In a few cases a tooth that has had conventional root canal therapy performed needs to be retreated. Some reasons why retreatment may be necessasry are:
1. As occasionally happens with any dental or medical procedure, a tooth may not heal as expected after initial treatment for a variety of reasons
2. Narrow or curved canals were not treated during the initial procedure.
3. The placement of the crown or other restoration was delayed following the endodontic treatment.
4. New decay can expose the root canal filling material to bacteria, causing a new infection in the tooth
5. A loose, cracked or broken crown or filling can expose the tooth to new infection
6. A tooth sustains a fracture
What will be done during the procedure to retreat the tooth?
The dentist will discuss any and all options that are available to you. If you choose to retreat, the dentist will drill to gain access to the materal which was inserted during the original root canal. This may involve drilling through a crown and core material. The next step would be to clean, fill and seal the canals. The dentist will then advise you regarding what restoration will now be needed.
