Posted by writeradmin
I had a root canal treatment done on a tooth. Since then, the filling fell out that was closing the hole. My tooth started hurting again. My dentist said that there is now an abscess and I will need to have a second root canal treatment. Is that really necessary? Can I just use an antibiotic to fix up the infection, since I’ve already had a root canal treatment?
Adeline
Dear Adeline,
Yes, you will need to have the root canal treatment done again. It sounds like a step was missed in your treatment plan for this root canal. Those fillings are just temporary fillings meant to keep the hole closed until you have a dental crown made. When that is overlooked, your saliva will eventually wear away the filling, causing it to fall out.
Once that seal is broken, then bacteria can get in and the infection will flare back up again, like yours has. Having a dental crown placed will prevent that from happening. Tooth infections are considered dental emergencies, so go ahead and schedule the re-treatment. Then make sure to schedule the dental crown while you’re there so it doesn’t get overlooked again.
Why Antibiotics Won’t Work
When you take antibiotics they get into your blood stream in order to help fight the infection you are dealing with. This won’t work for a tooth infection because there is no bloodstream once the pulp is damaged. It cannot get in there to treat the infection. The only things that work are getting in there are removing the infection, like with a root canal treatment or by extracting the tooth.
I would try the re-treatment first. That’s the ideal because it allows you to keep your natural tooth root. If that ends up not working, then an extraction is all you are left with. Bear in mind that once a tooth is extracted, it will need to be replaced. Otherwise the adjacent teeth will start to drift or tip into the empty space, throwing off your bite. That will lead to jaw pain and headaches. If you need to replace a tooth, the best tooth replacement is a dental implant. There are other options, but an implant is the closest thing to having a healthy natural tooth in your mouth.
This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Baton Rouge, Dr. John Theriot.