Endodontic Retreatment

With proper care, teeth that have undergone root canal treatment can last just as long as your natural teeth. However, in some cases, a treated tooth may not heal properly or may develop pain months or even years after the initial procedure. When this happens, endodontic retreatment may be necessary.

Why might retreatment be needed?

A tooth may fail to heal properly due to:

• Curved or narrow canals that were not fully treated during the initial root canal
• Complex canal anatomy that went undetected during the initial root canal
• The crown or permanent restoration was not placed within the appropriate amount of time following the procedure
• A restoration that did not adequately seal the tooth, allowing contamination

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

• New decay can expose the root canal filling and lead to reinfection
• A cracked or loose filling or crown can expose the tooth to new infection

Once retreatment is chosen as the appropriate solution, Dr. Oller will carefully reopen your tooth to access and remove the existing root canal filling material. This restorative material will be removed, and Dr. Oller will clean and examine the inside of the problematic tooth. The canals will then be filled and sealed, and a temporary filling will be placed.

You’ll then need to return to your general dentist within 1 to 4 weeks to have a new crown or restoration placed. This final step is essential to fully restore the tooth’s function and protect it long term.