What Is a Root Treated Tooth?

A root treated tooth is a tooth that has had root canal therapy, or a tooth whose nerve has died. Dr. Gandhi describes two common situations. In the first, a tooth received a root canal because of deep decay or infection. In the second, the tooth died on its own, often years after an injury, such as a hit to the jaw as a child.

In both cases, the living nerve and blood supply inside the tooth are gone. Many of these teeth cause no pain at all. The challenge is that you cannot see the middle of the tooth, the nerve area, or the bone around the root tip without imaging.

Do All Root Canals Need to Be Removed?

No. Dr. Gandhi calls it a misconception that every root canal tooth should be ripped out. Some patients live with their root canal teeth for the rest of their lives without problems.

His point is about awareness rather than automatic removal. As he puts it, it is your body, and you should know what is happening inside it. A root treated tooth that is healthy and stable on imaging may not need any treatment. A root treated tooth with signs of chronic infection is a different conversation.

When a Root Canal Tooth Becomes a Problem

Infection at the Root Tip

The tip of a tooth's root is called the apex. When bacteria remain inside a root treated tooth or reach it later, infection can collect in the bone at the apex. Dr. Gandhi explains that these areas can be pea sized or even larger. He has removed large infections from patients who felt nothing at all.

Why You May Not Feel It

Because the nerve inside the tooth is no longer alive, a root treated tooth cannot signal pain the way a living tooth does. The body may also wall off the infection, so it stays quiet for years. Dr. Gandhi notes that when some of these infections are removed, the odor is strong enough to fill the room, yet the patient had been living their life without noticing anything was wrong.

Interference Fields and the Whole Body

In biological dentistry, an area of chronic infection or dead tissue is sometimes called an interference field. Dr. Gandhi describes these areas as something that can throw the whole system off. In his view, chronic infections like this may play a role in wider health problems, including autoimmune conditions. Research continues to explore how chronic oral infection and inflammation may affect the rest of the body, and these connections are still being studied rather than settled. You can read more in Dental Infections and Gut Health: The Oral-Systemic Connection.

How Dr. Gandhi Evaluates a Root Canal Tooth

3D Cone Beam CT Imaging

Standard two dimensional X-rays can miss infection at the root tip, especially when other structures overlap. 3D cone beam CT imaging shows the tooth, root, and surrounding jawbone in three dimensions, which can make an area at the apex easier to see and measure.

Your Health History

Dr. Gandhi reviews when and why the tooth was treated, any past injuries, and your broader health concerns. Some patients also find it helpful to see where the tooth sits on our tooth chart.

Treatment Options When Infection Is Found

If a root treated tooth shows signs of chronic infection, treatment may include removing the tooth and thoroughly cleaning the infected bone, supported by healing options such as ozone therapy, platelet rich fibrin (PRF), red light laser, and the Bone Healing Protocol. When a tooth is removed, ceramic implants offer a metal free replacement option. You can read about other patients' experiences with jawbone infections in our cavitation surgery patient stories.

Schedule a Consultation With Dr. Gandhi

If you have a root canal tooth or an old injury to a tooth and want to know what is really going on, an evaluation with 3D imaging can give you clear answers. Dr. Jigar Gandhi sees patients in person at 875 N Broadway in North Massapequa, NY, and offers nationwide virtual consultations. Request a consultation or book a virtual consultation to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions