Going on 3rd root canal for same tooth; dentist recommends amputating root! help?

Hi. I had my 2nd root canal on a back tooth in '04. it was necessitated by an infection in the root. well, just found out yesterday the same root is infected again. my dentist recommends (in order of recommendations) either amputating the root so i'd have 2 roots left holding the tooth in; going in through the gum (ow) and "filling" the tip of the root as you would a cavity; bridge or implant. i am not sure what to do as I am terrified by dentists. has anyone ever had a root amputated or the root filled? if at all possible i'd like to save the tooth. I'm middle aged and plan on having my teeth for awhile longer if possible! thanks

Going on 3rd root canal for same tooth; dentist recommends amputating root! help?
The success rate of a root canals goes down with each time the root canal is redone. The reason being that once a tooth undergoes a root canal, the tooth becomes dessicated, since the pulp tissue and all its blood vessels that once nourished the tooth are all gone. This dessication makes the tooth more prone to fracture. When we re-do root canals, we have to remove ALL of the old root canal. In order for us to do that, we have to file around the canal to ensure that this is done. With a dessicated tooth, this increases the chances of fracture, and failure.





In your case, having an apicoectomy (root ampuation) is one option, which solves the problem of a failing root tip, if that is what the problem is. However, if this is your third time, you may want to consider having the tooth extracted and having a bone graft placed for future implant placement. I understand that you want to save your tooth since you are young, but the reality of it is that the long term prognosis for success isn't that long. 'Try, try again' isn't always the most succesful course of action for a root canal. Hope this helps
Reply:Take a second opinion from some other dentist
Reply:g'luck...my root canal did not take ...still hurts after 1 1/2 yrs but have given them enough money...keep us posted....but yea, ck w another dentist

rubber slippers