I have a terrible history with my molar teeth. My upper left molar had a root canal last November. It never really felt okay, but the discomfort was bearable. I was not silent about this with my dentist either. She had a ‘watch and wait’ attitude about the whole thing. So, after two weeks, the tooth pain increased. I didn’t want to see my dentist because I was really interested in what a different dentist would say about the whole thing.
I found a dentist who took me immediately, which was good because the pain worsened. The dentist said I needed another root canal which was okay with me because the tooth hurt so bad. Last Friday, while I was eating, I felt the tooth crack. I was torn about going to the emergency dentist again or back to my former dentist, but I did neither. A friend told me about her dentist, who she really likes, so I went there, and he immediately referred me to an endodontist. The endo said the tooth could not be saved. She pulled the tooth, and now I need a dental implant. I asked the endo this question, but I want another opinion: Did the emergency dentist ruin my tooth? – Angel
Angel – Thank you for your question.
Did a Root Repeat Canal Crack Your Tooth?
A dentist would have needed to examine and x-ray your tooth before and after the second root canal treatment to determine the state of the tooth. We can’t say whether the emergency dentist damaged the tooth. An endodontist was able to examine your tooth, so unless you have reason to do otherwise, you can trust her assessment of what went wrong. Research the dentist’s credentials and experience to get a successful dental implant and crown to replace your missing tooth.
Why Shouldn’t You Ignore Tooth Pain?
We encourage patients not to let tooth pain linger. The sooner you seek treatment, the easier it will be to restore the tooth. This includes quickly getting to a dentist who accepts emergency visits. Some people feel uneasy about selecting a dentist they have never seen before, and that’s understandable. Try to get recommendations on dentists from friends or family members if you need help looking at a dentist’s website for their credentials and checking patient reviews before a visit. Be sure to get help quickly.
Beverly Hills accredited Fellow of cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Brian LeSage, sponsors this post.