The process is actually fairly painless, Unfortunately, sometimes a tooth does not heal properly after it has been cleaned out, and re-treatment becomes necessary.
What Causes a Root Canal to Fail?
Root canal failure can occur months and even years after the original procedure. Failure can be attributed to a number of conditions:
- Excess saliva in the treatment area
- Inexperienced dentist performing the procedure
- Infected canals were overlooked
- Lengthy delay placing dental crown
- Cracks in a crown or tooth introduce new infection
Essentially, the failure is due to one of three things; either the original procedure failed to remove all of the infected tissue, something prevented proper healing, or a successfully treated tooth has become infected once again.
What Is Endodontic Retreatment?
New pain or visible cracks in the tooth can indicate a failed root canal. However, with the right treatment, the tooth can still be saved. If retreatment is an option:
- Your tooth will be reopened and cleaned thoroughly.
- Your dentist will use sophisticated tools to search for narrow canals that may have been overlooked in the first procedure.
- If canals are particularly narrow or blocked, surgery may be required to seal off the end of the root to prevent further decay.
- A temporary filling will be placed in the tooth.
- A new crown will be fitted to your tooth, restoring it to full function.
