Dr. Brett Evan Gilbert, D.D.S.

Typically tenderness to touch on a tooth that has had a root canal is an early sign of an issue. Also, the presence of a swelling or a white head pimple on your gum tissue may be a sign that a root canal treated tooth is not healthy.

In truth, infections do not spread from one tooth to another. However, sometimes you can get referred pain from a tooth that spreads to other areas. The brain has a harder time discriminating where pain is coming from when a nerve is agitated and painful. A dental exam can reveal the true source of the pain. A referral to an endodontist (a root canal specialist) is advised to assure that a proper diagnosis is attained.

Brett E. Gilbert, D.D.S.

Typically, after six months, your tooth should be feeling good. If not, I would recommend returning to the dentist who treated the tooth or scheduling a consultation with an endodontist, a root canal specialist.

Brett E. Gilbert, D.D.S.

Many of the answers regarding endodontic surgery can be found on the AAE website. Here is the link:

https://www.aae.org/patients/root-canal-treatment/endodontic-treatment-options/endodontic-surgery/

Brett E. Gilbert, D.D.S.

This involves redoing the original root canal in an effort to clean again or potentially revise the previous treatment. The original root canal filling materials will be removed and the inside of the tooth will be disinfected. The root canals are then re-filled. Retreatment can be very effective in getting the tooth back to health.

You would want to see your general dentist as it may be as simple as smoothing the area or potentially doing a restoration to replace the missing tooth structure.

If your tooth is cracked, it can expose the tissue inside, resulting in pain, inflammation, and potentially infection. You should have the tooth evaluated by a dentist as soon as possible.

Brett E. Gilbert, D.D.S.

Root canal treatment can be permanent if the tooth stays healthy. The issues that can arise are related to the fact that a tooth that gets root canal treatment is still vulnerable to decay, periodontal disease, injury, wear or breakdown over time. After root canal treatment is completed, a proper restoration is necessary to protect the inside of the tooth. It is also critically important for a patient to take great care of their teeth with excellent oral hygiene to prevent some of the issues that can arise. If a root canal treated tooth is taken care of and kept healthy, it can last for the rest of a patient's life.

Brett E. Gilbert, D.D.S.

Every patient has different needs in regards to how often you should have dental hygiene visits. In general, patients with healthy teeth who perform good oral hygiene care at home will see their dental hygienist twice a year.

Your dentist may be proficient in doing root canals but depending on the tooth anatomy or the extent of disease in the tooth they may opt to refer you to a specialist to assure that your tooth is treated to the highest level of clinical expertise. Your dentist makes a case selection decision on each case as to whether it should be treated in their office or be referred to a specialist. The referral to an Endodontist shows that your dentist is conscientious and wants to be sure that you have the best possible outcome for your root canal!