What Happens if a Root Canal Becomes Reinfected?

To protect your oral health and make your teeth last a lifetime, you need to be diligent about practicing healthy habits, such as brushing and flossing regularly and visiting your dentist twice yearly. 

However, if you neglect your oral health, you increase your risk of developing infections and diseases that affect the health and structures of your teeth. When dangerous bacteria can make their way into the inner portions of your teeth, the soft pulp containing your tooth’s blood vessels and nerves can get inflamed or infected. If left untreated, the pulp can eventually die. 

When you have an infected tooth, it’s usually best to try and save the tooth rather than extract it. That’s because tooth extraction can hurt your remaining teeth and put you at risk for more oral health issues. 

At our practices in Statesville and Hickory, North Carolina, endodontist Robert Scott Nance, DDS, MS, PA, leads our team in performing root canal therapy to save teeth and preserve oral health. 

However, while most root canals are successful, there is always a chance that a tooth can get reinfected.

In this month’s blog, we discuss how root canals work and what to do if symptoms of tooth infection recur after undergoing root canal therapy. 

How root canals save infected teeth

When your tooth’s pulp has become inflamed or infected due to severe decay, trauma, or cracks in your tooth, you may have severe tooth pain, high tooth sensitivity, or a pus-filled abscess on your gums. If Dr. Nance observes severe inflammation or infection along with significant damage to your tooth’s inner structures, he will try and save your tooth with root canal therapy. 

During a root canal, Dr. Nance removes the infected and inflamed pulp before thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting your tooth. 

Next, he fills and seals your tooth with a rubber-like substance. 

Then, he places a filling or crown to protect your tooth against future damage. You may also get an antibiotic to clear out any remaining infection.

Can your treated tooth get reinfected?

Like any medical treatment, there is always a chance that healing won’t go as planned or that the procedure isn’t completely effective. In addition, if you don’t care for your tooth properly after treatment, further cracks or decay puts the tooth at risk of reinfection. 

If you notice symptoms of tooth infection, seek treatment right away. Dr. Nance will examine your tooth and determine if retreatment of the tooth is the best next step. 

If Dr. Nance recommends additional root canal therapy, he removes the previously placed sealant. 

Then, he checks your tooth’s inner structures to discover any anatomical abnormalities that require further treatment. After cleaning your tooth thoroughly once again, he seals and protects your tooth.  

Seek immediate treatment for infected teeth

To save an infected tooth, you must seek treatment right away. As soon as you notice signs of tooth infection, call Dr. Nance’s nearest office location to schedule an appointment.