Any dentists about?

[Pinkbonbon]

So a few months back (at least 4) during a root canal treatment, the file broke off in my tooth and the dentist couldn't get it out. I had 2 courses of antibiotics afterwords which didn't stop the pain but the pain actually went away on it's own about 3 weeks after the treatment.

I'm due up to the NHS dentist to remove the file. But I've not had any more pain so I'm assuming the root canal was actually succsessful (and the pain was just the area healing after treatment) So I'm wondering if its worth bothering removing the file?

My worry would be that if the infection comes back, I would have to wait another 4 months to go back to the dental hospital. But it also seems silly to open up a tooth that doesn't hurt.

Can infections not hurt for months and and reappear? Or is it likely the infection was dealt with? Is it ok to leave the file?

I'll go to the dental hospital and get their opinion but figured it couldn't harm to ask. Will also ask my dentist if pos but they are shut atm.

Hi there,
I'm a dentist and you don't necessarily need to remove the separated instrument if they were able to fill around it and still disinfect and fill properly. It depends where the file separated too as removing it may cause fracture if too low down. You need to see a specialist and they will likely take an x ray and maybe even a CT scan and decide with you what the best way is to go forward. In answer to your question, you can have in infection without pain so you do need to get this checked because a flare up can be suffix to manage. Plus if you have not had a crush placed on a posterior tooth after RCT, there is a chance it is 6 x more likely to fracture without.

I'm a dental nurse and never heard of this happening.

You need the file removed. Was this your first appt or 2nd for the RCT? Usually there is two weeks between appts.

The first is simply to remove the nerve and infection. But, with a metal sharp file down you're tooth you're going to be prone to infection. These files do actually have a use by date on them.

Second appt would be to clear the canals again, treat and fill.

Get the file removed.

So I had a root canal done on that tooth originally about 5 years ago.

But it started to hurt and I went back and they decided it had failed.

So on the first appointment they opened it up and on attempting the root cambal it got stuck in the tooth.

I went back 2 weeks later and they tried to get it out a second time but couldn't. But they felt they had been able to clean the tooth out pretty well (got round the instrument).They said if this treatment was successful then there wouldnt be a need to remove the file.

Obv the pain persisted for a few weeks and then went away. So assuming it's all fine.

Thanks first poster, hopefully they will take another xray on the day and decide. Obviously dont want it to be more likely to fracture. But yeah if its likely to fracture trying to get it out then maybe it defeats the purpose.

You're welcome. If they think the treatment is fine then get a crown placed on it asap. And then... forget about it... I've not fractured many instruments thankfully but none of the ones that I have had needed any further work after and are still going strong years later. Good luck!

A crown? To re enforce the strength of the tooth?

It's the incisor next to my top front teeth you see so obviously extra concerned about how it'll look. Though I guess anything is better than losing it lol.

@PinkButtercups actually it’s a well known complication of endodontics that an instrument may fracture inside the canal. Sometimes the instrument acts to obturate the tooth and no further treatment is needed.

If it's your lateral incisor you don't need to worry about a crown, only if it's a back tooth. Sorry if I confused you x

And also to add, its a fairly common risk of root treatment so as long as you have been been made aware and followed up on, there isn't anything more to be done as @RobinHumphries said.

Cheers mdear!

Just reading that the first appointment with the dental clinic ppl is usually just a consultation anyway. So hopefully that means they won't rush into anything rashly.

Feel sorry for all the poor souls in my position who were in pain the full 4+ months with bugger all else to do but wait for a hospital appointment though. The backlog is pretty extreme it seems.