You may know that endodontists regularly perform root canal therapy and occasionally surgery, but there is another type of treatment that some people need to know about.
Endodontic retreatment is another service we offer at Southwest Endodontics at our Geneva and Orland Park locations. If you develop a problem in a previously root canal-treated tooth, let us know. We can help you save your existing tooth and avoid needing implants.
When you have an infection or inflammation in the nerve of your tooth, you’ll likely have a root canal. This procedure takes out the pulp, which includes the nerves inside the tooth. The doctor seals the tooth and fills it to prevent infection after the procedure. For the majority of people who receive root canals, the process results in successful lifelong correction of the problem.
However, there are some cases where a root canal may fail or otherwise need further treatment, sometimes months or even years after the original root canal was performed.
The rare instance of complications from a root canal may happen if the tooth has unusual anatomy that the endodontist could not fully reach with their equipment. Another possible, though very rare complication after a root canal is missing bacteria or infected material inside the tooth.
More often, retreatment happens when the tooth has damage occur in the future. This may happen if a crown-covered tooth has the crown break or fall off or if decay re-exposed the root canals to bacteria.
Regardless of the cause, the endodontist will likely perform endodontic retreatment to fix the tooth and stop the infection from causing bone destruction that could require extraction.
Like root canals, endodontic retreatments are common, non-surgical procedures. However, due to the nature of removing dental repair materials such as fillings and crowns before beginning, retreatments come with greater complexity. So, even if you had a dentist perform a root canal, you may need to see an endodontist for retreatment. Endodontic practices have special tools for seeing inside the tooth, such as surgical microscopes and cone beam CT scanners, to improve patient outcomes and reduce complications.
Endodontic retreatment may resemble the process of a root canal, but it includes additional steps the doctor takes to reach the tooth. First, the endodontist will take images of your tooth either with a three-dimensional CT scanner or digital x-rays. The imaging helps the endodontist to see your tooth’s problem before removing any dental work on it.
Next, the endodontist will need to reach the interior of the tooth. To do this, they will carefully remove a portion of your crown and filling. Cleaning out the canals again removes any bacteria that may have remained after your first root canal or entered later.
At Southwest Endodontics, we use Gentlewave technology to help clean out the canals of teeth during root canals and retreatment. The advantage of this tool is the ability to reach deeper into the tooth than standard tools can and to reduce the chances of leaving untreated areas.
Once the doctor feels certain that they’ve fully cleaned the canals, they reseal and fill the tooth. If you had a crown on the tooth after your first root canal, you may need to go back to your dentist to get the crown repaired or replaced.
If you have ever had endodontic treatment on any of your teeth, you need to continue to keep up with good cleaning of the treated teeth and those around them. Plus, knowing common signs that you may have a problem with the tooth will help you to make an appointment with an endodontist as soon as possible. The faster you can get endodontic retreatment after symptoms appear, the less pain you will experience, and the more likely you can keep the tooth.
Common signs in a previously treated tooth of needing endodontic retreatment include
If you or your dentist notice any of the above signs, you should schedule a visit with us at Southwest Endodontics for assessment and treatment.
You have several options for dental professionals around Orland Park and Geneva IL. So, why choose us at Southwest Endodontics for your retreatment?
First, we have two convenient locations to ensure that you have outstanding endodontic care in your neighborhood. Whether you are in Geneva, Orland Park, or anywhere in between, we’re close to you.
Second, we use the most up-to-date technology for endodontic care. For instance, in endodontic retreatment, we have CT scanners to give our doctors a three-dimensional look inside your tooth. We also have Gentlewave technology, which cleans out your canals, even the tiniest, hardest-to-find areas painlessly and effectively.
We have a team of experts in endodontics who can help you to save a tooth. In fact, if you don’t get retreatment soon, infection inside the tooth could lead to the bone wearing away. Waiting too long for care could mean that your only remaining option is extraction. If you want to keep your teeth, schedule endodontic care when you need it. It can be the only way to save a tooth with deep decay or internal infection.
You don’t have to lose a previously treated tooth due to reinfection or damage. Our endodontists will determine if endodontic retreatment is the best solution to treat your tooth to save it. With endodontic care, you avoid needing to have teeth pulled, helping you to keep a healthy, great-looking smile for life. Reach out to us at Southwest Endodontics to schedule a visit for an exam at our Geneva or Orland Park location.
