Could You Ever Need a Second Root Canal?

 

When you consider the prospect of “seconds,” what comes to mind? Another helping of turkey and cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving or Christmas? Curling in a local bonspiel? A doubleheader at the local diamond? Root canal retreatment?

Huh? If you’re like most people, you’d prefer not to give root canals the first thought, never mind thinking about undergoing root canal therapy in Spruce Grove a root canal a second time. But if you’re one of the very few people who suffer a failed root canal, you may have lots of questions about root canal retreatment. Here is some information and answers to discuss with a dentist near you.

Can you get a second root canal on the same tooth?

Yes, if necessary. If, despite the best efforts of your surgeon the first time around and you maintain the health and integrity of your treated tooth you develop a new infection in a treated tooth, undergoing repeat root canal treatment near you is entirely possible and a highly successful option. Having said that, every person’s medical situation is different, and determining the best option for you — a second root canal or some other alternative — will require a careful review of the health of your teeth, the nature of the problem that has arisen (or re-arisen), and the potential benefits of alternative forms of treatment.

What could trigger the need for retreatment?

Your dentist in Spruce Grove may recommend that you undergo a second root canal for two different types of reasons: if your tooth did not heal properly after the first root canal; or if you have developed new problems in the same tooth. Here are examples of why those issues could arise:

Healing issues that can cause the need for retreatment

     If hard-to-access narrow and curved canals were not cleared of infection the first time

     If your tooth has more root canals that were not detected before or during your treatment, and thus not cleared of infection

     You waited too long to place a crown on your tooth after undergoing the root canal

     The crown did not prevent contamination of the interior of your tooth with saliva or bacteria

New issues that can cause the need for retreatment

     If you developed a new bout of tooth decay in the same or adjacent tooth or teeth that caused a new infection

     If your crown or filling gets damaged or dislodged to allow saliva or bacteria to penetrate the tooth and cause a new infection

     If the tooth that had been treated with a root canal is itself damaged in an accident, collision or injury

Undergoing a second round of root canal treatment near you is a very similar process to your initial root canal therapy with a couple of wrinkles. Before retreatment can begin, your dentist in Spruce Grove will need to remove your crown or filling before proceeding with the root canal in order to gain access to the interior of your tooth (and to replace it once the job is re-done). If the need for a root canal is because you have a particularly complex root canal anatomy — previously undetected canals or very narrow or curved canals, for example — your dentist may recommend that you undergo a variation on a root canal procedure called an apicoectomy. An apicoectomy is a root canal procedure through which the dentist accesses the interior of your tooth through your gums and root tip rather than through the crown of the tooth itself.

If you ever notice troubling symptoms in or near a tooth that has undergone a root canal, get in touch with a dentist near you right away to discuss your best treatment alternatives.

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