Root Canal Complications

Root canal treatments, also known as endodontic therapy, may give rise to certain complications in some cases. But with the advent of the latest technology in root canal treatments, like sophisticated instruments, new filling materials, advanced techniques, etc., there are very less chances of root canal complications, as compared to the yesteryears. Even if some problems arise, they can easily be treated and cured and dental health can be restored.

What is Root Canal Treatment?

The center of a tooth houses a hollow portion called the pulp chamber, which is located at the coronal portion and is connected to the roots of the tooth through very narrow channels called root canals. A root canal starts from the central pulp chamber and runs through the entire root. These root canals and pulp chambers are filled with blood vessels, nerve tissues and a number of cellular entities. The blood vessels carry nutrition for the pulp, whereas the nerves carry signals to the brain. Normally, each tooth contains one to four root canals, but those towards the back of the mouth may have more.

Root canal treatment or endodontic therapy, is recommended in case of any infection in the root canals and pulp chamber, which affects the blood or nerve supply. In some cases, any injury to the tooth can cause such damage and in turn lead to the death of the teeth, due to tooth decay. If the pulp chamber is infected, it may lead to the formation of an abscess with pus and causes inflammation of the surrounding gums. The person may not feel any pain or inflammation in the initial stages of infection. All these situations necessitate a root canal treatment, which removes the entire structure inside the pulp chamber and root canals. Once emptied, this pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, decontaminated and filled with some inert filling. If the infection has spread to the crown, then it is also replaced.

Root Canal Complications

A root canal treatment is an expensive and a lengthy procedure, which requires three to four visits to the dentist, in normal cases. In case of root canal complications, you may have to spend more time at the dentist's clinic for further treatment. The following are some of the circumstances, which can lead to root canal complications.

• One of the most common reasons for root canal complications is a missed root canal or canals. Some teeth may have many root canals and the dentist may miss some of these canals while cleaning. In some cases, it is difficult to clean some canals, like curved and horizontal ones. If the dentist fails to measure the full length of the roots, it may lead to insufficient cleaning and filling, which in turn, may cause a spread of infection and tooth abscess.
• An infection may lead to a dead tooth and dead teeth are prone to fracture. While filling such teeth, a fracture may occur, which can lead to root canal complications. Such situations demand endodontic surgery to remove the fractured root.
• If there are many root canals with curves, the cleaning and filing process becomes difficult. Sometimes, while filing a curve in the root canal, the tool may accidentally penetrate the side of the tooth causing a fresh perforation. This hole has to be filled properly to prevent further infections, through that perforation.
• Root canal complications may arise if the doctor fails to detect any cracks in the teeth. Such undetected small cracks may become the gateway for the entry of bacteria and infect the tooth again.
• Another common root canal complication is the accidental breakage of the tools inside the tooth. Sometimes, the tools used for cleaning and filing the root canals may break during the process. If the tooth is already cleaned, then the broken part is left inside and the tooth is filled. But if the tool breakage happens while cleaning, the broken piece has to be removed. In some cases, surgery is required to remove the broken part of the tool.
• Root canal complications may involve the infection of the tooth after root canal treatment, due to defective dental restoration or any other factor. In some cases, the infection may have caused extensive tooth damage, which forces the dentist to decide if the tooth is not fit for root canal treatment and he may prefer a tooth extraction.

In case of root canal complications, there are many treatment options. Minor complications, like pain and swelling, can be treated with medications. Other procedural defaults are tackled with root canal re-treatment. Some of the root canal complications may require surgery, as in the case of a fracture of the tooth. If the tooth has suffered irreparable damage and cannot be saved, then extraction is suggested. You can replace this lost tooth with dental implants. However, don't be afraid of this dental procedure, which actually cannot be avoided at such a stage, if you have an infection of the tooth. Remember, dental care is a prominent part of regular health care.