Endodontic Retreatment
What is Retreatment?
Root canal therapy is generally a very successful treatment that can help maintain a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. Occasionally a tooth that has had a root canal doesn’t heal properly. The tooth may become painful or diseased even months or years after the initial treatment.
If this happens, an additional procedure – called endodontic retreatment – may be able to support healing and allow the tooth to be saved.
Why is Retreatment Necessary?
As with any medical procedure, a tooth may not heal properly after root canal therapy due to a variety of reasons, including:
- Complex canal anatomy
- Placement of the crown or other final restoration was delayed following the initial endodontic treatment
- The restoration or crown did not prevent salivary contamination to the inside of the tooth
- New decay can expose the root canal filling material to bacteria
- A loose, cracked or broken crown/filling can expose the tooth to new infection
- The tooth may have fractured
How does Retreatment Work?
During retreatment, the endodontist will access the inside of the tooth once again and remove the filling materials placed during the initial procedure. Next, the endodontist will carefully inspect the tooth, looking for any signs of fractures, or untreated regions of the root canal system. Finally, the endodontist removes any infection, cleans and shapes the canals and places a new root canal filling material. The opening will be sealed with a temporary filling. This procedure may take multiple visits, and after completion of the procedure a new crown or other restoration will be necessary to protect the tooth once again.
