Tooth extraction of a root canal treated tooth and the appropriate timing for extraction

Extracting a Tooth After Root Canal Treatment, The tooth that has undergone root canal treatment may encounter some problems that affect it, and extraction becomes the last resort to avoid any complications or worsening of the patient’s health condition. Therefore, we will explore the situations in which dentists resort to extracting the tooth that has been root canal treated in this article.

Extracting a Tooth After Root Canal Treatment

A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment may experience some issues after the procedure, requiring consultation with the dentist to determine the appropriate treatment method and prevent further complications. Sometimes, one of the treatment methods decided by the dentist is to extract the tooth due to deterioration of the tooth restoration, fracture of the tooth or filling, or the tooth becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and decay due to bacteria reaching some of the lateral nerve canals that were not filled during the root canal treatment, or the appearance of cracks in the tooth root and structure.

Can a Tooth Be Extracted After Root Canal Treatment?

Yes, there are some cases where complications occur that require tooth extraction despite root canal treatment. This decision is made after various medical examinations and X-rays that show the condition of the tooth and assist the dentist in making an informed decision. However, the patient cannot make the decision to extract the tooth solely because they cannot tolerate the pain, as this can lead to changes in facial shape due to the resulting gap and may also potentially damage the surrounding teeth. The dentist may agree to the patient’s decision to extract the tooth if they are able to perform dental implants or fit dentures to replace the extracted teeth and molars.

Can a Tooth Break After Root Canal Treatment?

Yes, it is possible for a tooth to break after root canal treatment due to the weakening and fragility of the tooth roots after months of undergoing the procedure, which involves removing part of the tooth cavity to secure the filling material inside. The tooth becomes susceptible to breaking when pressure is applied during chewing or biting, or when it comes into contact with other teeth during speech, due to the loss of the nerve’s ability to sense or respond to heat and cold after the nerve is removed during the procedure.

When Should a Tooth Be Extracted After Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment solves many problems that affect teeth in general, but there are some rare cases where root canal treatment fails or complications arise over time, forcing the dentist to resort to tooth extraction. The reasons for extracting a tooth after root canal treatment include:

• Persistent pain in the tooth after the filling, and the patient’s failure to respond to any other treatment methods or solutions.
• Failure of the wound to heal after the root canal procedure over time and months, which can lead to infection and potentially other diseases.
• Discoloration of the tooth root, turning black, which indicates the beginning of tooth decay.
• Formation of abscesses and bacterial accumulations deep within the tooth cavity. When it comes to tooth abscesses, we are here to help you get rid of the pain and solve the problem as quickly as possible. Visit our dental care center today and enjoy a comfortable and professional treatment experience.
• Persistent inflammation in the mouth and swelling of the face and jaws.

Is Root Canal Treatment Better Than Tooth Extraction?

The answer to this question depends on the details of the patient’s health condition, taking into account not only the affected tooth but also the surrounding teeth. It is also necessary to consider any other diseases the patient may have, especially chronic ones.

There are some cases where root canal treatment may be beneficial, but extraction may be the better solution due to the tooth’s inability to perform its full function. For example, wisdom teeth that do not have opposing teeth to assist in chewing and grinding food, or baby teeth that are expected to fall out soon, or cases where a large portion of the teeth are missing and the remaining teeth are damaged, requiring the installation of a new set of dentures or implants. Ultimately, the most appropriate decision lies with the treating dentist, who will diagnose the patient’s condition after reviewing various medical examinations and X-rays.

Reasons for Undergoing Root Canal Treatment

The decision to undergo root canal treatment is not made until certain symptoms appear, indicating dental problems that require treatment. After visiting the dentist and being diagnosed, the treatment plan may include the need for root canal treatment. Let’s explore the reasons for undergoing root canal treatment:

• Persistent Pain: The patient experiences constant pain in cases of gum inflammation, sinus infections, mouth and tooth infections, or cracks and fractures in the molars.
• Pain When Teeth Are Exposed to Cold or Heat: The patient experiences discomfort when consuming frozen foods or hot beverages, and the pain persists even after stopping the consumption of hot or cold items.
• Swollen or Inflamed Gums: Frequent consumption of citrus fruits can cause swollen or inflamed gums, which may or may not be accompanied by pain. In some cases, the patient may not experience pain, but bad breath or an inability to taste foods can be the main indication that root canal treatment is needed.
• Tooth Discoloration: Destruction of the inner tissues or roots of the teeth can be a result of infection and is often accompanied by a change in tooth color.
• Tooth Fractures: Fractured teeth provide an opportunity for bacteria to grow inside the cracks and reach the nerve.
• Weak Tooth Roots: Infections in the mouth can cause the production of acidic substances that have a strong effect on destroying the tooth nerve if the infection reaches the tooth root.

Steps Involved in Root Canal Treatment

There are several steps that the dentist determines based on the patient’s health condition and the extent of decay in the tooth during root canal treatment. These steps are guided by the X-rays and medical examinations requested by the dentist before the procedure to take all necessary precautions and ensure the success of the root canal treatment. These steps are as follows:

1. Numbing the gum or affected tooth with a local anesthetic injection.
2. After the anesthetic takes effect, the dentist drills into the tooth cavity using a drill or medical removal tool to remove decay and all bacteria and microbes present within the nerve canals.
3. Isolating the affected tooth by placing a dental isolation sheet around it.
4. Sterilizing the tooth cavity with solutions to ensure the elimination of any remaining bacteria.
5. Filling the spaces of the main and lateral nerve canals with a temporary filling to allow the tooth to adjust and test for any allergic reactions to the nerve.
6. In the next session, the dentist replaces the temporary filling with the permanent filling they have prescribed.
7. Smoothing the surface of the filling with the tooth surface to ensure no protruding filling edges.
8. Placing a crown over the top of the tooth to ensure the filling does not move from within the tooth cavity and to restore the aesthetic appearance of the tooth. You can read more details about root canal treatment, the number of sessions, and costs through this article.

Treating Toothache After Root Canal Treatment

There are some guidelines that can help alleviate tooth pain after root canal treatment when followed. These can be summarized as follows:

• Adhering to the medications prescribed by the dentist at the appropriate times during the treatment period.
• Using the appropriate toothpaste and sensitive toothbrush as recommended by the dentist.
• Installing a crown or veneer on top of the tooth to help it perform its full function and protect the filling inside.
• If the patient experiences an allergic reaction to the filling, the dentist will replace it.
• Polishing the surface of the filling flush with the tooth surface to ensure no protruding edges that could cause cracks when pressure is applied later.

Root Canal Treatment Failure

Root canal treatment is a procedure with a high success rate, reaching up to 98%. However, there are some rare cases where the treatment fails, and there are several reasons that can lead to this. Let’s explore these reasons:

• Failure to Eliminate Bacteria

In cases of severe infection, it is possible that not all bacteria or microbes are eliminated due to insufficient sterilization of the nerve, failure to flush and remove pus from the nerve canal, or failure to fill all the cavities of the nerve and tooth with the filling, allowing oral bacteria to enter these cavities and proliferate, causing severe infection or failure to detect an abscess deep within the tooth root, which can lead to complications if left untreated.

• Using an Inappropriate Filling Material

If the filling does not completely fill the tooth cavity, leaving it shorter than necessary, it allows bacteria to enter and grow. Alternatively, if the filling protrudes beyond the tooth surface, it can cause collisions during speech or while chewing and biting, leading to cracks or dislodgement of the filling. Additionally, the immune system may have an allergic reaction to the filling, which is considered a foreign object in the body.

• Instruments Used in the Procedure Left Inside the Tooth Cavity

Forgetting to remove and sterilize the instruments used to remove pus, abscesses, or infections during the process of widening and sterilizing the nerve canals can cause root canal treatment failure. However, if the instruments are sterilized and do not contain any infections, the root canal treatment has a high success rate.

• Failure to Detect Lateral Nerve Canals

A significant number of dentists may fail to detect some of the lateral nerve canals, leaving gaps in the cavity that allow bacteria to enter and cause reinfection.

There are symptoms that indicate the failure of root canal treatment, such as:

• Increase in pain intensity over time.
• X-rays showing a lack of healing between the filling and the tooth root after the procedure.
• Tooth discoloration.
• Formation of abscesses in the areas surrounding the filled tooth. When it comes to tooth abscesses, we are here to help you get rid of the pain and solve the problem as quickly as possible. Visit our dental care center today and enjoy a comfortable and professional treatment experience.
• Swelling on the side of the face and jaw where the filled tooth is located.

After Extracting an Inflamed Tooth

A tooth becomes inflamed due to the presence of an infection or bacteria causing the inflammation. Dentists recommend not extracting the tooth until it has completely healed to avoid further complications, as during the extraction procedure, the patient must be anesthetized, and using anesthesia in this condition would not be favorable and may have adverse effects, causing severe pain. If an inflamed tooth is extracted, the patient may experience the following symptoms or complications:

• Feeling pain due to inadequate anesthesia.
• Discovering an abscess during the extraction procedure, which may require the dentist to take additional measures and prolong the duration of the procedure, in which case the pain will be compounded.
• Transmission of the infection causing the inflammation to the blood vessels during the extraction procedure.

Therefore, it is recommended to take antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications and ensure complete healing and the disappearance of inflammation before undergoing the extraction procedure.