Can anything go wrong with endodontics?

Endodontics, although it is not one of the most complicated dentistry and stomatology treatments, has to be done with great care, since it can cause some problems.

Problems that can be caused by endodontics

The most common problems that can cause a root canal are:

  • Chronic infection. If there is a previous infection and a bone lesion produced by it, the damage cannot be repaired automatically with the root canal, but it will be a lesion that has to be monitored during the following months, to assess how it evolves.
  • Continued pain. If the pain continues, a new exploration will be necessary, looking for adnexal ducts that are not sealed.
  • Failure of endodontics due to short sealing of the canals. Root canals with short root seals are more likely to cause problems later, as bacteria can enter from the end of the root due to a poor seal of the root filling.
  • Tooth fracture. Root canal teeth are more likely to fracture due to occlusal overload, as they become weaker once the nerve canal is emptied and sealed. The teeth become stiffer and more prone to fracture, so in many cases, it is necessary to place a porcelain crown to protect them.
  • Root perforation. This is a complication that can arise while endodontics is being performed, in cases where the root canals become hardened. In most cases it is repaired with a material called MTA, which reseals the crack caused, and the evolution is usually favorable. These are special cases to be monitored in the months following endodontics.
  • Accidental injection of antiseptic in the periradicular tissues. Currently this is a rare complication because Chlorhexidine is used as an antiseptic, which is not toxic in the tissues. In other cases the use of NaCi can cause problems, which are solved by abundant washing of the oral tissues.
  • Fracture of material in the canal. In teeth with very curved canals, the instrumentation may cause the fracture of a file. The ideal is to try to extract the rest of the tooth before continuing with the treatment but, in most cases of teeth that cannot be extracted, root canals do not always fail because of this “mishap”.