Expert: Rafael Mosery,D.D.S. - 8/17/2007

Question
Hello,
I am writing, because I am very concerned about a tooth and I want to ask if I should be looking for a different dentist. Approximately a year ago, I had a root canal and a crown done on one of my teeth. Since it has been hurting a bit and recently when the pain became worse, I went to see my dentist and I was told that there was an abscess. The dentist told me that last year he only did root canal on one of the roots and the other root seems to have become infected and spread the infection and created abscess. He said that I now need surgery. What I want to ask if it is common that root canal is done only on one of the roots and not both. I have had two root canals years ago and all roots were taken care of on those teeth and I never had issues. I do not understand why only one root was done. Should I be consulting a malpractice lawyer?

Answer
Hi Leo,
Root canal therapy involves treating ALL the roots and any accessory canals therein.You are right to seek care elsewhere.You might consider getting to an endodontist and having the tooth retreated.The succeess rate of retreatment is much higher than the surgery and also much less invasive.