What is an Endodontic retreat?

Non-surgical retreats are much like your typical root canal appointment. The dentist starts by gaining access to the roots of the tooth again so that he/she may remove your dental crown or in some cases drill through the crown itself. Once the access has been made and the dentist can reach the canals they will began using files to remove the currently placed gutta percha, then clean, examine the inside of the problematic tooth and reshape the canals. Once the canals have been cleaned your dentist will place new gutta percha within the tooth, seal the canals and place a temporary filling the tooth.

Why would I need to have my tooth retreated?

With the appropriate care, your teeth that have had endodontic treatment will last as long as other natural teeth. Yet, a tooth that has received treatment may fail to heal or pain may continue to exist. Sometimes, the pain may occur months or years after treatment. If so, endodontic retreatment may be needed.

Improper healing or new problems can influence a tooth that was successfully treated:

1. If you are not properly brushing and floss new decay can form on the tooth and can leak beneath the crown or composite and into the canals of the treated tooth.
2. Sometimes the canals are not completely and properly cleaned out. If a tooth has canals that are narrow or curved it can prove difficult to clean thoroughly.
3. Your crown or restoration was not placed within the appropriate amount of time following the procedure or it may break, crack or come off allowing bacteria into the canal space.
4. A canal was not properly dried making the canal contaminated and the gutta percha to not seal correctly.
5. A cracked or loose filling or crown can expose the tooth to new infection
6. New decay can expose a root canal filling material, causing infection

Once the retreatment is completed, you will need to return to your dentist as soon as possible in order to have a new crown or permanent restoration placed on the tooth to restore full functionality.