Dr. Mark Melnick, D.M.D.

The only way to get rid of an infection in a tooth is to mechanically remove it. The only 2 choices is have a root canal done, or pull the tooth. Root canals have success somewhere in the 90th percentile. Extraction is a 100% successful, but then you would probably would want to replace it. Those options come with their own success and failure rates. Antibiotics will never cure an infected tooth for there is no blood flow there anymore to get the antibiotics to the infection. All antibiotics will do for you is possibly buy you some comfortable time. Who knows how long.

Cracked teeth keep all of us dentists in business. You should talk to your dentist and ask about what is best for you. Usually if the crack is truly a crack and not just a "craze line," then a crown will be recommended. Sometimes a root canal is also recommend. If the crack/craze is on a front tooth, then they might recommend a veneer.

It is normal that after any work is done, 2-4 days after can often be the worst time. Usually within a week you should be okay. That being said, some cases take longer, and some cases, possible fractured teeth, might never feel quite right. Motrin, if you can take it, works well to control the discomfort. If the Motrin alone doesn't work, try adding Tylenol with it.

Dentistry is humbling!! There are three golden rules: 1. We might not be able to do what we set out to do. 2. It might not work right out of the gate even though it looks perfect. 3. Nothing we do lasts for ever!!

Retreating root canals are a common procedure. Typically we need to widen the canals out which could lead to weakening the tooth in some cases. Sometimes the retreatment does not work and either an apicoectomy might be suggested or and an extraction. Please note that most root canal failures I see are due to leaky crowns which allows bacteria back in the canals. Ask you dentist of the age of the crown, and should you replace it.

You need to get to a dentist ASAP and have it evaluated. The problem will only get worse.

Any time you put off a filling you are asking for trouble. They will continue to get worse and worse over time, possibly causing the need for a root canal, or even extraction due to not enough tooth left.

Pain to bite on the tooth, or a swelling/pimple in the area, is a good indication of something is wrong. A dentist should take x-rays of the tooth if any of those symptoms are present. Furthermore, a full mouth set of x-rays (FMX) should be taken periodically of all teeth to check for problems. There is some debate on how often. Often insurance dictates this; the common range for insurance companies allow an FMX every 2-5 years.

Most probably yes. You need to ask your dentist about the restorability of the tooth and the cost to fix it.

Ask your dentist. This is common injury. They can most probably bond on some composite to replace the missing chip area. Be aware that chipped front teeth can be difficult to hold a filling. These sometimes break and need to be redone. If it is a large chip, they might want to do a crown or veneer. Often if it is one of the two central teeth, they recommend 2 crowns or veneers. It is difficult to match the colors when doing full facial restorations.

It is most common that people get a cleaning 2 times a year. At that time (very case dependent) they often take at least bitewing x-rays to see if any cavities are present. Some people may need cleanings 3-4 times a year.

Infections in teeth do not spread to other teeth. Most probably, your tooth is not infected, but rather hyper-inflamed. If you are having any pain to temperature, this is the case. Often, a hyper-inflamed tooth (a pulpitus) will refer pain to another tooth. It can refer to an upper tooth, even up to the ear. You want to be seen ASAP to diagnose and treat the tooth.

Most root canal recoveries will be within a few weeks. Sometimes they never feel 100% better. This is especially true with cracked teeth. Unfortunately, any medical or dental procedure has the possibility of not working. You should follow up with the dentist who did it, or a specialist, to diagnose if there is an issue.

There is always risk for any treatment. Your doc should go over them with you. With apicos (root end resection), some of the biggest risks are, but not limited to:

1) it might not work
2) infection
3) pain and swelling, bruising
4) depending on where it is being done, you can get a sinus perforation, or damage to the mandibular nerve.

Make sure you know of the alternative of retreating the tooth. 99% of the root canals I see are treated with retreatment first. Apicos are last ditch efforts to save a tooth. Most failures of older root canals are a reinfection. An apico does not deal with that. In general, the apico is only done when the dentist thinks there is a secondary canal at the root tip and they want to cut it out.

Being a diabetic, you are at risk of not healing up as well. The less controlled diabetic you are, the higher the risk involved.

This is tricky question. The biggest factor in it's success is whether the tooth is is entirely reinfected, or if it is suspected that a small portion of the tooth, just the root tip, is infected. Most root canals actually fail because the entire tooth is reinfected. These are usually the older root canals. If it is a root canal is just done with in a year or two, and it has a well sealed restoration, failure might be do more something is left in the root--a secondary canal that instruments can't get, or the dentist could not get to the end of the canal. 30-40% of my business is "failing root canals." 99% of the time I retreat the tooth as a first line of defense. This will typically work ninety some odd percent of the time. I consider Apicoectomy surgeries as a last ditch efforts to save the tooth. I usually do them after a retreat does not work, or it is new rct that I trust who did it. Implants are great alternatives if all else fails.

Everything dentist do will eventually fail!! Root canals tend to fail for one of three reasons. 1. something cracks or breaks, 2, something is left behind and festers an infection. 2. Something leaks back in and reinfects the root canal system. Reinfection is the #1 reason for failures. A retreatment involves removing the old root canal filling, redisinfecting the tooth, then putting a new root canal filling in. They have a high degree of success. While much harder for the dentist, it usually is easer for the patient since there is no nerve in the tooth.

Everything done in dentistry, medicine, and in life, is subject to failing. Most endodontic failures are due to leakage from the restoration, allowing bacteria back into the root canal system. The root canal in most cases can be retreated and the tooth saved

Cracked teeth keep dentists in business. Most cracked teeth just need to be crowned. Some may need a root canal prior, some may end up needing a root canal after crowning. Your best bet is to have your dentist look at the extent of the crack and guide you through the options. They my opt to send you to a endodontist to evaluate the risk of needing a root canal.

General dentists refer out rootcanal for many reasons. Some don't like to do them; some pick and choose what teeth they want to treat. There is a chance that your case is a difficult case to negotiate the canals and you dentist feels that a specialist has a better chance of achieving a good result. The experience you have at any doctors office varies. People who come to my office typically are very satisfied. I have been doing root canals only for 19 years and I have learned a few tricks along the way to may it a pleasant as can be.