Root canal therapy, or RCT, is an endodontic treatment that focuses on treating an infected tooth. Typically, when there is deep decay in a tooth, the pulp inside can get affected, causing pain, sensitivity, and discomfort. RCT involves removing the blood vessels, pulp, and decay to prevent extracting the tooth. In some situations, infection may resurface, which requires endodontic retreatment, also called root canal retreatment. If your Dentist in Arlington Heights, IL, has suggested the procedure, you can personally discuss your concerns in detail. For your help, here is a guide on endodontic retreatment.
What exactly is endodontic retreatment?
Root canal retreatment is essential after a failed root canal treatment. While RCT has a high success rate, the procedure isn’t perfect. Root canals are often curved or calcified, making it hard to clean them entirely. If bacterial growth affects the pulp chamber again, the patient will experience similar symptoms, including pain while eating and chewing, heightened sensitivity, and gum swelling. Endodontic retreatment repeats the same procedure as root canal therapy to clean and disinfect the tooth while preserving the structure.
Benefits of endodontic retreatment
Much like root canal therapy, the purpose of endodontic retreatment is the same – reduce pain and save the natural tooth. With an experienced dentist handling the procedure, patients see a drastic reduction in pain. The natural tooth can then function normally, and other symptoms, including sensitivity, disappear immediately. The success rate of the procedure is around 75%.
Steps in the procedure
- During the first appointment, your dentist will listen to your concerns and examine the tooth and surrounding gums to determine whether you will benefit from endodontic retreatment.
- If you need the procedure, they will again order X-rays to check the extent of infection and the position of the canals.
- As the initial step in endodontic retreatment, your dentist will administer local anesthesia, which will numb the gums and the infected tooth. If you had a crown, they would remove it carefully.
- Next, they will remove the previous filling placed during RCT and clean the canals again. They will use similar dental files for the procedure.
- Once the tooth is clean, they will disinfect the canals and pack them using a biocompatible material called the gutta-percha.
Is a crown necessary after root canal retreatment?
Yes, a dental crown is required after root canal retreatment. After a second treatment, the tooth becomes extremely weak and is prone to breakage. A crown is placed to encase it entirely to restore chewing function and strength. Your dentist will file the tooth if required to make room for the restoration, following which they take impressions of your bite. You may get a temporary crown, but the actual crown, often made of materials like resin, porcelain, ceramic, or metal, will come from the lab after two to three weeks. During the final appointment, the crown is cemented in place.
Is root canal retreatment better than extracting the tooth?
Ideally, dentists prefer to save the natural teeth of any patient. If there is a remote possibility that a reinfected tooth can be saved using root canal retreatment, they will always recommend the procedure over an extraction. Extracting a tooth can lead to other complications, such as bone loss and shifting of other teeth. Also, the cost of endodontic retreatment is much lower than replacing a missing tooth using implants or dentures.
Look for dentists in Arlington Heights today
If you are experiencing complications after root canal therapy, consider finding a dentist in Arlington Heights immediately. Ideally, you shouldn’t have any pain after a successful RCT procedure, and any unusual symptoms should be addressed immediately. With immediate intervention, root canal retreatment can save an infected tooth successfully.
