ENDODONTIC RETREATMENT
Some patients who have undergone root canal treatments find that treated teeth start exhibiting pain and symptoms months and even years after the procedure. Even though the tooth’s nerve is taken out, it may not heal properly. If you experience discomfort long after the root canal has finished healing, that may indicate a need for endodontic retreatment. Schedule an appointment with us right away.
WHY DIDN’T THE TOOTH HEAL PROPERLY?
Teeth restored by root canal treatments can last a lifetime if they’re properly cared for. But if you encounter one of the following symptoms, we may need to employ endodontic retreatment to save it:
• Cracks or chips in the tooth
• Canals of irregular shapes in the tooth roots that went undetected during the initial procedure
• The restoration becomes contaminated by saliva
• An extended delay in placing the final prosthetic on the restored tooth
• Infection caused by a damaged filling or crown or fresh decay
TREATMENT OPTIONS
While root canal treatments are the primary means of dealing with diseased pulp, if that procedure doesn’t work, we usually recommend retreatment, also known as an apicoectomy. This procedure has us make a cut near the end of the tooth root to extract the infected area. As a last resort, we’ll remove the tooth.
THE RETREATMENT PROCEDURE
Ahmed Matri, DDS will begin the procedure by taking off the filling or crown to reach the filling material and remove it. After that, he will clean all of the canals and use specialized magnification and lighting tools to search for previously undetected canals to clean or infections to remove. Once that’s done, he will reshape and refill the canals.
If the canals are too narrow or inaccessible, Ahmed Matri, DDS may suggest endodontic surgery to access and seal off part of the root tip. Finally, he will place a temporary filling on the tooth.
RECOVERY PERIOD
We treat each patient differently based on what their conditions demand. Regardless, you’ll receive individualized instructions on what to do and what not to do after the procedure. If you have endodontic surgery done, you may have a slightly longer recovery period.
You can treat inflammation or minor discomfort with over-the-counter pain medications, but if you experience intense pain or see pus emerging from the treated area, contact us right away. Abstain from chewing hard foods or objects or brushing the area around the affected tooth too vigorously. Within two weeks, you shouldn’t have any soreness or inflammation.
We’ll summon you back for an examination about a week after the procedure to ensure the tooth is healing properly. If you had surgery done, we might need to remove some stitches. Contact us right away so we can install a filling or crown to restore the tooth’s form and function.
Thanks to advances in dental technology, the range and effectiveness of treatments will continue to evolve. So if you end up needing retreatment, you may experience treatment methods that you didn’t have available during your initial root canal treatment. With some exceptions, you can keep the restored tooth for a lifetime if you take good care of it.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call (703) 272-4389.
CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN
OAKTON AND MANASSAS, VA
OAKTON, VA
Oak Endodontics
2944 Hunter Mill Rd. Suite 202
Oakton, VA 22124
MANASSAS, VA
Oak Endodontics
8209 Sudley Rd.
Manassas, VA 20109