Root canals are usually carried out to relieve pain and save damaged or infected teeth, and in most cases, they’re highly effective procedures that cause minimal discomfort once the initial healing period has passed. However, as with any dental treatment, there are instances where they may not work as intended.
While some tenderness in the days following your treatment is completely normal, if you are experiencing any ongoing pain, swelling or other unusual symptoms, this can be especially worrying after you’ve already sought to get the problem fixed. In this guide, we will outline the most common failed root canal symptoms to help you identify any signs that something isn’t quite right and what you can do next.
If you think your failed root canal was caused by negligent dental treatment, you may be eligible to claim compensation. Start your dental negligence claim online today.
What are the symptoms of a failed root canal?
Of course, everyone’s experience is different, but if you think that your procedure has failed, there could be a number of different failed root canal symptoms to watch out for, depending on the reasons that the procedure hasn’t worked as it should have.
Pain: The most noticeable sign of a failed root canal is usually pain. If a root canal is carried out successfully, there should only be mild discomfort for a few days or so afterwards. If the pain continues or worsens after this, it can be a sign of the presence of bacteria in the root canal starting to cause an infection.
Whilst some minor pain or tenderness in the first couple of days after the procedure is to be expected, it’s unusual for this pain to last longer than two to three days at most, or for the pain level to increase at all. This type of pain could indicate an infection, which could be a result of the root canal cavity not being fully cleaned or properly filled during the procedure. If this is the case, the root canal procedure would usually need to be done again to make sure that the area isn’t prone to re-infection in the future. If infections are not properly treated and prevented from reoccurring, they can spread from the original tooth.
Sensitivity to hot or cold: If you notice that the area around the root canal procedure is suddenly sensitive to hot or cold, it can be a sign that you need to visit your dentist again to see if the infection has been fully cleared
Swelling: If the area around the root canal tooth swells up or is painful, it can be the sign of an abscess or another type of infection. It’s important to visit your dentist if you notice swelling or pus in the affected area of the mouth. If there is swelling inside the mouth or facial swelling around the area, it could be a sign of reinfection.
Pus or discharge: Pus or discharge around the treated tooth can mean that an abscess has formed, and this is sometimes (but not always) accompanied by pain in the root canal area.
Crown or filling failure: If the filling or crown, which is used to help restore and protect your tooth after a root canal procedure, falls out or becomes loose, you need to visit your dentist to discuss if any further treatment is needed. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the root canal procedure has failed, but you may require a new filling, crown or other further treatment to resolve the issue.
Experiencing any one or more of these symptoms after root canal treatment is a sign that you should see a dentist at the earliest opportunity to treat the cause of any infection and see what can be done.
What should I do if I think my root canal has failed?
If you’ve experienced any of the symptoms of a failed root canal, the first thing you should do is arrange to see a dentist as soon as possible. They will be able to identify for certain whether the root canal has failed and provide a course of action to resolve the problem and minimise any further complications.
If you believe your root canal has failed because your dentist did not provide an acceptable standard of care, you can also look into making a dental negligence claim. Dental negligence could be the cause of your failed root canal if your dentist:
- Failed to properly identify the extent of the infection before beginning treatment
- Left behind parts of the infected pulp, overfilled or underfilled the root canals, or damaged surrounding teeth during the procedure
- Failed to use proper sterilisation or hygiene practices
- Failed to monitor your condition or follow up with you after the procedure
If you’ve been left in pain, requiring further treatment, or just feel like your concerns weren’t taken seriously, it’s completely normal to have questions about what went wrong in your treatment. At the Dental Law Partnership, we’re here to help you understand what happened and talk you through your options. Whether that involves making a dental negligence claim or simply helping you understand what steps you can take next. We speak to people every day who are dealing with ongoing pain or complications after dental treatment, and we are here to support you.
Not sure whether your root canal was caused by negligent dental treatment? The Dental Law Partnership can help. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation.