I saw a specialist last Wednesday for a toothache that I’ve had since June. After the pain and bad taste in my mouth worsened and I began to feel foggy and tired, my dentist sent me to an endodontist. This doctor must be popular because I cannot get the abscessed tooth removed until the end of the month. I asked for an earlier date, but the scheduler said that was the next available appointment.
The tooth is my lower right second molar, and I had a repeat root canal on the tooth in 2016. If I continue to feel worse each week, should I wait until the end of the month for extraction or ask my dentist to refer me to another specialist? I try not to read too much online about my diagnosis, but if I understand it correctly, this infection can go into my bloodstream if it is not already there. Thanks for your help. Tamera from Capitol Heights, MD
Tamera,
Thank you for your question. You need prompt dental care, and we will explain why.
Should You Delay Removing a Failed Root Canal Tooth?
If your failed root canal tooth is making you ill, you should not delay tooth removal unless the endodontist gives you a reason. The American Dental Association confirms that an infection will continue to spread without tooth removal, affecting your jawbone, other teeth, and oral tissue. Although some people may want to rely on antibiotics, the medication will calm the effects of the infection but will not remove it. The scheduler told you that the end of the month is the next available appointment, so you do not need to suffer from the tooth. Find another specialist or dentist quickly.
Who Can Remove a Failed Root Canal Second Molar?
Your doctor can refer you to an endodontist, an oral surgeon, or a general dentist with oral surgery training and experience to remove your second molar. Consider these facts:
- General dentists who perform oral surgery could remove the tooth unless the specialist indicates that removal will be complex.
- You will get relief from your symptoms after tooth removal.
- Without tooth removal, you will get increasingly ill.
Ask your dentist for a referral or schedule an appointment with a general dentist with advanced oral surgery training.
Dr. David Finley, a Monroe, Louisiana dentist and Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, sponsors this post. Read about Dr. Finley’s commitment to providing patients with some of the best dental care in Monroe.
