If you have had a root canal procedure performed in the past, you likely went into it, assuming you would have everything taken care of. The pain you were experiencing would go away, the discomfort while eating would vanish, and after the inflammation in the gums died down following the root canal, you would return to normal.
This is exactly how it goes for most individuals who undergo a root canal. However, it is not always the case. There are times when even following the root canal; you might still feel discomfort or pain.
The pain might return after a few weeks, or it might even increase to become more severe than before. Whatever the case might be, it might mean you need to have a second root canal performed, known as endodontic retreatment.
What Is Endodontic Retreatment?
During a root canal, an opening is drilled into your tooth, and ideally, the pulp and dead nerve endings will be fully cleared out and removed. Once this happens, the tooth will be cleaned, filled, and sealed. If the tooth is in the front of your mouth, a whitening agent might be injected to help keep the tooth the same color as the surrounding teeth.
Now, there are times when you might experience some kind of pain following the root canal. This might be associated with tooth healing following the trauma experienced during the root canal. There is usually some minor inflammation and possibly some lingering discomfort following the procedure. However, if that discomfort lasts longer than a few days or returns after going away, it means there may still be an issue with the tooth. The root canal will need to be opened back up to address the problem. This leads to a second root canal being performed on the tooth in question.
Why Is An Endodontic Retreatment Required?
If pain is lingering within your tooth, it is usually because of one of two issues: not all of the dead nerve endings and pulp was removed during the initial root canal, and now the dead organic material is beginning to decay. The other is some bacteria found their way into the tooth before it was sealed up, and, much like the festering dead pulp, it is now starting to multiply and cause problems. If the issue is not corrected soon, it can begin to spread into the surrounding tissue, so endodontic retreatment needs to be performed.
Some dentists may apply a temporary filling to your tooth following the root canal as a precautionary measure. They will then have you return to the dentist a week or so later to see how things are going and test the tooth. If the tooth is fine and there’s no sign of secondary issues, the temporary filling will be removed, and a permanent filling will be applied.
Why See An Endodontic Specialist?
Your general practicing dentist covers a lot of ground regarding the health and well-being of your teeth. They will perform your routine check-ups, clean your teeth, take X-rays, address fillings, pull teeth when required, and occasionally perform a root canal. Root canals are often the most in-depth procedure performed. They rarely expand beyond this because there is only so much technology they can fit into their office.
They need to spread their financial resources around and only have so much space to place their equipment. This means that even though they can perform a root canal, they might not have the latest and greatest technology.
With an endodontic specialist, such as the team at Southern Endodontic Specialists, they will have the most up-to-date equipment. This is because performing root canals (and, with that, endodontic retreatment) is one of the most performed procedures handled by the staff. A root canal is performed on a daily basis. Due to this, most of their financial investments and space within the office will go towards this kind of equipment.
Thanks to improved technology, it is possible to clean out the entirety of the root canal system, which can be elaborate. It also makes it easier to look for debris and other bacteria that might otherwise go unseen during a traditional root canal procedure. The risk of requiring a second root canal is greatly diminished with the advanced, state-of-the-art technology.
A second root canal not only means you need a second procedure but also takes away your time and money. That is why you should seek out the help of an endodontist specialist whenever it comes to having a root canal performed. If you already have had the initial root canal performed by someone else and are still in pain, there may be other issues at play. You will be better off visiting an endodontist for the subsequent endodontic retreatment.
If you believe something is wrong with your initial root canal or think you need a root canal, to begin with your best option is to contact an endodontist with all your questions and set up an initial consultation to determine what is happening.
Schedule Your Endodontic Retreatment Consultation Today
If you have had a root canal performed before and are still in pain, or if you want to avoid potentially having two root canals performed by having an expert perform your initial procedure, your best option is to give Southern Endodontic Specialists a call.
Whatever your questions might be, whatever situation you might find yourself in, and whomever you had performed your initial root canal, it doesn’t matter, as all your questions and concerns will be addressed. At your earliest convenience, contact the staff at Southern Endodontic Specialists.