Healthy Soch
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New Delhi, August 14, 2017
Question by our Reader
Hello..I had a root canal done on tooth 12 months back. It has not healed up fully. Please suggest.
Reply by Dr Shilpi Malhotra :
It’s possible for an RCT treated tooth to heal improperly, becoming painful or diseased months or even years after treatment. If this happens, you have a second chance to save the tooth with retreatment. An additional procedure may be able to diminish dental pain or discomfort and promote healing.
As with any dental/ medical procedure, its possible your tooth won’t heal as expected after the initial treatment for various reasons.
1.Narrow or curved canals were not treated during initial procedure.
2.Complicated canal anatomy went undetected in the first procedure.
3.Placement of permanent restoration or crown was delayed following endodontic treatment.
A new problem can also jeopardize a tooth that was successfully treated such as
1.New decay can cause new infection in the tooth.
2.Loose,cracked or broken crown or filling can expose tooth to new infection.
3.Tooth sustains fracture.
During retreatment, the dentist may reopen your tooth, remove filling materials that were placed in root canals during the first procedure. He/She would then examine the tooth, looking for additional canals or new infection. He/She would need to remove any infection, clean and shape the canals and place new filling materials. The opening would then need to be sealed with temporary filling. Once the tooth heals, a new restoration and crown would need to be placed to protect it.
Dr. Shilpi Malhotra
Consultant Dental Surgeon
Ivory Dental
Shalimar Bagh
Delhi-110088
Ivorydental@hotmail.com
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