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A member asked:
I had a tooth that had been canal treated 3yr ago. now infected and swollen. dr suggest extraction, is there other ways to treat it? im on antibiotic
5 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Depends: It depends on why the tooth has become reinfected. Very often the tooth can be re-treated... the root canal can be redone. Ask your dentist why he is recommending an extraction rather than redoing the root canal. Is the tooth fractured or not restorable. You may want to see an Endodontist (specializes in root canal treatment) for a second opinion.
Answered 4/13/2016
1.4k views
Dr's correct: The probability is that the root canal treatment has failed. Perhaps because of recurrent decay, fracture, etc. You could attempt retreating the tooth, but I would suggest that this be done by a root canal specialist, an Endodontist. In all probability, however, the best thing to do is remove the damaged tooth and replace it with an implant/crown.
Answered 4/13/2016
1.4k views
Endodontist: Have a root canal specialist (endodontist) take a look. Unless the tooth is fractured or canals that cannot be obturated, the number one cause of failure is debris in the canals. I would suggest retreatment first.
Answered 11/27/2017
1.4k views
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