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Saving Your Tooth With Endodontic Retreatment

Occasionally a tooth that has already had a root canal begins to hurt again months or even years later. When that happens, it does not mean your tooth is lost. When your general dentist refers you to our practice for a failed root canal, our specialists work to find the cause of the returning pain and create a personalized treatment plan. In many cases that plan includes endodontic retreatment, an effective and common way to save a previously treated tooth and avoid the need to replace it with a dental implant or bridge.

Endodontist reviewing 3D dental x-rays before endodontic retreatment in Colorado Springs

What is Endodontic Retreatment?

Advanced endodontic technology used for root canal retreatment
Endodontist performing endodontic retreatment at our Colorado Springs office
What is Endodontic Retreatment?
Endodontic retreatment is a second root canal treatment performed on a tooth that was treated before. A completed root canal can last a lifetime, but sometimes a tooth does not heal as expected or develops a new problem later on. To give the tooth another chance to heal, our endodontist reopens it, removes the existing root canal filling material, examines and thoroughly cleans any remaining canal spaces, and re-seals the inside of the tooth to relieve your pain and restore full function.

Root canal retreatment is one of the most common ways we help patients keep a natural tooth that would otherwise need to be removed. No matter how effective modern artificial tooth replacements are, and they can be effective, nothing works as well as your own natural tooth.

Why Choose an Endodontist for Retreatment

Endodontists are the specialists best equipped to retreat a tooth. With two to three years of training beyond dental school, our endodontists diagnose and treat difficult tooth pain with precision using the most advanced technology available including microscopes, 3D x-rays, and laser technology. Because we focus on root canals every day, we are often able to find and treat narrow or curved canals that are easy to miss, giving your tooth the best chance to heal and stay in place.

When a Root Canal Needs Retreatment
Most root canals are successful and never need further attention. When a treated tooth does flare up again, there is usually a clear reason. A new cavity or decay, fresh tooth trauma, or a loose, cracked, or broken filling or failing crown can expose the inside of the tooth and lead to a new inflammation or infection. In some cases the original canals were unusually narrow or curved and very difficult to find during the first procedure.

Common signs that a previously treated tooth may need retreatment include returning pain when biting or chewing, new sensitivity to hot or cold, tenderness or swelling in the gums near the tooth, or a feeling of pressure that comes and goes. Your general dentist may also notice a new infection on a routine x-ray before you feel anything at all. Whatever the cause, the sooner we can locate and treat the problem, the better the outcome for your tooth.

How Endodontic Retreatment Works
Your visit starts with a friendly endodontic evaluation. We review your dental history, talk through your symptoms, and take advanced 3D cone beam CT (CBCT) images of the tooth. With CBCT imaging and the use of endodontic microscopes, we can often locate very narrow or curved canal spaces that were not found or treated during the first root canal.

Once we understand what is happening, we numb the area with modern local anesthetic and isolate the tooth with a dental dam to keep it clean and protected throughout the procedure. We carefully reopen the tooth, remove the existing filling material, and clean and reshape every canal on a microscopic level with NASA approved tools. After the space is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, we fill and re-seal it and place a temporary filling. Your endodontist or general dentist then restores the tooth with a permanent filling or crown so it can function and look like any other tooth.

When a tooth cannot be reached or saved through the crown this way, the tip of the root can sometimes be treated directly through a small microsurgical procedure called an apicoectomy, also known as root end resection.

Comfort During Your Retreatment
We understand that hearing your tooth needs more treatment can feel discouraging, and we are here to help. Endodontic retreatment is usually very similar to having your original root canal, and most patients are comfortable throughout the procedure. Endodontists are experts in pain management, and we keep you relaxed with amenities such as blankets, in-ceiling TVs, headphones, and music. For patients who would like more help relaxing, we offer sedation options including nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, oral sedation by taking a pill, or even IV sedation following a consultation.
A Natural Tooth is Worth Saving
Retreatment lets us address a lingering infection inside the tooth while keeping the natural tooth in place, which protects your bite and the bone around it. Saving your own tooth is almost always preferable to removing it and replacing it with a prosthetic. Our goal with every retreatment is to relieve your pain, restore your tooth, and let you get back to enjoying the foods you love.

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If a previously treated tooth is causing pain again, the sooner you are seen the better the chances of saving it. Contact us today to schedule your endodontic evaluation at our location in Colorado Springs or Pueblo by calling 719-599-7665.

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Endodontic Retreatment

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Our team welcoming a patient for an endodontic evaluation
Endodontist preparing for an endodontic retreatment procedure
What is endodontic retreatment?
Endodontic retreatment is a repeat root canal on a tooth that was treated before but did not fully heal or became reinfected. Your endodontist reopens the tooth, removes the old filling material, cleans and reshapes the canals, and seals the tooth again to save it.
Why would a root canal need to be redone?
A previously treated tooth can develop a new problem if decay returns, a filling or crown cracks or loosens, or the tooth is injured again. Sometimes a very narrow or curved canal was difficult to find during the first treatment. Any of these can allow a new infection to form.
Is endodontic retreatment painful?
No. We numb the tooth with modern local anesthetic before we begin, and most patients say retreatment feels much like their original root canal. Sedation options are available if you would like extra help relaxing.
How long does endodontic retreatment take?
Many retreatments are completed in a single appointment, though more complex cases may need a second visit. Your endodontist will explain what to expect after reviewing your 3D images.
What if my tooth cannot be saved with retreatment?
When a tooth cannot be treated through the crown, we may recommend an apicoectomy to treat the root tip directly. We always discuss every option for saving your natural tooth before considering extraction and tooth replacement.

Have any additional questions?
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