With proper care, most teeth with root canal treatment can last as long as other natural teeth. As occasionally happens with any dental or medical procedure, a tooth that has received endodontic treatment fails to heal for a variety of reasons. New decay, a loose, cracked or broken crown or filling, or a crack in the tooth structure can expose the root canal filling to new bacteria, leading to a new infection. Narrow or curved canals that were not treated sufficiently during the initial procedure, complicated canal anatomy that went undetected in the first procedure, and placement of the crown or other restoration that was delayed following the endodontic treatment can cause reinfection of the root canal system. CBCT images provide unyielding assistance with assessment, prognosis and treatment options possible. In many of these cases, Endodontic Retreatment may be helpful to repair your tooth. If endodontic retreatment has been selected for your tooth, we will administer local anesthetic to numb the area. After the tooth is numb, we will reopen the tooth to remove the root canal filling material and clean the canals. We will search for any additional canals or unusual anatomy that requires treatment, crack lines and any other possible ways of recontamination. Upon completion of retreatment, you will need to see your general dentist for placing the final restoration.
