ask: Should an X-ray be taken after a root canal to make sure the infection is gone before crowining the tooth is done?
I had a cracked tooth which I had a root canal done on. After going to the endodontist several times and being on an antibiotic I was told to go ahead and have the crown put on. This was in April of 2010. I recently went back to my dentist in Septemberfor a regular checkup and complained of discomfort in the tooth I had crowned. He said I had a severe infection under the tooth. My question is why wouldn't the dentists have checked the tooth via x-ray to make sure the infection was gone? The endodontist said I never got rid of the original infection.
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment3 Comments
How are you doing now? Were you given more antibiotics to treat the infection, and is it now completely resolved?
I am not sure an infection would be seen on an X-ray conducted in the dentists' office; have you asked your doctor about this?
October 7, 2010 - 1:44pmThis Comment
Anon - The following article provides comprehensive information on root canal procedures, including ways dentists check for signs of infection before proceedings, and complications that can occur after treatment, including a reinfection of the area. The article may help you in discussing your situation with your dentist and endodontist. Please let us know what you learn as it may help others. Pat
October 7, 2010 - 5:11pmhttp://www.medicinenet.com/root_canal/article.htm
I hope Pat's article helped. Just wanted to point out though that reinfection is unfortunately possible. The root canal is normally not done until the infection has cleared so chances are that you were in the clear for a while and then the infection came back. Hope you're ok now!
October 10, 2010 - 4:23pm