Endodontic Retreatment
With the appropriate care and under the right conditions, teeth that have had endodontic treatment can last as long as other natural teeth. Yet, a tooth that has received endodontic treatment may fail to heal or re-infection may take place after initial successful treatment. Sometimes, infection may re-occur soon or years after initial treatment. If this happens, endodontic retreatment may be a good option. It is important to evaluate each tooth that is not responding favorably to initial treatment, before determining the best course of action.
Improper healing may be caused by:
- Coronal leakage (bacterial penetration of the root canal filling material) that took place some time after initial treatment
- Complicated anatomy or canals that were undetected during the initial treatment
- Delayed restoration following the endodontic procedure (leading to coronal bacterial leakage and contamination)
- Persistent biofilms inside or at the end of the root
In some cases, new problems can affect a tooth that was successfully treated:
- Tooth decay that can expose the root canal filling material to the oral environment, causing recontamination an infection
- A defective filling or crown that can lead to coronal leakage, recontamination, and infection
Prior to retreatment, a consultation with Dr. Horalek will be required to discuss risks, alternatives, and options to retreatment, to include possible extraction and/or an implant-supported crown, in lieu of endodontic retreatment.