Endodontic Retreatment

With proper care, teeth that have undergone endodontic (root canal) treatment will last as long as other natural teeth. In some cases, however, a tooth that has received endodontic treatment fails to heal. Occasionally, the tooth becomes painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment.

If your tooth has failed to heal or has developed new problems, you may have a second chance. Another endodontic procedure may be able to save your tooth.

Endodontists use advanced technology along with their special training and experience in treating these difficult cases.

Causes of improper healing may include:

As occasionally happens with any dental or medical procedure, a tooth may not heal as expected after initial treatment for a variety of reasons:

• Curved or narrow canals that were not treated during the initial treatment.
• Complicated canal anatomy that went undetected during the initial treatment.
• The placement of the crown or other restoration was delayed following the endodontic treatment.
• Bacteria present in the saliva re-contaminated the inside of the tooth due to a deficiency in the crown or restoration.

In some cases, a new problem has affected the tooth that was successfully treated:

• New tooth decay can expose the root canal filling material to bacteria, causing reinfection.
• A cracked or loose filling or crown can expose the interior of the tooth to new bacteria.
• The tooth had sustained a fracture.

The Retreatment Procedure

The endodontist will re-enter the tooth to remove the original root canal filling material and then clean the canals while carefully examining the inside of the problematic tooth.

After removing the canal filling, the endodontist will search for any additional canals or unusual anatomy that requires treatment.

After endodontic retreatment, you will need to return to your dentist soon to have a new crown or restoration placed on the tooth for protection and restoration of full functionality.