4 steps to heal your painful, damaged tooth once and for all … with root canal retreatment, surgery

The first “modern” root canal treatment dates back to the 1830s! As with anything, therapy has only become safer, more comfortable, and more predictable. In addition to being a “time-tested” treatment, root canal therapy has a very high success rate, exceeding 90%. No single type of treatment in any discipline is 100% successful. So, as your “endodontist near me in Suwanee, Georgia,” Dr. Darlene Davis may recommend alternatives to non-surgical root canal treatment or even retreatment of the root canals if signs of inflammation and infection persist after your procedure. Dr. Davis and the Soft Touch Endodontics team are pleased to provide four steps to heal your painful, damaged tooth. 

No. 1: Watch for the signs. 

It’s important to know what’s normal and what may be a true cause for concern following root canal treatment. For instance, it’s not unusual for your treated tooth to feel slightly “different” from your other teeth, even tender, immediately following your procedure. This sensation can last days after your appointment; however, the tooth shouldn’t be painful. Root canal treatment is designed to lift and ease pain. It is generally well-tolerated and not a source of additional pain. If the familiar sensations that first brought you to your general dentist or to us return or never really go away, this can be a red flag that the tooth is not healing properly. We may need to evaluate further. 

No. 2: Schedule a consultation/follow-up without further delay. 

During your consultation or follow-up, Dr. Davis will closely examine the treated tooth. As a specialist in endodontics, the treatment of innermost tooth structure, she also has advanced diagnostic tools to see what can’t be visualized with the eyes alone. She may use these technologies to detect the smallest details, which may be the source of your failing root canal. Depending on what she finds, retreatment may be recommended. Dr. Davis also has the knowledge and experience to perform surgical endodontic treatment. The most common form of endodontic surgery is known as “apicoectomy” or “root-end resection.” 

No. 3: As appropriate, undergo root canal retreatment. 

There may be several reasons root canals do not “take” the first time. As an example, you may have challenging or complex anatomical characteristics. These characteristics include narrow, curved canals or a complicated root canal system. With our considerable capabilities, we can detect and treat canals that may have gone untouched during the initial procedure. 

No. 4: As appropriate, undergo surgery. 

While there are many surgical interventions to save a persistently troublesome tooth or tooth with additional complexities to treatment, the most common kind is root-end resection. This procedure, or apicoectomy, is as its nickname suggests; the chronically inflamed or infected area around the end of the tooth (along with the root’s tip) is removed using micro-surgical techniques. As the bone around the root end heals, painful symptoms should be abated, and healthy function should be restored. 

Remember that any procedure’s success is a shared responsibility between you and your doctor. Many root canal treatment failures stem from not applying a dental crown to protect the site promptly or not properly caring for the treated tooth. So, following any instructions provided by your dentist and/or Dr. Davis is essential. With good and consistent oral care, no further treatment is largely needed, and you can enjoy your restored tooth for many years. If you are worried about how a tooth is healing, contact Soft Touch Endodontics in Suwanee, GA, immediately at (770) 212-9771. 

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