Redoing root canal treatment

[Shannon]

Hi

I had a root canal done in Ireland two years ago and since it was done, it has never been right and been causing repeated infections and problems. I have been on several courses of antibiotics for this tooth this year.

My dentist in London says that it has a broken file inside one of its roots and the tooth needs its root canal treatment redone. He says that my alternative option would be a dental implant.

But what is the success rate with redoing root canal treatment? Is the success rate with an implant higher? What is the chance that he would be able to remove the broken file? I am worried that the new root canal doesn't work and leave me with more pain and infection problems.

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

The success rate for your tooth depends on if the broken file can be removed or not. If it cant be removed or bypassed, and there is infection below that root, then the prognosis for your tooth would not be great.

Generally speaking dental implants have a better prognosis that redoing root canal treatment, something in the region of 95% for dental implants as long as you are a non-smoker and are medically fit and well and with no gum disease.