Retreatment involves reopening a tooth that has not healed after a previous root canal treatment. The doctor will remove the previous root canal filling, re-clean the canals, examine the inside of your tooth to search for additional canals or unusual anatomy, and reseal the root canals. Improper healing may be caused by:
- Curved or narrow canals that were difficult to negotiate during the initial treatment.
- Complicated or unusual canal anatomy that was not detected in the initial treatment.
- The crown or permanent restoration not being placed within the appropriate amount of time following treatment, causing leakage.
- Fractured teeth or roots.
- New infection caused by decay, periodontal disease or a loose/broken restoration.
Signs and Symptoms
If you continue to experience pain in a tooth that has received a root canal, you may need root canal retreatment. This pain may even begin months or years after the initial treatment.