Dr. Paul LeTellier Jr, DDS, MS
EndodontistSaving Your Tooth with Advanced Retreatment Solutions
Choosing Dr. Paul LeTellier Jr, DDS, MS, an experienced Endodontist for your root canal retreatment will ensure that you are working with a highly trained specialist who knows how to identify the source of your tooth pain and provide relief!
Good oral hygiene can keep your teeth and gums healthy and disease-free. Root canal therapy helps you keep your natural tooth when it is damaged or decayed and can prevent extraction. However, sometimes such a tooth can have problems. A tooth that has undergone root canal therapy can fail. Sometimes the tooth may not heal properly, or it could develop new problems. A treated tooth can develop painful symptoms months or even years after treatment. The good news is, this does not automatically mean that you will lose your tooth.
Root canal retreatment is often used to support the healing process and save the tooth. This endodontic procedure gives you a second chance to retain a healthy tooth and intact smile.
What Is a Root Canal Retreatment?
Root canal retreatment is basically a do-over of root canal therapy. After a thorough examination of the root structure and surrounding tissues, your endodontist will discuss your treatment options with you. With root canal retreatment, the root canal will need to be reopened and the filling material removed. This often includes the removal of complex restorative materials, the crown, post, and core material in the root channel in order to gain access to the canal to clean it out.
Your tooth will be examined for any additional canals that were missed or unusual anatomy that may require treatment. Illumination and magnification are used to determine the cause of the problem. When the problem is identified and corrected, the canals are resealed, and a temporary filling is placed in the tooth. Occasionally, endodontic surgery may be recommended to seal the other end of the root as well.
Once the endodontist has completed the retreatment procedure, your dentist will complete the restorative treatment. This may consist of getting a new crown or some other restoration for the tooth, so it can be fully functional again.
Why Have Retreatment?
The discomfort an infected tooth causes gives many individuals the notion that they would rather have the tooth removed. It is always best to save your natural tooth when possible. A retreated tooth can function well for years to come and may even last for the rest of your life.
Advances in dental technology and treatment are always changing, and procedures are constantly improving. New techniques become available all the time, making saving a tooth more feasible now than in the past. Although there are no guarantees, you have options, and keeping your natural tooth is always a good priority.
Contact Avalon Dental Group in Sugar Land, TX, for more information about root canal retreatment and make your appointment for a consultation and examination today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Symptoms may include persistent or recurring pain, sensitivity, swelling of the gums or face, tenderness when biting, or the appearance of a pimple-like bump on the gums. In some cases, retreatment is recommended even without symptoms based on X-ray findings.