Retreatment

There can be many reasons why a tooth might not heal even after successful root canal treatment. Some of the reasons are

• Narrow or curved canals were not treated during the initial procedure.
• Complicated canal anatomy went undetected in the first procedure.
• Crown or other restorative procedures were not carried out on time post the treatment.
• The restoration did not prevent salivary contamination to the inside of the tooth.
• In some cases, it was seen that a new problem has compromised the previous treatment.

Post the endodontic treatment if your teeth face any new infection, it gets chipped, cracked, fractured, or decayed, then retreatment is a great option to save your dental conditions. Retreatment is performed in two visits and involves the following:

• Initially, your endodontist will examine the tooth, take x-rays, and discuss the thorough treatment options.
• On the day of the retreatment, you will be given local anesthesia to numb the concerned area. Once that is done, your endodontist will reopen the area to see the condition of the root canal. In many cases, complex restorative materials (crown, post, and core material) needs to be removed so that your endodontists can access the root canal area.
• After removing the canal filling, the endodontist can clean the canals and carefully examine the inside of your tooth using a microscope, searching for any additional canals or unusual anatomy that requires treatment.
• After cleaning the canals, the endodontist will fill and seal the canals and place a temporary filling in the tooth.
• After your endodontist completes retreatment, they will ask you to go back to your dentist so that you can have a crown or other restoration procedures so that your teeth can retain its functionality. The process will also protect your teeth from any further damages.