What retreatment is
Retreatment means redoing a root canal that was already performed and did not resolve. The previous filling material is removed, the whole canal system is cleaned and disinfected again, and it is sealed anew. The goal is the same as always: keeping your tooth.
A failed root canal does not mean the tooth is lost. In most cases there is a specific, correctable reason.
Why a previous root canal fails
- An untreated canal. The most common reason. The classic case is the mesiobuccal 2 (MB2) of upper molars, present in most of those teeth and hard to see without magnification.
- Incomplete cleaning in curved or calcified canals.
- A seal that leaked over time, or a restoration that fractured and let bacteria back in.
- Root fracture. The only one on this list that usually has no way back — which is exactly why it should be confirmed before extracting, not after.
The microscope is the difference
Retreatment is where the endodontic microscope changes the outcome most. It makes it possible to locate canals invisible to the naked eye, remove previous filling material, posts and fractured instruments without sacrificing healthy structure, and verify the seal on the spot.
Without magnification, much of that work is done blind. With it, you see.
Retreatment or extraction
Before accepting an extraction, get a second opinion. Your own tooth preserves bone, bite proprioception and the position of neighboring teeth. Implants are excellent when there is no alternative left — but they are not the first option while the tooth can still be saved.
If the diagnosis is a complete root fracture, we say so plainly and plan the replacement. Evaluation under the microscope is precisely what tells one case from the other.
How the process works
- Evaluation with digital X-ray ($35): the previous treatment is reviewed, the likely cause identified, and you get a written cost plan.
- Removal of previous material and location of untreated canals, under the microscope.
- Cleaning, disinfection and sealing of the complete system.
- Definitive restoration — a retreated tooth needs a restoration that protects it from fracture.
If you want the full explanation before traveling, we cover it in depth in our article on endodontic retreatment.
What it costs
The evaluation is $35 and includes a digital X-ray and the written cost plan. The retreatment price is defined there: it depends on how much previous material has to be removed, whether there is a post, and the number of canals. Redoing an incisor is not the same case as a molar with three filled canals and a fiber post.
For reference: in the United States a retreatment typically costs between $1,000 and $1,800 without insurance.