Yaksuyeok Dental Clinic: What are the symptoms if root canal treatment is interrupted for a long time after it starts?

Hello.

I'm Dr. Kim Tae-young, director of Bareunyoung Dental Clinic at Yaksuyeok Dental Clinic.^^

When a cavity is deep, inflammation can occur in the root, or irreversible inflammatory reactions within the tooth nerve may necessitate root canal treatment.

You can learn about various cases of root canal treatment and the complexity of the tooth's nerve interior, which I've mentioned several times before, through the case study below.^^

Today's topic is similar to the previous case study, and I'd like to discuss a case where inflammation recurred several years after root canal treatment.

In this case, the patient had received root canal treatment in the past, but inflammation developed in the root due to deformation of an old restoration.

The patient had received root canal treatment in the past but didn't know exactly when it was completed, and visited us due to pain in the lower area.

An X-ray showed inflammation at the root tip of the lower front tooth.

The root canal treatment appeared to be interrupted, and the old restoration around the tooth likely had leakage. The surrounding gums also needed care due to tartar.

First, it was necessary to remove the old restoration, find the root canal, and disinfect it.

To do this, the path of the root canal needed to be secured, but since a long time had passed since the root canal treatment, the root canal at the root tip was calcified, so I focused on gradually widening the path.

Fortunately, I was able to secure the root canal from the first day, and the pain subsided from the next day.

After checking the symptoms, I was able to complete the root canal treatment in four visits.

With the surrounding bone dissolved due to root inflammation, I thoroughly sealed the area around the root with medication to block the outside and inside of the root.

I explain root canal treated teeth to patients by likening them to a dead tree.

Because root canal treatment removes the vitality of the tooth, the tooth becomes weak and brittle, and if used for a long time, it can break or the inside of the root canal can become reinfected. Therefore, I recommend completing prosthetic treatment as well.

In this patient's case, the tooth was small, the alignment was uneven, and during the process of shaping the tooth for a prosthesis, the remaining tooth structure was too small, posing a risk of fracture. Therefore, we decided to perform a build-up treatment using resin.

Since I directly created the tooth's shape and checked the occlusion using resin in the clinic, rather than a crown-like prosthesis, the treatment time was a bit longer.

Since the treatment was completed with resin, I paid close attention to occlusal interference with the opposing teeth and adjusted the occlusion to ensure it could be maintained for as long as possible.

Because a root canal treated tooth is darker than the surrounding teeth, the dark appearance can be compensated for later through a whitening treatment called ‘non-vital bleaching’, which brightens the internal color.

If root canal treatment is not properly completed and a long time passes with the treatment interrupted, internal reinfection can progress to inflammation in the root.

Therefore, it is best to complete the treatment once root canal treatment has begun.^^

Since it's a lower front tooth, significant occlusal force won't be applied, but I will pay more attention to maintenance through regular occlusal checks.

Thank you.^^

Frequently Asked Questions

What problems arise if root canal treatment is interrupted?

If root canal treatment is interrupted, internal reinfection can progress to inflammation in the root. This can cause inflammation at the root tip, leading to pain, and in severe cases, problems such as the surrounding bone dissolving can occur.

How should teeth be cared for after root canal treatment?

Root canal treated teeth lose their vitality and are prone to becoming weak and brittle. Therefore, it is recommended to undergo additional restorative treatments such as prosthetic treatment or resin build-up to prevent the tooth from breaking or the root canal from becoming reinfected.

What should be done if a root canal treated tooth darkens?

A root canal treated tooth can become darker than the surrounding teeth. In this case, a whitening treatment called ‘non-vital bleaching’ can brighten the internal color of the tooth, compensating for the dark appearance.

How is root canal retreatment performed?

Root canal retreatment involves removing old restorations, locating the root canal, and disinfecting it. If the root canal is calcified, the focus is on widening the path. After securing the root canal, the treatment is completed through pain relief and disinfection.

Is it necessary to complete root canal treatment?

Yes, it is very important to complete root canal treatment once it has begun. If the treatment is not properly completed and is interrupted for a long time, internal reinfection can progress to inflammation in the root.