4 reasons root canal retreatment may be in your future

Root canal therapy is among the most successful dental treatments available today, with a ~90% success rate. But there are reasons that your tooth may require retreatment by a specialist like Dr. Darlene Davis at Soft Touch Endodontics. Some of these reasons underscore the importance of following your dentist’s aftercare instructions, whereas others emphasize the importance of maintaining your oral hygiene over the long haul.

We have listed four of these initial and later-stage issues that may require the retreatment procedure at our Lilburn, Georgia, area office in Suwanee:

1 – Missed canals

Dr. Davis has the advanced training and onsite technologies to detect any root canals that may have been missed during initial treatment. No challenge is too great for her. She frequently “catches” narrow or curved canals, which may not have been treated during the first procedure. If these canals are left behind, the infection also remains. For this reason, your treated tooth may never heal properly. We can put the inflammation and infection behind you once and for all.

2 – Inadequate cleaning

The root canal process involves identifying areas where infected tissue resides, removing that tissue, and sterilizing the treatment site. In situations where there are anatomical complexities or anomalies, there is a risk that some harmful bacteria and damaged pulp tissue will be left behind. With our blend of knowledge and technologies, we ensure the treatment sites are precisely and completely cleaned. In turn, your tooth is no longer vulnerable to further damage that could lead to the need for its extraction or removal.

3 – Improper sealing

Another earlier-stage failure may arise when patients do not restore their treated teeth promptly. It is important to maintain any follow-up visits and services as instructed by your dentist. Otherwise, the tooth remains weakened from treatment. Germs can find their way into the tooth, re-contaminating it. The crown strengthens and protects the tooth from this situation and future damage. Dr. Davis often resolves issues that may have begun with delayed crown treatment or the failure to place a crown.

4 – New decay

Over the longer term, the best thing that you can do for your treated tooth is to maintain good oral hygiene and professional care at your dentist’s office. Without consistent and adequate oral care, you can find yourself back at square one, with reinfection that requires root canal retreatment. It’s also important to be kind to your teeth and avoid any behaviors that could place undue stress on them. For instance, untreated teeth grinding can crack the tooth, causing bacteria to re-enter it. These and other habits that place excessive pressure on the teeth can also “stress” the crown. When a crown becomes loose or damaged over time, the tooth may become infected again. Dr. Davis will need to perform root canal therapy again and replace the old, worn, and damaged crown.

If you notice familiar sensitivity, pain, and swelling, or these effects never seem to go away, even becoming worse, contact Soft Touch Endodontics today. Your tooth deserves a third chance! Call (770) 831-7644 to speak with a member of our Lilburn, GA area team in Suwanee.

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