Endodontic Retreatment – Huntsville, AL

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.