A second chance is available if your tooth failed to heal or has developed new problems. It may be possible to support your tooth’s healing with an additional procedure. Consult an endodontist if you are experiencing pain or discomfort in a previously treated tooth.
 
The endodontist will first discuss your treatment options with you. The endodontist will reopen your tooth to access the root canal filling material if you and your endodontist choose retreatment. A complex restorative material, such as a crown, post, or core, may need to be disassembled and removed before the root canal can be accessed.
 
With magnification and illumination, the endodontist can examine the inside of your tooth to determine if there are additional canals or abnormal anatomy that needs to be treated after the canal filling is removed.
 
A temporary filling is placed in the tooth after the endodontist fills and seals the canals. Endodontic surgery may be recommended if the canals are unusually narrow or blocked. In this procedure, the other end of the root is sealed by making an incision.
 
You will need to return to your dentist as soon as possible after your endodontist completes retreatment in order to have a crown or other restoration placed on the tooth.

Ideally, root canal-treated teeth will last a lifetime, but it is possible for those teeth to heal incorrectly, resulting in pain or disease months or years after treatment.
 
After initial treatment, it’s possible your tooth won’t heal as expected for a variety of reasons. It is also possible for a successfully treated tooth to be compromised by a new issue. A new cavity can expose the root canal-filling material to bacteria, resulting in a new infection. The tooth can become infected if a crown or filling is loose, cracked, or broken. Retreatment may be necessary if a tooth sustains a fracture. Retreatment involves reopening your tooth and removing the filling materials placed in the root canals during the first procedure.

There is a high success rate for root canals and they provide relief from pain for most people. In the United States, over 15 million root canals are performed every year by endodontists and dentists. Over 95% of those root canals are successful. In a successful root canal, the natural tooth is preserved and its life is extended to match that of the other healthy teeth. The root canal can, however, require retreatment if it is not successful.
 
Symptoms may return a few months to a few years after an unsuccessful root canal. Endodontic retreatment can sometimes provide relief and restore health and balance to the mouth. You may experience symptoms such as increased sensitivity to temperature, constant pain or pressure, swollen gums, discharge or pus, intense pain around the tooth, a consistent ache in a specific area, a bad taste in the mouth, and more.

It is normal to experience some pain after a root canal procedure. After the procedure, you may experience discomfort and tenderness for a few days. It is possible that you will experience mild pain for a week following the surgery.
 
You should see your dentist if the pain persists for over a week after the procedure, especially if it feels worse or just as uncomfortable. It’s possible to get a delayed root canal infection on a tooth that’s pain-free for a while. The tooth may not fully heal after a root canal and may become painful or diseased months or years later.
 
Endodontic retreatment is available at Ideal Endodontics. We are located at 3102 Golansky Blvd, Suite 101, Woodbridge, VA 22192. For more information, Contact Us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from Woodbridge VA, Manassas VA, Dumfries VA, Lorton VA, Springfield VA, and Stafford VA.