Please help me decide whether to get root canal re done or implant

[jumbojumbo]

So I've had an abcess above one of my upper root canalled molars for approx 8 years. Never did anything about it as I had no pain or issue whatsoever. Recently found out the ill effects on health so decided to get it sorted.

My usual dentist referred me to an endodontist who told me it looks like the root canal was done well, and she cannot see why it has failed. She warned me that leaving the infection for that long time, will have resulted in some bone loss due to the infection draining away, and I would need to have a CGT scan to assess the bone loss. I am looking at around £1800 to have the root canal redone, which she says has a 70% success rate.

The other option is to have the implant at a cost of approx £2500. I've researched this for a week but cannot make a decision. I would obviously prefer to save my own tooth but if i paid all that money for the root canal to fail again it would be pretty disheartening. On the other hand removing the tooth and getting rid of infection once and for all sound appealing, but the idea of an implant, drilling into my already worn down bone worries me, and I realise that implants too can fail.

Can anyone offer any advice?

Same decision for me, just a different tooth.

I have had an implant before in a different part of my mouth and it worked well, so I'm considering another implant. Hard to decide , though

Hi op. I am in similar position. Have you decided what to do? My dentist seems to think they will just leave a gap if it’s extracted. Just been vaguely saying I can get an implant if it bothers me

I thought all root canals failed eventually? When mine did, I got a crown fitted and that was that.

But the crown is just on top of the root canal? Or do you mean bridge or implant maybe?

No, it's a crown. When it failed, it was drilled into shape and a crown fitted. It's doing the job very well. I think my dentist knows what a crown is when he called it a crown. Implant would be much more expensive. No bridges.

When I had the original root canal done it wasn't fitted with a crown. I have one other root canal that doesn't have a crown on top either.

I was in the same position as you, similar chance of it failing, decided to go the root canal route but it failed and I’m now looking at an implant.

I would choose implant in your position now.

I will never have another root canal ever. I lost 5 teeth for this very reason - abcess from failed root canal. It destroyed so much bone I lost all my front teeth.

As an aside, do you have stomach issues? It was quite miraculous how my stomach issues cleared after removal of the abcess and subsequent infection.

I would go for the implant if you are able.

I've got 5 root canals but they all had crowns on them. If you have RCT without a crown, what sits in the gap?

I've had one crown crack and disintegrate (after about 40 years) so I've got to decide on an implant/leave a gap/have a plate. I'm having bone infusions as part of my cancer treatment and the dentist can't do anything major until that's completed so I've got 18 months to decide. As a temporary measure, she bunged a rough-and-ready temporary filling in the gap a year ago and I'm coping just fine with that! I'd be interested to hear if the OP went for the implant and how she found the whole experience.

Did the root canal not fix the stomach issues? That should remove the infection? (Asking due to personal stomach issues).

I had two root canals without a crown (one now has a crown after a few years). There was no gap. The dentist drilled a hole in the back of the tooth and did all the work over three appointments. The hole was then given a filling at the end. They turned a bit grey/black but that's just cosmetic and they aren't front teeth.

Similar story here. I lost 3 teeth to failed root canals. I can't afford implants so have bonded bridges to fix the gaps. As soon as I can afford implants I will.

The abscess was caused by the failed root canal.

Once the offending tooth and abscess were removed surgically, the stomach issues cleared up.

It was the poison from the infection causing the issues. It was there a few years.

Unfortunately it was so big it left a huge hole in my jaw, with serious bone loss.

That's interesting, thank you. Yes, if the dead tooth isn't a cosmetic issue then no need to replace it.

When my root canal failed after a lengthy infection, I count afford an implant and my dentist suggested that a crown with a bridge (tooth next to it had a big filling anyway). It's been brilliant and I can still have an implant later if I want.

My sister oddly had the same and just left the gap. It's almost invisible unless you peer deep into her mouth.

I'd as about a crown before you decide.

Thanks for your answer. I'm sorry you had to deal with all that.

I don't have any infection left, and no bone loss, so I don't think it's relevant to my gut issues, but you never know. I'm not pleased to have the root canals in place, but beats the alternative of pain. I'd have been quite happy with an extraction but was told that could lead to other problems, like shifting teeth and bite problems.

Cut your losses now and have an implant.

I had a root canal that failed with a small absess. Got it treated immediately and chose to have the root canal redone and crowned as at the time I could not bear to get the tooth removed (I was only 30).

For a while it was fine, the absess healed. Then 5 years later the tooth just broke - it has been weakened by two root canals. It had to be removed and the options were - gap, bridge, clip in denture or implant. I had an implant, it is great - looks and feels like a real tooth. I have had it 10 years now with zero issues. I should have done it the first time the root canal failed. Warning - you do need to pay extra attention to cleaning it well and go to the hygienist regularly.

Insufficient bone as a result of the chronic abscess may complicate things, but may not be a problem.

When my cousin had a couple of molars extracted (I forget why) there wasn't enough bone to anchor an implant. He had the implants a year or two after the extractions, by which time enough bone had grown back. He wore a brace to maintain the gap until he had the implant.

His sister also had implants at around the same time, but she had lost the teeth many years earlier due to an injury. Similar problem with lack of bone, but no chance that it would grow back. She had coral implanted into her jaw, which triggered and gave a scaffold for bone growth. Her implants a few years later were also successful.

Yes that can be an issue for implants. My absess was small and dealt with asap (and I have never had any other fillings) so my jaw bone was (is) in very good condition.

i'm currently writing a pros and cons list for root canal v implant, based on some info from looking up dental websites etc.
So far I am leaning towards the implant option as it often seems to last longer - plus may help preserve bone more.

Definitely one to discuss with the dentist for their view on pros and cons.

Interesting. I am facing similar. Well I decided to have the root canal redone and try to save the tooth which my dentist agreed with. In my case the abscess appears to be because there was an extra canal which the original dentist who did the root canal missed. I’m very reluctant to have the tooth removed as I’ve already had two removed and had the implant surgery and a bone graft last week on one and am planning an implant on the other extraction site.

I'd go for the implant. The root canal may well fail again at some point and then you'll be at this point all over again. Implants have a high success rate and will get rid of the infection permanently once the tooth is removed.

I'm speaking from experience after taking lots of advice. I had root canal treatment and replacement crowns done a few years ago, the infection recurred and I now have implants. They look much better than my crowns did, no chance of the black line reappearing above the crown, and they'll last longer. Plus I've had bone grafts, so the bone loss has been addressed.

Your dentist should ad use you

It depends what state the tooth is in my last root canal lasted for 35 years, I have three dental implants also.
Id probably want to see if I could keep the tooth first.

I've never had root canal but have a gap in each side where no adult tooth grew (the baby tooth stayed in place till my thirties.). I can't afford implants and after a maryland bridge broke I just left the gap. Nobody can see it unless I show them and it hasn't caused other problems.

@TheForestCalls you had no issues with failed root canal