Re Root Canal Treatment

Teeth that have had endodontic (root canal) treatment can last as long as natural teeth, however, in some cases the treatment can fail, or symptoms can persist. This may happen shortly after the treatment has been performed or even years following the treatment.

In these cases, it may be possible to carry out the treatment again (see root canal treatment for further details), a procedure called endodontic re treatment or re root canal treatment.

Is retreatment more complicated than initial root canal treatment?

Retreatment is usually more complicated than initial root canal treatment as the tooth is normally fully restored with a permanent restoration. This can range from a simple restoration to a full coverage restoration such as a crown or as part of a bridge. In addition to this a post may have been placed inside the root prior to a final restoration being placed. This creates difficulty as access to the root canals is more difficult.

Additionally, the canals will have been filled with root filling material and hence this has to be removed before they can be instrumented and cleaned again. All of these obstructions make the process more complicated.