Root Canal Retreatment

A root canal retreatment may be necessary if an initial root canal
procedure fails or a new infection is evident.

Root canal treatments usually have a high success rate but for
various reasons, some of them fail.

A root canal treatment may fail for various reasons, including:

• Delays in crown placement exposing the root to infection

• Saliva contamination to the inside of the tooth

• Undetected complicated canal anatomy

• Untreated curved or narrow canals

Your endodontist examines possible causes of the pain you have on a
previously treated tooth. They will advise you on the best corrective
approach but retreatment is top on the list.

A root canal retreatment is similar to the root canal procedure
initially done except that this time your endodontist takes more time
and steps to find out where the problem occurred.

What to expect with root canal retreatment

Once you agree with your endodontist that retreatment should be done,
this is what you can expect:

• The first step is the removal of all root canal filling material
  to access the inside of your tooth.

• Your endodontist will then examine and clean the inside of your
  tooth and search for any complicated canal anatomy as well as curved or
  narrow canals.

• Your endodontist then places an anti-bacterial paste, usually
  calcium hydroxide.

• During a second visit, your endodontist removes the
  anti-bacterial paste, cleans, and places a temporary filling. The
  temporary filling is removed once your tooth has been restored.

Call us if you want an endodontist who can walk you through all the
steps to restore the full functionality of your tooth.