A root canal procedure can treat concerns with the interior of your tooth, so you enjoy relief from an infection. But sometimes complications arise that mean a treated tooth begins to hurt again. At this stage, you may need to see your Londonderry, NH, dentist for a root canal retreatment!
The Root Canal Procedure
When a tooth is infected, treatment is needed to prevent the pulp, the tooth’s nerve center, from dying and effectively killing the tooth. When this happens, the trouble can spread to other teeth or into the jawbone itself. With a root canal, we numb the tooth and open it to remove the infected tissues and clean the interior of the tooth. Our team then adds a special filling material and caps the tooth with a crown. This usually completes the process and protects the tooth. But sometimes retreatment is needed.
When Retreatment Is Needed
When the interior of a tooth is contaminated, or possibly a crown isn’t placed properly, this could allow the tooth to be reinfected. When this happens, the tooth could begin to hurt again and feel sensitive. When this happens in the months or years following your procedure, please see us right away. We will examine the tooth with digital x-rays to identify the position of the infection and plan the retreatment process, in which we open the tooth again to remove the filling, clean the interior, and replace the tissues with a new restorative material. We again cap the tooth with a crown. If the reinfection occurs near the tip of the root, we may instead conduct a root canal surgery known as an apicoectomy.
Avoiding Infection
To help lower the risk of infection from developing, you should take care of your smile each day by brushing and flossing your teeth. Try to limit the amount of sugar in your diet and avoid tobacco products. You should also see our team for a checkup and cleaning visit every six months, so we can monitor your smile for signs of trouble and catch issues like tooth decay early, before an infection develops. We will also clean your teeth to remove the harmful plaque and tartar that could weaken and erode outer enamel and make cavities and infection possible.
If you have any questions about how we conduct a root canal or a retreatment to protect your smile’s health and stability, then contact our office today to learn more. We look forward to helping you and your family continue to enjoy optimal oral health.
Does Your Tooth Need Endodontic Treatment?
Our team wants to help you avoid discomfort and the risk of losing your tooth. Contact My Dentist in Londonderry, NH at (603) 965-3407 to speak with our team and schedule your next visit.
