With proper care, even teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime. But sometimes, a tooth that has been treated doesn't heal properly.  It can become painful or diseased months, or even years, after treatment. If your tooth failed to heal or develops new problems, Endodontic Retreatment may be needed.

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Improper healing may be caused by:

• Curved or narrow canals were not fully treated during the initial treatment.

• Complicated canals went undetected during the initial treatment.

• The crown or restoration was not placed within the appropriate amount of time following the procedure.

• The crown or restoration did not prevent bacteria  from recontaminating the inside of the tooth.

 

In some cases, new problems can influence a tooth that was successfully treated:

• New decay can expose the root canal filling material, causing infection.

• A cracked or loose filling or crown can expose the tooth to new infection.

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The Endodontist will reopen your tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material. This restorative material will be removed to enable access to the root canal. The doctor will now clean your canals and carefully examine the inside of the problematic tooth. Once cleaned, the doctor will fill and seal the canals and place a temporary filling in the tooth.

At this point, you will need to return to your restorative dentist as soon as possible in order to have a new crown or restoration placed on the tooth to restore full functionality.

 

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