Having a root canal procedure likely isn’t anyone’s favorite activity, but sometimes they’re necessary to preserve your smile and provide some much-needed pain relief. If you’ve recently learned that yours needs to be repeated, though, you may have some questions. Many patients in this scenario wonder why the same tooth needs to have the process repeated a second time and whether it’s truly necessary. If you’re curious, keep reading to learn more about it!
What Exactly Is a Root Canal?
To fully understand why you may need another root canal, it’s helpful to establish what’s involved in this treatment. Essentially, it’s a procedure that allows your dentist to rescue your decayed or injured tooth. If it has cavities or is broken and becomes infected, you’ll develop a toothache in addition to other risks. Cavities can spread to your other teeth, and the infection can also enter your bloodstream through your gums and travel to other areas of your body.
During your root canal, your dentist creates a small opening in your pearly white. Then, they’ll clear out any dead or damaged materials before cleaning and sealing it back up. Finally, they’ll cap it with a dental crown to restore its functionality and shield it from additional injury.
Why Do I Need a Second Root Canal?
If you’ve already had a tooth repaired this way, you may feel confused when you learn another is needed. Some reasons that it might be required include:
- Hidden bacteria. Although your dentist does their best to remove all harmful materials, germs can hide in the narrow, curved, and complex canals of your tooth. Over time microbes can flourish and cause problems because these passages are difficult to access.
- Additional decay. If you develop further decay near the already damaged tooth, it can permeate the roots and cause a new infection in the same area.
- Delayed dental crown. To protect your vulnerable tooth, your dentist will have fitted you with a dental crown after the original procedure. If you had to wait to have it placed, it was exposed to germs and bacteria may have had an opportunity to regrow.
- Broken restoration. If your dental crown cracks or becomes loose, it can damage the underlying tooth. Unfortunately, this gives dangerous germs an opening to cause more harm.
- Salivary contamination. Your saliva can introduce additional microbes in partially sealed teeth.
If you want to have a clear understanding of why you need a retreatment, ask your dentist. They’ll be able to let you know what they found during their oral examination that led to their recommendation.
Soon, the process will be behind you, so you’ll once again enjoy the many benefits of having a safely restored smile!
About the Author
Dr. Jane C. Puskas has decades of experience helping patients improve their overall health by enhancing their dental well-being. She attended the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and graduated cum laude. Since then, she has continued to advance her knowledge and skills through specialized training in esthetic and restorative dentistry and taught in the Departments of Restorative Dentistry and Dental Care Administration at Harvard. If you need a root canal, she’s an expert who can help! You’re welcome to request a consultation appointment on the website, or by calling (404) 261-7488.