“What happens if a root canal gets infected?”
I have a root canal infection. Is it serious? What should I do?
4 Answers
See your dentist or ENDODONTIST (root canal specialist) asap.
If a root canal gets infected, you might need to have the root canal retreated, you may need root surgery, or the tooth may need to be extracted.
If you've had a root canal treatment, and it's become infected again, this is just as serious as the abscess/infection you had that led to the need for initial root canal treatment. You will be best off contacting your Dentist to let them know.
They will likely assess your tooth and provide antibiotics if you've suffered a relapse of infection after the initial root canal treatment. In some cases, there is the opportunity for re-treatment to clean the inside of canals again. An apicoectomy (which involves trimming the tips of the roots to eliminate infected tissue) may also be a possibility.
In some cases, a re-infection cannot be treated and your Dentist may recommend extraction of your tooth.
They will likely assess your tooth and provide antibiotics if you've suffered a relapse of infection after the initial root canal treatment. In some cases, there is the opportunity for re-treatment to clean the inside of canals again. An apicoectomy (which involves trimming the tips of the roots to eliminate infected tissue) may also be a possibility.
In some cases, a re-infection cannot be treated and your Dentist may recommend extraction of your tooth.
Two options: retreat by an endodontist, and, if the prognosis is poor, then extract.
