When you receive a root canal for an infected tooth, and your tooth begins to hurt in the weeks or months to come, this could mean the tooth has developed decay or infection again. Don’t let your pain lead to a missing tooth. In today’s blog, your Londonderry, NH, dentist talks about the retreatment process.
The Complications That Require Retreatment
Sometimes, when a root canal is done, it could be done incorrectly, or the interior of the tooth could be contaminated or portions of the infected tissue left behind. Which means when the root canal is completed and the tooth capped with a crown, there could be further infection in the weeks or months to come. When your tooth begins to hurt, this could mean you need to see our team for retreatment, otherwise you risk the infection reaching a stage at which point the tooth needs to be extracted to prevent the spread of infection to other parts of the smile.
Redoing Your Root Canal
Our team will examine your tooth with digital x-rays so we can pinpoint the position and severity of the infection within your tooth. We can then plan the retreatment in detail. Our team will offer anesthesia to numb the tooth and for anxious patients, we could also offer sedation to help people enter a deep state of calm and relaxation, often with little to no memory of the procedure afterward. We then remove the crown and take out the tissues and filling material from within the interior of the tooth. We thoroughly clean the inside of the tooth and then add a new restorative filling material. The last step will involve placing a custom crown to cap the tooth and protect it from further injury or infection. The crown will be custom-made to also blend with the smile and offer a lifelike appearance.
Protecting Your Smile
You can take steps to help lower the risk of tooth decay and infection, so you can avoid the need for a root canal. For example, be sure you brush and floss daily to control plaque buildup and fight cavities. Try to limit the amount of sugar and starch in your diet, avoid tobacco products, and see our team for checkups and cleaning every six months. If you have any questions about how we conduct a root canal or a retreatment procedure, then contact our team today to learn more.
Schedule An Appointment for Retreatment
Our team wants to help restore and repair a tooth, keeping your smile whole and healthy. You can schedule an appointment with the team at My Dentist in Londonderry, NH, today by calling 603-965-3407. We want to help you enjoy a strong and healthy smile, one that stays bright and intact for years to come.
