Endodontic Retreatment in Kingwood, TX

Make an appointment with our experienced team at Made Ya Smile Dental in Kingwood, TX if you would like to consult about a tooth that has been treated with a root canal in the past. The last thing you might expect to hear is that you need another root canal. Unfortunately, there are ways for the tooth to become reinfected and cause severe pain all over again. In a similar fashion to the initial treatment, we will start the endodontic therapy by first taking digital x-rays to find the source of the problem. Upon careful examination, your dentist will determine if there are remnants in the canals that need to be removed. If necessary, our dentist can reopen the tooth, clear out the canals, and pack the space before closing up with a temporary crown. A new restoration will need to be made if it was destroyed in the process. We want you to have the care you deserve at Made Ya Smile Dental. Give our friendly patient care coordinators a call and book your office visit soon.

When you realize that the first root canal did not treat your dental problem, you can consider yourself a potential candidate for root canal retreatment. The previously treated tooth in question may be infected again, throb with pain, and swell months to years after the first root canal. Here are some of the reasons why you could be a candidate for endodontic retreatment:

• Your dentist did not capture all of the pulp and/or infection in the canals
• You have a secondary infection from not healing properly the first time
• You did not have a crown, or a suitable restoration placed over the vulnerable tooth

On the day of your root canal, we will prep you for the treatment by numbing the area with a local anesthetic. You may also request one of our sedation techniques. We have nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral-conscious sedation. Once numb and calm, your dentist will gently reopen the tooth to take out the packing materials inserted in the first root canal. The tooth will be examined to see if there are any signs of a dead tooth. If so, then the tooth may need to be extracted. If not, then the root canal process repeats just like the first treatment. Your dentist will do everything possible to save your tooth. We will retreat the tooth, look for missed canals, and clean out the infection. All the internal canals will be disinfected and smoothed. New packing materials will be placed to refill the tooth. The tooth may also need a new restoration (crown or bridge) at a follow-up appointment.

In your recovery, you will need to follow all of our after-care instructions for the best results. You can expect some minor swelling and tenderness around the tooth treated. The pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. If you have an infection present, then your dentist may prescribe an antibiotic in order to halt the spread to other teeth or areas. A crown or a bridge may be placed at a follow-up appointment in the coming weeks. If you have any questions or concerns before your next appointment, please call and ask for guidance. Be on the lookout for infection, excessive pain, and fever because the existing infection can multiply and spread quickly if it is not under control.

Having a revision root canal treatment may or may not be covered under your insurance plan. Some PPO  dental insurance plans do cover a percentage of the cost. If you have any out-of-pocket expenses, you can apply for our CareCredit® lending for financial assistance. We want to help you find a budget-friendly financing option while not sacrificing the quality of your care. Your treatment plan will have a detailed list of fees with and without coverage from your provider.

With decades of endodontic treatment experience, your Made Ya Smile Dental team can get to the bottom of your post-root canal issues. Do not live with the uncomfortable symptoms of a tooth that needs a root canal. Schedule your root canal retreatment consultation at our Kingwood, TX location even if our practice did not perform the original root canal. We want to help you feel better with a big smile that says enduring the dental work was all worth it. We look forward to meeting you.