With the appropriate care, your teeth that have had endodontic (root canal) treatment can last as long as other natural teeth. Occasionally, the infection around the tooth that undergone endodontic treatment may not heal or pain may continue despite therapy. In some rare cases, the tooth may respond well to treatment only to have the disease return months or years after treatment.
In many of these cases, Endodontic Retreatment may be helpful to repair your tooth.
If Endodontic Retreatment has been selected for your tooth; We will re-open your tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material. We will then carefully examine and clean the inside of the root canals. To provide the best results possible our doctors will often leave a disinfecting medication in your tooth. Once this medication has done its job, and only after we see signs of improvement, our doctors will place a new root canal filling to re-seal your tooth. Our goal is to provide the most predictable treatment possible. If we decide that endodontic treatment is not the best option for you we will always let you know. Your health is our priority.
We recommend that you call your restorative dentist as soon as possible to make your follow-up appointment. Dentists' schedules tend to book quickly. It is recommended that you have your permanent restoration placed 2-3 weeks after your root canal treatment to allow healing to take place, but not longer than one month after the procedure. This step is imperative for the long-term prognosis of your tooth.
The temporary filling placed in the biting surface of your tooth is designed to last ideally two to four weeks, not longer than six to eight weeks. It is crucial to see your general dentist for a permanent restoration. Waiting longer than eight weeks can cause your temporary filling to leak, thus contaminating your newly completed root canal therapy.
