Do I need a root canal retreatment?

Sometimes, even if you’ve already had a root canal, you may need a retreatment. A retreatment may even be necessary even if you’re not experiencing any pain in that tooth, although tooth pain can occur, too.

What is a root canal retreatment?

A root canal is necessary when the pulp inside your tooth has become inflamed or infected. This can happen as a result of a crack or chip in your tooth, a deep cavity or repeated procedures on your tooth that has left it weak. If you don’t treat the infection or inflammation, you’ll have pain in your tooth or it can cause an abscess.

During a root canal, the pulp is removed and the inside of your tooth is cleaned, disinfected and then filled and sealed with a rubber-like material. You may then end up with a crown or a filling to protect the inside of the tooth. A root canal typically requires one or two dental appointments.

If you’ve already had a root canal, even many years ago, you may suddenly discover that the root canal has failed and you need a retreatment.

Sometimes this occurs because the tooth may not have healed properly, the crown wasn’t put on as soon as it should have or the filing didn’t seal properly, allowing the inside of the tooth to become contaminated. A root canal can be a complicated procedure because of the complex root canal anatomy and there may be pulp that was missed the first time and is now infected or has caused an abscess.

During a retreatment, a small hole is made on the surface of the tooth and the tooth canals are cleaned and examined. Your dentist will search for any additional canals or unusually shaped canals that require treatment. After this cleaning, the tooth will be sealed and a temporary filling or crown will be adhered to the tooth.

If there is blockage within the canal, surgery may be necessary to treat the infection and reseal the tooth.

Teeth that have had a root canal retreatment can last for many years or even your lifetime. But there are circumstances when the tooth would need to be extracted and replaced with a tooth implant, a bridge or a partial denture, which can be costlier than a retreatment.

There are ways to save money on root canal retreatments and other major dental work. AmeriPlan USA offers affordable discount dental plans for the entire household for as low as $19.95 a month. Discount dental plans are an alternative to dental insurance and can be used as often as necessary to save 25 to 85 percent off each dental procedure.

To view a variety of discount dental and health plans and services offered to AmeriPlan members visit (www.familydentalhealthplans.com)