Root Canal Retreatment

At Columbia River Endodontics, our goal is to provide specialized care based on each patient’s individual needs. Root canal retreatment may be recommended when a previously treated tooth does not heal as expected or develops new symptoms. These concerns can occur months or even years after the initial treatment.

Why Need Root Canal Retreatment?

Sometimes, your tooth or teeth that have undergone root canal treatment may function and act exactly like your natural teeth without any pain or issues. Other times, these treated teeth will fail to heal properly and continue to cause the patient pain and discomfort. If pain and discomfort continue, Dr. Garth Hatch may suggest root canal retreatment. 

Some causes of improper healing may include:

• Curved or narrow canals were not treated during the initial treatment.
• Complicated canals were not noticed during the initial treatment.
• The crown or restoration was not placed within the appropriate amount of time following the procedure.
• The restoration did not prevent saliva or bacteria from entering the tooth.

Sometimes, there can be new problems that occur to prevent proper healing as well. The treated tooth could experience new decay, exposing the filling material and leading to an infection. Also, the filling could become cracked or loose, thus exposing the tooth to a new infection.

Next Steps of Retreatment

If root canal retreatment is recommended, one of our endodontists, Dr. Hatch, Dr. Dawson, Dr. Schafer, Dr. Dadresanfar, or Dr. Moser, will carefully reopen the tooth and remove the existing filling material to access the root canal system. Your endodontist will then clean and examine the canals for signs of infection, additional canals, or other concerns that may have affected the original treatment.

Once the canals have been thoroughly cleaned, they will be filled and sealed, and a temporary filling will be placed to protect the tooth. Our team will also explain when you should return to your general dentist for a new crown or permanent restoration to protect the tooth and restore its function.

Although we hope that your initial root canal treatment is the only treatment you will need to restore your teeth, we understand that there are multiple factors that could lead to necessary retreatment. If you are interested in learning more about root canal retreatment, we invite you to contact our team at 509-783-1335.