Root canal re-treatment

What is root canal re-treatment?

Root canal re-treatment means repeating root canal treatment on a tooth that was treated in the past and is causing problems again. The material filling the canals is removed, and the canals are cleaned, disinfected and sealed once more.

Why root canal treatment can fail

• Bacteria getting back in through leakage: new decay, or a filling or crown that no longer fits properly.
• Canals that were not found or could not be fully cleaned during the first treatment.
• Complicated root anatomy.

Sometimes it causes symptoms—pain when biting, swelling, a small fistula on the gum—and at other times it is found on a check-up X-ray without the patient noticing anything.

How it is assessed

How it is done

Under local anaesthetic. The inside of the tooth is accessed—if it has a crown or a post, these sometimes have to be removed—and the remains of the previous treatment are taken out; the canals are then cleaned, disinfected and filled again. Depending on the case, it can be done in one or several sessions. Afterwards, the tooth needs to be properly restored, often with a crown, so that it does not leak again.

If it is not possible

When the treatment cannot be repeated from the inside, the alternative for keeping the tooth is an apicectomy. If the tooth cannot be saved, extracting it and replacing it with an implant or a prosthesis is considered.

If you think this applies to you, book an appointment and we will assess it at the clinic.