Root canal retreatment is necessary when a prior root canal fails or a recurrent infection occurs. While root canals have a high rate of success, there are some that do fail. We will take x-rays to get some insight into the tooth to identify what is causing the root canal to fail. If you do need a retreatment of a root canal, here are some things to be aware of:
A root canal retreatment may require two visits. Normally we will ask for two visits to make sure the retreatment works. The first visit will consist of removing all the existing filling material and clean the roots again. We will place calcium hydroxide antibacterial paste in the root and close it with filling material. The second visit will then complete the root canal by closing the tooth with permanent filling material and ensuring the antibiotic treatment worked to clear the infection and keep the tooth healthy.
If the root canal is not retreatable due to other issues such as the tooth not having enough of itself left to be attached to a crown, you may need to consider a tooth extraction and dental implant. Fracturing a tooth is common for some people who continue to chew hard candies, ice, and other foods on a root canaled tooth .
Our goal is to preserve your tooth and help avoid invasive dental procedures like tooth extraction and implant. Contact our office today if you do have a tooth that has been root canaled and it is starting to hurt again, or you notice any type of infection near the tooth. David G. Johnson, D.D.S, is here to help you with all your endodontistry needs!
