you I have also had another root canal done on the next tooth along. This was an old root canal completed 20 years ago and was showing signs of failure...this was completed 2 weeks ago also and still has a little pain. I'm close to my wits end and would like to consider extraction for the first tooth. 9 weeks is a long time for moderate pain. I've given myself a stomach ulcer taking ibuprofen for so long.
DeleteHi Rebecca,
DeleteI have reread your original question and my answer to you then. (I don't think sprained tooth syndrome is an issue here.) I see a lot has happened since and I can comment on what has happened since and again go into a lot of possibilities but I don't think that is what you need. I think you need to see a specialist, an Endodontist. I suggested this in my first reply and I suggest it again as this whole story has been going on some time and I am not sure what is going on. After a root canal treatment, relief should come in a relatively short period of time and you shouldn't be in pain two months later. Get an endodontist to have a look. I think it is time. ( this is exactly what I would tell a family member of mine at this point.)
Let me know what the result was.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
wwww.rondentist.com
Thank you very much for this reply. I will look into Endodintists in the UK. My dentist tells me he is studying to become an endodontist but I don't think his studies are yet complete.
DeleteI'm scheduled for a root canal in 2 weeks. I advised the endodontist that the current crown on the tooth seems loose (she agreed it was a little) She advised the R.C. should go OK unless the tooth is actually cracked. My question to you is:Do you concur with this? I'm thinking the R.C may not go well if the crown loosens up more before I get to the appointment. Thank You!
ReplyDeleteHI Psychofreezone,
DeleteSorry for the late response but I have been away on vacation and only returned yesterday.
Obviously without examining you I can't agree or disagree with any opinion given by someone who has seen you. What I can do is give you my opinion based on what you have told me.
If the crown is loose, I tend to think that the endodontist may remove it before treatment so that they can see what is going on underneath so they can have a better idea of the state of the tooth. A loose crown can be unstable to do the root canal treatment on and with the pressure of the clamp placed on it may come off during treatment so it is always better to take it off first and recement the crown temporarily. Even if the crown is loose, treatment can be succesful if the crown is recemented. When you take off the crown you may possibly see better if there is a crack. Now if the crown is loosening because the cement has weakened then it is not a problem but if it has loosened because something underneath is broken that may be a problem.
Hope this gets to you before your appointment and I hope it helps.
good luck
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Dr Barzilay: Thank you so much for your input. My appt. is tomorrow. Knowing that the crown can be removed before treatment is very good to know. I was thinking I would need to get it RE-CEMENTED BEFORE treatment. Very helpful info indeed! I thank you for your time!
ReplyDeleteHi Doctor,
ReplyDeleteI got one of my posterior teeth extracted about 15 years ago. Since I was too scared of a root canal back then, I opted for an extraction instead. I now realize that it was a big mistake.
Anyways..after the extraction, a crown/bridge was placed. The bridge came off about 4 months ago as one of the teeth holding the bridge got severely infected and I got a root canal procedure done. I now have a hole in my jaw and my dentist has advised me to go for an implant to preserve the shape of my jawline. I am not entirely convinced to get an implant done as it is very expensive and painful. Not to mention that I am terrified of dentists.
Do you think its absolutely necessary for me to get the implant and what would happen if I dont get it?
Thanks in advance, Doctor!
HI Prerna,
DeleteAny chance you can take a picture with your cell phone and send me a picture?
Hi Doctor,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the immediate response. I'm trying to attach a picture here but there is no such option. Can you please provide me an email ID to which I can directly send you the picture?
Sorry for the trouble!
And thanks.
HI Prerna,
DeleteSorry for the late reply but we have been at the Ontario Dental Association meeting for the last few days. you can sent the pic to info@rondentist.com
Hi Prerna,
DeleteI received the picture you sent me and I see where you have the spcace between the last tooth and the tooth ahead. I see the supporting teeth of the old bridge with their crowns and just the bridge part is missing.
As to your question "is it absolutely necessary to get an implant and what would happen if I don't. 1. It is better to get a replacement for the missing tooth. Why? It is more comfortable for you when you eat to have a tooth there to help you with your chewing as opposed to food falling through the hole. Of course if a chip goes through there it can be uncomfortable on the gum. 2. When you lose a tooth, the teeth around and above can start to move into the space and interfere with your bite. But depending how the rest of the teeth come together, this may not happen. I can't tell without examining you. In a worse case scenario, will this totally change your life? I don't think so. Better to have it but not the end of the world if you don't. As to whether it should be an implant or a new bridge, that is another story. Since one of the teeth on either side of the space required a root canal, there is a good chance it may also need a new crown. Perhaps there was leakage under the old crown and this may be why it got infected. I can't tell without examining but this is possible and if so you could do a new bridge instead of an implant/crown plus a crown. That would be more cost effective.
I hope this helps a bit. If you have any further questions I am here.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
In my case I had the root canals done; had the filling put in but did not get the crowns as crowns were not covered under my insurance plan and they are very expensive. Now about 5 years later I had one crumble with the outside edges remaining and another kind of half apart but there is a hole in the gum under it. That concerns me so I'll be making an appointment. I'm afraid that he'll have no option but to pull them which I do not want. The back molar maybe but the other one is 3rd from front on bottom. It would definitely show.
ReplyDeleteIn my case I had the root canals done; had the filling put in but did not get the crowns as crowns were not covered under my insurance plan and they are very expensive. Now about 5 years later I had one crumble with the outside edges remaining and another kind of half apart but there is a hole in the gum under it. That concerns me so I'll be making an appointment. I'm afraid that he'll have no option but to pull them which I do not want. The back molar maybe but the other one is 3rd from front on bottom. It would definitely show.
ReplyDeleteHI Sweetnurse,
DeleteThis is a situation we often come across, where the rootcanal is done and the tooth is restored with a filling. The tooth feels fine and it may be fine for many years but when it breaks, at that point it may have to come out. Replacing the tooth is always more expensive than the cost of the crown. Having said that, I hope that your dentist is still able to repair those teeth without the need for extracions.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
I have a root cancel on my front tooth. It has been there for many years. The original dentist did a poor job and it broke off. I had it replaced and now it can feel it move. I contacted a dentist but nothing can be done until I an consultation next week. Is there anything you recommend I do until the mean time? It wiggles when I talk and eat. Should I wear a mouth piece?
ReplyDeleteHI Clara,
DeleteI assume when you say a mouth piece, you are talking about some clear sports guard that you boil and mold to your teeth. It seems to me that this tooth is so loose that whatever you do it is going to come out. If you mold this sports guard to it, it may come out the first time you use it. In a situation like this, it can be a.the crown is loose and it can just be recemented or b. the post is loose and needs to be recemented or c. the root is cracked or decayed and the post has nothing to hold onto and then you may be looking at an extraction. If you can't wait for your consultation I am sure there is an emergency after hours dentist you can look up who may be able to tell you what is going on and may be able to do something temporary for you.
I hope it works out for you. Let me know what the problem was and what was the solution.
Regards
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
Hi i had a tooth that had a partial root canal done. i wasnt able to afford a cap to put over the tooth afterwards. Now my tooth is loose and part of it feels like its coming out. Would i need a procedure done after this tooth falls out? Or am i ok since i never got it finished?
ReplyDeleteHI Carlos,
DeleteLet me go to the important point that you mentioned. Your tooth is loose and you feel that it is coming out. If you feel that your tooth is loose it could be because after whatever treatment you had the tooth broke and now the broken part is moving. Once it comes out you are probably left with most of the tooth in the gums that need to be extracted otherwise you will eventually get an infection there. The other possibility for your tooth being loose is that there is an infection there right now pushing on the tooth and making it loose. In this situation more often than not the tooth still needs to come out. Exactly what the situation is I don't know without checking it myself and taking some xrays. I will say that most likely you are going to lose this tooth and when it comes out, if it is only a small piece then there is more under the gum and you need to get it out. Any further procedures beyond this? Perhaps replacing the missing tooth with a new implant based tooth so that you can smile or eat normally. For a definitive diagnosis you need to see your dentist so he can tell you exactly what is going on.
I hope that I have helped you a little and if you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask.
All the best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www. rondentist.com
Hamilton Ontario
Hi, I had tooth decay and had a dentist put in a temporary filling after cleaning out some of the decay (she said she left some there for the mean time and maybe see how it takes) I had extreme pain after getting the filling but it stopped by night time and I haven't had paid in that area since - do you recommend I go ahead and do a root canal treatment or does the fact there is no pain mean that a RCT is not necessary? Thank you
ReplyDeleteI also have braces, the affected tooth is tooth number 5 - do you recommend maybe that I remove the affected tooth and have tooth number 6 and 7 moved down in that place instead of a RCT?
ReplyDeleteHi KH12,
DeleteDo I recommend extracting the tooth and moving the others to compensate for the missing tooth? That is possible but could be very difficult with some risks. To move 6 and 7 into that place maybe be possible but you would most likely have to extract the same tooth on the other side or it would throw your midline off and that wouldn't look good. Moving 6 and 7 and 13 and 14 back not always easy and may give a dished out appearance to your profile. The short is if you can keep 5 then much better ( without knowing the exact details of the case).
As to the decay, if you haven't lost to much tooth structure it is better to save the tooth whether by just filling or if need be by root canal , buildup and crown. As to whether you need a root canal or not that is a diagnosis that only you dentist can make because I just don't have enough information here to give you that diagnosis. ( no pain is good)
All best
Dr. Ron Barzilay
www.rondentist.com
PS. any more questions, just reply