Endodontic Retreatment

With proper care, most teeth that have had root canal treatment last a lifetime. But sometimes a treated tooth doesn’t fully heal, or becomes painful or reinfected months or years later. The most common reason is a narrow, curved, or hidden canal that was missed the first time. A procedure called endodontic retreatment can often resolve the problem and save your natural tooth, avoiding extraction and the cost of an implant or bridge.

At Capitol Endodontics in Washington, DC, Dr. Prashant Verma reopens the tooth under a surgical operating microscope to find and treat those missed or hard-to-see canals, then cleans, disinfects, and reseals them. Patients are often referred to us for retreatment specifically because we can save teeth that a first attempt could not. If you have pain or discomfort in a previously treated tooth, call (202) 822-0732 to talk with a specialist about retreatment.

In severe pain right now? Learn about our same-day emergency root canal care in Washington, DC.

What happens during a retreatment?

First, the endodontist will discuss your treatment options. If you and your endodontist choose retreatment, the endodontist will reopen your tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material. In many cases, complex restorative materials—crown, post and core material—must be disassembled and removed to permit access to the root canals.

After removing the root canal filling materials, the endodontist will clean the canals and carefully examine the inside of your tooth using magnification and illumination, searching for any additional canals or unusual anatomy that requires treatment.

After cleaning the canals, the endodontist will fill and seal the canals and place a temporary filling in the tooth. If the canals are unusually narrow or blocked, your endodontist may recommend endodontic surgery. This surgery involves making an incision to allow the other end of the root to be sealed.

After your endodontist completes retreatment, you will need to return to your dentist as soon as possible to have a new crown or other restoration placed in order to protect the tooth and restore it to its full function.