I am in so much pain and need some help. I had a root canal treatment three years ago. It started to hurt again a few weeks ago. I went in to see my dentist and he said it is re-infected and did a root canal re-treatment. He prescribed me some antibiotics. It got better for a little bit, but now I'm even worse. I called back and he said some people take longer than others to get better. I just don't know what to do. I can't take the pain. What is my next step because I'm not sure my dentist is on target here?
Andrea
Dear Andrea,
While it is not unheard of for a root canal treatment to need re-treatment, the chances of the re-treatment being successful go down each time it has to be done. Your dentist started out with a good plan, but has gone downhill from there.
It is true that some people take longer to heal than others. However, they don't start to get better and then get worse again. That is a sign there is still an infection present. The only reason you likely felt better at first was because of the antibiotics. Once those wore off, the infection flared back up.
In this case, I think you need to forgo your current dentist and see a root canal specialist. If you have insurance, they will be listed as an endodontist. Let them know what is going on and they should schedule you for an urgent care appointment. Don't put this off. Tooth infections are considered dental emergencies and you don't want this to spread.
Disclaimer: This article is general information from Dr. Harveer Kaur and is not a substitute for a dental exam, diagnosis, or treatment. Every mouth is different. If you have a concern about your teeth or gums, call our Ahwatukee office at (480) 283-0733 or our Chandler office at (480) 895-3252 and we will help you sort it out.
Dr. Harveer Kaur, DDS, BDS
Dr. Kaur is the founder of Kokopelli Dentistry, serving patients in Ahwatukee and Chandler, Arizona. She focuses on family and cosmetic dentistry.
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