With the appropriate care, your teeth that have had endodontic treatment will last as long as other natural teeth. Yet, a tooth that has received treatment may fail to heal or pain may continue to exist. Sometimes, the pain may occur months or years after treatment. If so, Endodontic Retreatment may be needed.
Once retreatment has been selected as a solution to your problem, the endodontist will reopen your tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material. This material will be removed, and the canals will be cleaned and disinfected. Your endodontist will carefully examine the inside of the problematic tooth and a temporary filling will be placed. When the symptoms subside, the retreatment will be completed.
Once retreatment has been completed you will need to return to your dentist as soon as possible in order to have a new crown or other permanent restoration placed on the tooth to restore full functionality.
Don’t let a recurring infection put your oral health at risk. If you’re in the Danbury, CT area and are experiencing tooth pain, contact our office today to schedule a consultation. Let’s work together to save your smile.
Think of endodontic retreatment as a “do-over” for a root canal. Occasionally, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment fails to heal properly or develops new issues months or even years later. During retreatment, an endodontist re-opens the tooth, removes the previous filling materials, cleans the canals again, and reseals the tooth to give it a second chance at life.
It’s frustrating when a procedure doesn’t stick the first time, but several factors can lead to the need for retreatment:
This is the most common concern we hear in Danbury, but there’s good news: retreatment should be no more uncomfortable than a standard root canal. With modern local anesthetics and advanced microsurgical techniques, the procedure is designed to relieve pain, not cause it. Most patients find that the “anticipation” is much worse than the actual appointment.
While a first-time root canal typically has a very high success rate, retreatment is also highly effective at saving natural teeth. Success depends on the specific reason for the initial failure and the current health of the tooth. Generally, if the tooth has enough structure left to support a new restoration, retreatment is a predictable and cost-effective alternative to extraction and an implant.
In most cases, endodontic retreatment can be completed in one to two visits, depending on the complexity of the tooth’s anatomy and the type of filling material that needs to be removed. After the endodontist completes the internal work, you will typically return to your general Danbury dentist to have a new permanent crown placed.
