What Are the Signs of a Failed Root Canal?

It’s normal to feel some discomfort for a few days after a root canal as the tooth and surrounding tissues are healing. But if symptoms don’t improve, or new ones develop, it could be a sign that the treatment hasn’t been successful.

The main signs to look out for include:

Pain that doesn’t go away after a few days, or starts to get worse instead of better, is one of the most common signs of a failed root canal. The pain could be constant or throbbing, and it could feel sharp when you bite or chew.

If the tooth still hurts weeks after the treatment, it’s important to get it checked by your dentist.

Swelling around the treated tooth, or in your jaw or face, can be a sign that the tooth is still infected. You might find that the swelling comes and goes, or that it gradually gets worse over time.

A small bump on the gum near the treated tooth (sometimes called a dental abscess) could be a sign that the infection hasn’t cleared properly. This might be accompanied by pus or fluid coming from the area or a bad taste in your mouth.

Even if the bump disappears and comes back, it still needs to be looked at by your dentist.

It’s normal to have some sensitivity after a root canal, but this should improve fairly quickly. If you continue to feel pain when biting, chewing, or drinking several days after the treatment, it could mean the tooth hasn’t healed properly.

In some cases, you might not experience any obvious symptoms, but just have a feeling that something isn’t right. This could be a dull ache, a strange pressure sensation, or something else entirely.

You know your body best, so if something feels off following a root canal, it’s always best to get it checked out by your dentist.

There are a few reasons why a root canal might not work as expected:

• The infection wasn’t fully removed
• A canal was missed
• The tooth was not sealed properly
• New decay or damage allowed bacteria back into the tooth

Sometimes, root canal failure can happen even when the treatment was carried out correctly. This is more likely to happen if the tooth was badly damaged to begin with.

If you think your root canal might have failed, you should contact your dentist as soon as possible. They will examine the tooth and may take X-rays to see what’s happening inside. You should keep a record of any symptoms to share with them.

Depending on what your dentist finds, they may recommend further treatment. This could involve another root canal, a minor surgical procedure, or removing the tooth entirely.

Getting help early can make a big difference and may prevent the problem from getting worse.

No, failed root canals are not always the result of dental negligence. Root canal treatment can be complex, and sometimes failure happens even when proper care has been taken.

However, there are also cases where a failed root canal may be linked to substandard treatment.

This could include:

• Missing canals that should have been identified
• Poor cleaning or filling of the canals
• Not recognising or addressing complications

If the treatment you received fell below an acceptable standard and this led to ongoing problems, it may be considered dental negligence.

If you’ve experienced complications after a root canal and believe they were caused by a mistake during treatment, you may be able to make a dental negligence claim. Successful claims usually result in a compensation payout that covers the pain and discomfort you’ve suffered, as well as any financial losses linked to your injury.

To make a claim, you will need to be able to show that your dentist failed in their duty of care and that this directly caused your injury or ongoing symptoms.

At the Dental Law Partnership, we specialise in dental negligence claims and understand just how distressing a dental injury can be. We’ll handle the entire claims process on your behalf, so there’s no need to feel stressed or anxious.

We also work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means you won’t pay anything if your claim is unsuccessful.

If you’re worried about the outcome of your root canal, and think dental negligence played a part, get in touch with our team today to find out how we can help.