What happens when a root canal becomes infected?
A root canal should last as long as your teeth provided they are well taken care of. “The reason they may abscess is because bacteria goes back in,” Shields says. “Once you get a root canal done, make sure you see your endodontist or dentist after six months to check if your crowns are in good shape.” But in case they do become infected, Shields says there are several options. “These days the type of filling material that goes inside the root canal can be removed, the canals can be re-cleaned and refilled,” she says. “The other option is surgical retreatment of the tooth – by physically cleaning out the tip or apex of the tooth and resealing it from the apical end.” “Anytime you can conventionally retreat a tooth, that’s the route we take,” Shields says. “If we’re looking at extraction, implants work beautifully in most cases.” According to the AAE, dental implants require extracting the tooth followed by multiple surgeries to insert a metal post in the jaw and affix a porcelain crown
