Endodontic Retreatment
- If you are experiencing dental pain or discomfort in a previously treated tooth, talk to an endodontist about retreatment.
As with all dental and medical treatments, nothing is 100% successful. Although root canals have a success rate of 85-95%, occasionally the tooth can “fail.” A retreatment is the removal of the previous filling material, recleaning of the inside of the tooth with additional medicines and techniques, and the resealing of the tooth. The good news, is that the success of retreatment is also close to 90%, allowing you to keep a failing tooth for a very long time.
Retreatment can be needed for a variety of reasons:
- Complicated canal anatomy went undetected in the initial procedure
- The placement of the crown or other restoration was delayed after treatment
- The restoration did not prevent salivary contamination to the inside of the tooth
- New decay can expose the canal to bacteria, causing a new infection in the tooth
- A loose, cracked or broken crown or filling can expose the tooth to new infection
- A tooth sustains a facture
Endodontic Retreatment Explained
- by American Association of Endodontists
Sometimes, a tooth that has had root canal treatment may not heal properly and another treatment, is needed. Watch this video to understand what happens during endodontic retreatment.