Root Canal Gone Bad After 11 Years; Implant?

Sometimes the failed endo could be retreated.  An endodontist could provide his/ her opinion on the prognosis of the tooth over the next 5-10 years. 

you have to remember that Implants are not without problems either.  They could develop bone loss, infection.  So it is always better to have your own tooth "saved".

you can always get and implant in the future. 

In this case, if the root canal specialist already gave you the hopeless prognosis of this tooth, then better to take care of this site ASAP.  Have the tooth extracted, site bone grafted, and then implant placed.  The existing infection could resorb the bone further, and make implant treatment more difficult and costly.

There are times that a root canal can be retreated, however if an endodontist told you that it would not be successful I would opt for the extraction.  Have the area bone grafted at the time of the extraction.  Once the area has completely healed the dental implant can be placed.  Good luck.

Root Canal Treatment is 90-95% successful.  A failed root canal can be retreated (lower success rate) or an apicoectomy (cut tip of root off) can be done.  

 

Sometimes there is a perforation (hole) of the root or a vertical fracture which are unlikely to have successful retreatment.of the root canal therapy

When an endodontist feels that retreating a root canal is not the right course of action I believe you are getting an honest recommendation.  One of the most common indications for Dental Implants are to replace failed root canals.  I placed an implant in a patients mouth this afternoon for exactly that reason to replace the same tooth. The tooth was extracted 3 months ago and a bone graft placed. With the predictability of dental implants it is truly the treatment of choice.

Without having all the information, such as seeing pictures and xrays I cannot give you my opinion. However, I would follow consider the treatment that the specialist recommended and not his assistant or seek another opinion to confirm the diagnosis.

If it lasted 11yrs not bad so I can't image it was done incorrectly... options are you can always retreat but when you look at the long term prognosis and cost sometimes it is better to consider a removable partial denture, fix partial denture or implant without radiographs and exam difficult to make a decision good luck

 

Kevin Coughlin DMD, MBA, MAGD     CEO Baystate Dental PC

When a Root Canal fails, it is usually more predictable to have the tooth extracted and an implant placed, rather than retreat the root canal.
 

It is difficult to give you a opinion on your tooth without any imaging or data.  If the endodontist told you that the tooth should be removed.  It may be do to the fact it truly is not repairable.  To preform a apicoectomy (root ablation) on tooth #19 is very difficult and high risk for permanent numbness.  I would trust the opinion of the doctor over the assistant.  If you are not satisfied with your options, get a second opinion.

Your first optiion is to redo the root canal, second option do an apicoectomy on the involved root (if possible), third option would be to extract the tooth and have it replaced with an implant, fourth option is extraction and a permanent bridge.  Discuss these options with your dentist