Dental Advice faq from Seattle Area Dentist

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I have had 3 root canals done in the same tooth and am still in pain. I am afraid to go back to the dentist again and am taking pain pills to much. Is this normal to have 3 in one tooth?

Though I can not assess your specific condition, as well as need more details (ie- were the 3 root canals done within 1 year or 20 years?), I can say that we do need to retreat root canals on a fairly regular basis, perhaps 1 in 20 times. Unfortunately, there are some conditions which do not respond to root canal treatment the way we would like them to. For example, your tooth may have a microscopic fracture which prevents it from being sealed with a root canal. In these situations, the infection may persist and the tooth may need to be extracted. Chronic infections may also linger for many months after treatment, so if you notice the discomfort improving, you may still get a satisfying result. In any event, I wish you the best of luck with your tooth. Please do not hesitate to contact your dentist regarding your discomfort. Remember, as dentists, we chose our profession to help patients in need such as yourself!

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Last revised: January 03, 2005.