Endodontic Retreatment in Edmond, OK
Contemporary Endodontics of Oklahoma provides endodontic retreatment services to patients in Edmond, OK. Call 405-285-5042 to learn more and schedule your appointment.
In most cases, a root canal successfully saves a compromised tooth by removing damaged and infected areas and sealing the tooth to prevent future issues. Occasionally, an initial root canal treatment fails and endodontic retreatment is required.
Endodontic retreatment is a second chance to save a tooth before resorting to extraction. The process is similar to a root canal—your tooth is opened, the filling (a material called gutta-percha) in the chamber is removed, then the chamber is cleaned and disinfected. New gutta-percha is used to seal the chamber and the tooth is restored with a filling or crown.
While your initial root canal may not have been performed by an endodontist, it’s important to see an endodontist for retreatment, as this procedure can be more complicated and require special equipment to complete.
Frequently Asked Questions About Endodontic Retreatment
Is retreatment of a root canal painful?
Endodontic retreatment is usually no more painful than your first root canal treatment. Your tooth and the surrounding tissue will be numbed with local anesthetic injections to ensure that you feel no discomfort during the procedure. Once the anesthetic wears off, you may experience some tenderness, but this can usually be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers.
How long does a retreatment procedure take?
The length of your endodontic retreatment procedure depends upon the complexity involved and the amount of infection present. Most of the time retreatment procedures will require more than one visit.
Can antibiotics heal an infected root canal?
No, antibiotics cannot be used to treat infected root canals. Your options for treatment are to have endodontic retreatment to save your tooth or have the infected tooth extracted. If possible, it is always better to save your natural teeth.
What does a failed root canal feel like?
There are several signs that your root canal has failed. First, you’re likely to experience pain; this often worsens when you bite down or chew food. You may notice swelling and tenderness in the soft tissue surrounding your tooth and in some cases you may develop an abscess that may or may not drain pus.
Is root canal retreatment successful?
Yes, most endodontic treatments are successful and no further procedures are needed on the affected tooth.
Call 405-285-5042 to schedule your appointment.