“Why would you need a second root canal on the same tooth?”
I am a 41 year old female. I want to know why would you need a second root canal on the same tooth?
11 Answers
If the first root canal missed a canal, then you would need additional treatment. Sometimes a root canal can fail. Different causes, a qualified endodontist is the specialist you should go to.
Some roots have extra nerve canals that are not seen during the first root canal and cause reinfection.
There could be an extra or underfilled canal with nerve tissue still there that may be causing an issue like pain, infection, etc., that wasn't filled during first root canal, hence needing a retreatment root canal.
A root canal treatment involves the elimination of bacteria from the infected root canal, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed. Research and development of new techniques and materials have increased the predictability and longevity of the root canal treatment. You may need a retreat in the same tooth if it doesn’t respond and heal as expected. The number, size and shape of the patient’s root canals may have complicated the procedure. There may have been a delay before installing the final crown or restoration. Both occurrences giving rise to re-infection. A separate occurrence of decay or injury to the tooth or crown to undo the effects of successful treatment.
Most root canals are successful. On occasion the tooth could become reinfected or another canal or small accessory canal can be located that was not initially treated, leading to retreatment.
If the first root canal failed or was not done properly
There can be a few reasons, but the most common reason is that previous root canal is not working for some reason. Root canals are like voodoo: sometimes, they can look great on an X-ray, but still fail or look horrible on an X-ray and work. Understand if you have an issue with chronic inflammation (the most common issue with a failed root canal), you put your overall health at risk if you don’t treat it. Chronic inflammation is a major root issue of all health problems.
Jon Engel
Jon Engel
Interesting you should ask this. I recently had a patient come in who had a root canal on a molar 20 years ago. At the end of one root was infection. There are two possible reasons. The first is the root may have a fracture in it. In that case, it would need an extraction. Second, the root canal may need to be repacked. Over time and wear, micro-leakage can occur and retreatment will solve the problem. Most things don't last forever. A skilled specialist can make this determination.
If the tooth is an important tooth strategically or the patient is very young or the tooth is in very good condition, it's advisable to retreat the tooth by a specialist to try to save it, again, if it's worth saving. Only 75% or retreats are successful. If the tooth prognosis is poor, maybe a retreat won't be the answer.
Because the seal that is created when the root canal is completed does not last forever. Root canal is very successful when compared with all types of surgery, and statistics show that 90% of Root canals last for 10 years and 50% for 20 years. Sometimes the root canal system is complex or problematic, which can reduce long-term success. Sometimes recurrent decay
enters the top of the root canal and proceeds down to the root tip and breaks the seal causing a failure. Sometimes gum disease issues cause a combined infection which causes a failure. Crowns, fillings, and cleanings do not last forever as with just about everything else in life, so this should not surprise you.
enters the top of the root canal and proceeds down to the root tip and breaks the seal causing a failure. Sometimes gum disease issues cause a combined infection which causes a failure. Crowns, fillings, and cleanings do not last forever as with just about everything else in life, so this should not surprise you.
Root canal treatment can fail & become reinfected.
