Why You May Need Root Canal Retreatment

Root canal treatment, which involves cleaning and sealing a tooth's infected center, may help you to save your teeth and avoid an implant. However, there are cases where the treatment fails, and you need to go for retreatment. The need for retreatment may be occasioned by:

Cracked Teeth

The chances of a root canal treatment succeeding are higher if the tooth is wholesome than if it is cracked. This is because the cracks make good hiding places for bacteria. Since the cracks are too tiny to be given the same treatment (cleaning and sealing) as root canals, there is a high chance that they may harbor bacteria that may later cause further problems. To make matters worse, some of these cracks may be too tiny for your dentist to notice during the treatment process.

Coronal Leakage

Coronal leakage is the process by which oral bacteria enter a tooth's crown (the part of the tooth above the gum line) and find its way into the formerly treated canal. The leakage should be prevented because the success of a root canal treatment doesn't just depend on the actual cleaning and restoration process, it also depends on the permanent restoration (such as a crown).

The restoration, which needs to be placed after the root canal heals, should be done soon enough before oral bacteria find their way into the tooth. Therefore, you should schedule the restoration as soon as possible as long as your dentist has given you the go ahead.

Trauma

Root canal treatment may save your tooth, but it also weakens it somewhat. This is why such dentists use different forms of treatment (such as crowning) to strengthen such teeth. However, such a tooth may break due to physical trauma, for example, when playing contact sports.

Physical trauma may cause dentin cracks, which gives bacteria the chance to enter the tooth. The extent of the damage determines the probability of this happening; for example, damages that extend to a tooth's root usually call for retreatment.

Teeth Decay or Gum Disease

Finally, you should know that treated teeth are still susceptible to teeth decay and gum disease, just like other teeth. If such decay extends deep into the root, it may necessitate a retreatment. Therefore, you should observe a high level of oral hygiene and care after your initial endodontic therapy.

As you can see, there are a number of issues that may call for your root canal retreatment. Therefore, don't assume that your tooth is safe just because it has been given the treatment. Maintain good oral hygiene, consult with a dentist from a clinic like Cary Dental Associates regularly, and follow his or her instructions thoroughly.