Root Canal Retreatment
Root canal retreatment is a tooth-saving procedure that's needed when a tooth with a root canal becomes infected again. The retreatment procedure must be performed again to remove the lingering infection.
Why Would A Root Canal Need A Retreatment?
In most cases, a root-canaled tooth can last a lifetime. Sometimes, however, the root canals may not have been cleaned thoroughly during the initial treatment. In other cases, a tooth has undetected root canals, or a fracture after the original treatment causes reinfecltion.
Burleson Endodontics recommends against tooth extraction unless the tooth cannot be saved or poses a large health risk to the patient. Keeping natural teeth for as long as possible is always best for long-term oral health.
Reasons patients may need retreatment:
- A crack, a loose or missing filling allowed bacteria to get back into the tooth
- The filling for the root canal procedure didn't set correctly and didn't seal off the tooth
- Lack of cleaning and care have caused additional wear and tear on the tooth, creating the ideal environment for bacterial growth
- Physical trauma to the tooth that unsettles the filling or crown breaking its protective seal
How Do I Know If My Root Canal Needs Retreatment?
A root canal in need of retreatment may not necessarily hurt, though they often do.
Patients should pay attention to:
- Cysts that form on the gums next to teeth that have had root canals. They are typically small but can cause swelling and inflammation in the gums.
- Pain returning in the location of the root canal. Issues with returning pain and swelling can happen years after the root canal is completed.
- These symptoms may indicate that your root canal needs retreatment but certainly requires a visit to your local endodontist in Burleson, TX for a check-up where he can diagnose the problem.
How Is a Retreatment Different from a Root Canal?
For the patient, the procedure is functionally the same as a regular root canal. The dentist will remove the old filling material from the tooth's canals and inspect it for signs of infection.
Dr. Fitzhugh will thoroughly remove any signs of infection and clean the affected area before refilling the tooth's canals with a new filling material to create a seal that will keep bacteria from re-entering.
Like a standard root canal procedure, the retreatment will help alleviate pain caused by an infection in the tooth.
Professionally Licensed Root Canal Retreatment
For retreatments, we recommend all patients visit an endodontist. Dr. Fitzhugh's specialization as an endodontist makes him the perfect choice for advanced complications like reinfection.
Burleson Endodontics provides retreatment for patients with infected root canals in the greater Burleson, TX area. If you think that your root canal needs retreatment and would like to receive an official diagnosis, contact us today to schedule an appointment. Dr. Fitzhugh can diagnose and create treatment plans for root canals that need retreatment.
Our mission is to solve our patients' endodontic issues with care and professionalism.
