Root canal treatment is one of the most common dental procedures. While many dentists consider this treatment as one of the most crucial treatments, they tend to ignore root canal treatment side effects and complications. As Dr. Horiyat always emphasizes, root canal treatment side effects are numerous and serious.

Let’s take a look at some of these side effects and complications.

Incomplete Cleaning of Root Canals

Root canal treatment poses a critical danger when some infected regions remain because the root canal system presents diverse and complicated shapes that are tricky to treat entirely. Root canals come in many forms with unique characteristics since they may branch out irregularly from their main shape and possess hidden passages that require special instruments to locate and treat properly. 

Insufficient elimination of contaminated material from hidden spots increases the chances of long-term infection and damage to the tooth. These sterilization problems result from poor vision during the procedure or from improper handling by dental staff. Remaining bacteria will continue to grow and result in continuous pain, swelling, or the requirement for re-treatment. Dentists use particular tools and fluids combined with microscopes during root canal treatment to reduce the chance of leftover bacteria. The remaining small amounts of bacteria and tissues need regular monitoring to check for any treatment problems.

Missed Canals in Root Canal Treatment

Missed canals during root canal treatment occur whenever a dentist is unable to find or access all of a tooth’s canals, sometimes because of the anatomy of the tooth being complicated or because there are hidden or abnormal canals. Some teeth, like molars, may have additional canals, e.g., the MB2 of upper molars, which are difficult to find even with advanced equipment. 

Failure to address these canals will lead to bacteria and infected tissue being left to remain, which will cause chronic pain, abscesses, or a necessity to be retreated. Unattended infection as a result of missed canals, especially if left to progress to an advanced stage, will cause the loss of a tooth or destruction of tissues around, hence the significance of early discovery and thorough cleaning.

In order to minimize the incidence of missed canals, dentists use newer technologies like cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and instruments like microscopes to see deep into the tooth with greater clarity. Extensive investigation of the pulp chamber and referral of difficult cases to an endodontist can improve outcomes, as well.

Nerve Damage

The most serious issue associated with root canal treatment is nerve damage, although this risk is generally rare, but can be significant when working on teeth that are close to large branches of nerve (such as inferior alveolar nerve in the lower jaw or lingual nerve affecting tongue). 

There are various causes for this type of damage, including the use of sealants or irrigants during the procedure that irritate nerves that are close by, or over instrumentation, which occurs when dental tools extend beyond the root tip and irritate or compress nearby nerves. In serious cases, symptoms of nerve damage include numbness, tingling, burning sensations, an altered sense of taste, or even muscle weakness. 

Although most causes of nerve irritation are temporary and disappear as the tissue heals, some injuries can cause nerve damage permanently and can result in chronic pain as well as difficulty eating or an aesthetically displeasing drooping lip. 

As these risks can be minimized with advanced imaging in the form of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the appropriate utilization of these technologies in the mapping of the tooth’s anatomy to avoid trauma, dentists use these techniques. 

Fracture or Breakage of the Tooth

After root canal treatment the tooth becomes more prone to fracture because the procedure causes tooth structure deterioration. The removal of nerve-bearing pulp tissue during the root canal produces a tooth that becomes more fragile and forms an increased potential for future damage. The tooth becomes vulnerable to breaking and fracturing when the pulp tissue is no longer present because it cannot receive nourishment which makes it more susceptible to mouth forces during chewing. A large number of teeth needing root canal procedures also show substantial tooth decay and substantial fillings which makes the teeth more prone to damage. 

People who undergo root canal treatments need dental crowns according to dental specialists for added protection of the fragile tooth. The tooth becomes unrestorable for treatment after any type of fracture happens within the root or crown area which leads to extraction. The presence of a cracked tooth might allow bacteria entry that results in infection or pain as bacteria pass through the fracture. The patient needs to refrain from biting hard items together with refraining from using the treated tooth for excessive force until it receives restoration with a crown or other protective devices.

Conclusion

Root canal treatment may seem to work well as a tooth-saving method but it generates possible adverse outcomes and technical problems. The challenges related to incomplete canal cleaning and other possible errors during treatment show why doctors need advanced technology and skill to perform root canal treatment successfully. Patients must know how complex root canal treatment is before they receive treatment with dental professionals who have extensive experience. 

Dental professionals use CBCT and microscope tools along with protection methods such as crowns to lower patient risks during endodontic treatment procedures. The dental medical team must take steps to manage risks and support patients before and after root canal treatment to safeguard oral health and support prevention measures.

Still as Dr. Horiyat always recommends, it is better to opt for other alternative treatments that are holistic and biological.