3rd root canal treatment

[Ruthlynn]

hi,
I had a root canal done on a lower molar tooth 10 years ago. It's been okay - ish but always niggly. I had a redo of the root canal about 3 years ago when the dentist had to remove the top of the crown on the tooth. It's never really been right and I now have a recurring 'gumboil' that fills, pops, fills again, etc. Recent x-rays confirmed an infection at the base of the root but the dentist said the previous treatment was very well done. Her recommendation is a 3rd root canal! My reasoning is that two very good dentists have done this tooth and it's never been totally succesful so is it worth having it done again? My other major concern is that I have leaky heart valves and don't really want recurring infection in my mouth as I know it can lodge on my heart valves. I feel happier - sort of - having the tooth removed to ensure that the infection is gone. I know that creates other problems but they must be easier to solve than problems with my heart.

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

If you have a tooth that discharges pus through a gum boil on a recurrent bases, it usually indicates that the root filling has failed. A tooth with a failed root canal and chronic infection should not be ignored as it can cause all sorts of problems such as bone loss.

I personally would say that if a root canal has been done well twice, then its likely that it may have another reason why it has failed, such as a cracked root. In such a situation, removing the tooth and having an implant would be more successful than redoing the root canal for the third time.

Obviously you could remove the tooth and leave a gap or have a bridge or a denture, if that is possible.