Ideally, a root canal can last throughout your lifetime. If you care for your tooth properly after the procedure and follow our instructions, your tooth should last for years to come. In some cases though, this is not the case and further treatment is necessary.
Why would I need retreatment?
Once in a while, a root canal treatment may not heal properly or you may experience a recurring infection in the tooth. Although root canals are mostly very successful, sometimes the infection may persist. This can be caused by a variety of things such as unusual tooth anatomy, long or narrow canals under the teeth, and if the patient waits too long to have a crown placed after the treatment.
What is retreatment?
The retreatment procedure is very similar to the original root canal procedure. It consists of going into the tooth through the crown and cleaning, shaping, and disinfecting the tooth’s roots. Unlike a regular root canal treatment, we will look for additional canals and new infections that were potentially missed during your first treatment and then thoroughly clean the area.
When canals have been cleaned, we will fill and seal them and place a temporary filling. Just like a regular root canal, it is important to see your dentist within 30 days of treatment so that they can place a permanent filling or crown on the area of retreatment.
If you had a root canal treatment and are experiencing pain or complications months or years after the fact, come see us. We will evaluate if root canal retreatment is the most effective solution for you.
