Root canal procedures allow our team to take on infection and bring relief. But what if you have had one in the past at another practice, and your tooth has since begun to hurt again? In these situations, you may need to see your El Paso, TX, endodontist for a root canal retreatment!
Treating Your Infected Tooth
Initially, when we conduct a root canal for our patients, we will plan the procedure in detail by taking detailed digital x-rays to see the interior of the tooth. We then numb the area and open the tooth to remove the interior tissues and add a special filling. The last step is to cap the tooth with a crown. For most, this completes the process and they enjoy relief from pain and avoid losing the tooth.
But sometimes, we see patients who had a root canal done in the months or years prior at another practice, and they have since started to develop pain in the tooth again. This could happen if the interior of the tooth is contaminated during previous treatments, or if the crown was placed improperly. Regardless of the cause, care is needed to stop pain and avoid the risk of losing the tooth! When you have pain in a previously treated tooth, please see us right away.
The Retreatment Process
Again, we will take digital x-rays of the tooth to see the infection and assess the severity. We then open the tooth by removing the crown, allowing us to access and remove the interior tissues. We then clean the inside thoroughly and add a special filling before we again cap the tooth with a crown. If the infection has become localized in the tip of the roots, we may need to conduct a root canal surgery.
Root Canal Surgery
Also known as a root-end resection or apicoectomy, this allows us to open the gums near the tip of the root so we can remove the tip and take out the infected tissues. We then add a mediated filling and cap the root tip, suturing the area closed. This ensures instant relief and helps protect the tooth from the risk of further infection in the tooth.
If you have any questions about how our team will take on infection or conduct a retreatment to stop discomfort, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help safeguard your smile and prevent the onset of tooth loss and other concerns.
Do You Have Questions About Retreatment?
We are ready to address the source of your discomfort and protect your oral health and smile stability with an endodontic retreatment. To schedule an appointment for retreatment and more with Omni Endo in El Paso, TX, please call 915.990.3636.