Root canal that didn't work? A tooth can often be treated again.

Signs a root canal may have failed

• Pain or tenderness returning months or years after treatment
• Swelling, a gum boil or a bad taste near the tooth
• A dark area at the root tip on an X-ray
• A root canal that never fully settled after the first visit
• New decay or a leaking crown on a tooth that was treated

What happens, step by step

1. Look

   We review your X-rays and examine the tooth to find out why the first treatment has not healed.

2. Explain

   You hear whether retreatment, a small surgery or extraction is the most sensible route, with costs.

3. Re-clean

   We take out the old filling material, search for missed canals under the microscope and clean the whole system.

4. Rebuild

   The tooth is sealed again and rebuilt, with a new crown if the old one cannot be kept.

Why root canals fail, and why we can often fix it

The usual reasons are a canal that was missed, a canal that was not fully cleaned, new decay getting in, or a crack. Many of these can be found and put right once the tooth is reopened and seen clearly.

Under a surgical microscope we can see the floor of the tooth, follow hidden canals and clear old material that the naked eye cannot judge. That is why retreatment is a large part of Dr. Iqbal's work.

Retreatment, apicoectomy or extraction: how they compare

When a root canal has not healed, there are three routes. The right one depends on why it failed.

Questions patients ask