AboutGary Backlund, DMD, MSD Expertise I am an Endodontist ( root canal specialist ) and can answer questions about root canals and their treatment. I cannot diagnose or treat online, but can answer general questions. I have been a specialist for 25 years and am Past President of the Washington State Association of Endodontists.
Experience 25 years practicing as a specialist
Organizations American Association of Endodonists, Past President Washington State Association of Endodontists.
Question after 12 years of a root canal done, my tooth got infected, swollen and lots of pain (saturday night), Monday my dentist gave me Clindamycin 300mg 3 times a day for 5 days. Pain is almost gone, swelling better but now I have a very located abscess on top of the tooth. Should I wait until the abscess is completely gone before letting the doc touch me or should I go for the root canal/extraction right away? I'm not sure if to try again root canal or just pull it out. They say that the risks of failing are high and suggest me the extraction but I a kind of like the idea of keeping it.
Answer Hi Doug,
Sorry to hear you're going through all this. Once the tooth is reasonably comfortable, it would be OK for treatment. You don't need to wait until all the infection is gone. As for whether or not to save the tooth, I can't help much there since I can't examine you. The chances of success do go down after the root canal has failed once, but the real issue is why did it fail? If whatever went wrong can be "fixed", then you have a pretty good chance of saving the tooth. You might want to consider a 2nd opinion from an endodontist.
