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Endodontic Retreatment – Huntsville, AL
Repairing Teeth & Fighting Infections
Root canal therapy and other endodontic treatments have more than 95% success rates when done correctly. However, in rare cases, treated teeth may fail to heal and pain may persist or return days, weeks, or years later. When this occurs, endodontic retreatment may be necessary. Dr. Deborah Bishop is a skilled endodontist who is able to offer effective endodontic retreatment in Huntsville. Continue reading below to learn more about how this advanced service can repair teeth and fight dangerous infections.
When Is Endodontic Retreatment Necessary?
Initial root canal treatment is usually successful, but in rare cases, it can fail. This might happen if:
- A tooth has complex anatomy. Molars tend to need endodontic retreatment more frequently than front teeth because they have a more complex structure. As a result, there is a higher risk that infected tissue could get left behind during an initial root canal.
- A crown was not placed quickly enough. Without a crown to protect it, a root canal-treated tooth is more vulnerable to repeated infections.
- A crown was damaged. A damaged or ill-fitting crown can allow harmful bacteria to sneak beneath it and cause an infection.
What Is the Endodontic Retreatment Process?
If we determine your failed root canal is in need of retreatment, we will utilize our state-of-the-art cone beam scanner in order to visualize the inside of the tooth in perfect detail. This should reveal your complete root canal anatomy to our team and help us more accurately diagnose the source of the infection.
During your endodontic retreatment appointment, we will try to make you as comfortable as possible with the help of local anesthesia. Then, we will remove the crown on your tooth and remove any gutta-percha (a special filing material) that was previously placed inside it. Next, we will clean out the tooth’s interior, striving to remove all infected tissue. To finish, we will place new gutta-percha to help the tooth maintain its structure. Afterward, you may need a new crown, or we may be able to reattach your original restoration.
Endodontic retreatment is more complex and time-consuming than an initial root canal, but it is very often successful at saving infected and damaged teeth.
Retreatment Aftercare
After the local anesthesia wears off, you can expect to experience some soreness around the treated tooth. We will give you instructions to facilitate an easy recovery. For example, you might need to eat a soft diet, avoid chewing with your treated tooth, and take anti-inflammatory pain medications. Most people are feeling normal again within a couple of weeks. You are welcome to call our office at any time during your recovery if you have questions or start to experience unusual symptoms.
Endodontic Retreatment FAQs
Under ideal circumstances, an initial root canal is successful, and there is never any need to think about endodontic retreatment. Therefore, it is understandable if you are disappointed and perhaps even a little reluctant if you learn that you require endodontic retreatment. You are likely to have questions about the road ahead! Below, we answer some important FAQs. If your points of interest are not included here, give us a call so we can personally assist you.
Is Endodontic Retreatment the Best Choice for Me?
Whenever possible, it is always best to save your natural tooth. That can prevent the need for an extraction and the complications that can result from tooth loss.
Endodontic retreatment might be the best choice for you if you are experiencing symptoms of a failed root canal, such as tooth pain, severe sensitivity, visible damage to the crown/tooth that was treated previously, or a pimple-like bump on your gums. When you come in for your evaluation, Dr. Bishop will thoroughly examine the tooth in question and let you know for sure whether she recommends endodontic retreatment.
How Much Does Endodontic Retreatment Cost?
The cost can vary depending on several factors. In most cases, retreatment is more complex and time-consuming than an initial root canal. That is because Dr. Bishop may need to remove your crown, remove filling material that was placed in your tooth, and spend extra time identifying unusual aspects of your tooth’s anatomy. Due to such factors, you can generally expect endodontic retreatment to cost more than an initial root canal.
In some cases, insurance will cover part of the cost of endodontic retreatment. Our team will be happy to help you file claims. We also accept third-party financing through CareCredit.
What Is the Difference Between Endodontic Retreatment and Endodontic Surgery?
Endodontic retreatment is a non-surgical approach to treating teeth that previously underwent root canal therapy. Essentially, it is a second root canal. Endodontic surgery, on the other hand, may involve creating an incision in the gums in order to access the tooth’s root. This is done to provide easier access to the root canals so treatment can be as thorough as possible. This type of endodontic surgery is also known as an apicoectomy.
What Are the Alternatives to Endodontic Retreatment or Endodontic Surgery?
In most cases, the only viable alternative to endodontic retreatment or endodontic surgery is a tooth extraction. However, we only recommend this in extreme cases where it would be impractical to attempt to save a tooth. We would like you to be able to avoid the expensive and time-consuming tooth replacement process.
Some patients choose not to get any treatment at all. However, that is a bad idea. An infection in your tooth is only likely to get worse, meaning that it could lead to tooth loss, systemic illness, and a range of other complications.