Worried your upcoming root canal will be unsuccessful? It most cases, there’s no reason to fret, as this type of oral surgery has a high success rate. However, in the rare instances that do not produce effective healing and continued tooth pain, it may be necessary to undergo root canal retreatment in Lincoln, NE. What does this involve? Is it right for me? To answer these questions as well as why it’s necessary to go through the process again, a local dentist explains.
What Leads to Root Canal Retreatment?
There are several reasons why it may be necessary for you to undergo another root canal (endodontic procedure). Some of these include:
- Canals were not thoroughly cleaned during the initial procedure. If any of these areas are curved or narrow, it may be difficult for the dental professional to adequately clean these areas, leaving the infection behind.
- Your tooth’s canal system was far more complex than originally thought, causing areas of the tooth to remain unclean.
- Too much time elapsed between the root canal and placement of the dental crown, allowing infection to reoccur.
- The restoration was inadequately secured, allowing infection and contaminated particles to reenter the weakened tooth.
- The tooth and/or restoration becomes damaged, exposing it to new infection.
What is the Retreatment Process?
Should you discover you require root canal retreatment, your dentist will first remove the dental restoration before reentering the problem tooth and removing the filling material. Gaining access to the canals, they will carefully clean the area making sure each canal is free of infection and decay. Advanced technology can help make this process much easier, as your dentist will need to be able to accurately see any small or previously missed canals.
Once these are cleaned, they will fill the tooth with composite resin and use a specialized light to harden the material, causing it to form a tight seal. If the dentist believes your canals are too narrow, it may be possible to seal the end of the root by making a small incision. It is necessary that you return to the dentist’s office at the specified time to have your new restoration put into place.
Is Root Canal Retreatment the Right Option?
When seeing a qualified, licensed professional who is experienced in performing root canal therapy, retreatment can allow you to enjoy a fully functional smile for years to come. While there is the option to extract the tooth, your dentist will likely avoid this potential solution unless it is absolutely necessary. Retreatment can be highly successful, and it allows you to keep your natural tooth and avoid the additional cost of needing a tooth replacement.
Root canal retreatment can be a success as long as you seek the help of a trusted dental professional. With advanced technologies, the process can leave you with a healthier smile that can last a lifetime.
About the Practice
At Williamsburg Dental, our dental professionals know how troublesome it can be to learn you need root canal retreatment. When problems occur, you may wonder what happened and why it’s suddenly necessary to go through the process again. But if you want to save your tooth from extraction, our team will go the extra mile to ensure your smile is free of pain and infection, allowing you to move forward with better oral health. If you discover you are experiencing pain, swelling, or other side effects caused by a poorly-performed root canal, visit our website or call (402) 421-6611 to let us help.