Root Canal Retreatment In San Diego
What is Root Canal Retreatment?
Root canal retreatment is a second chance to save a tooth when the initial root canal fails. Our skilled endodontist can often prevent the need for extraction.
Persistent Pain or Discomfort
If you experience persistent pain or discomfort in a tooth that has previously undergone root canal therapy, retreatment may be necessary.
Recurrent Infection or Abscess
The development of a new infection or abscess in a tooth that has had a root canal can indicate the need for retreatment.
Delayed Healing
If a treated tooth fails to heal properly or continues to exhibit symptoms long after the initial root canal, retreatment may be recommended.
Damaged or Leaking Restoration
A damaged or leaking dental restoration on a previously treated tooth can allow bacteria to reenter the root canal system, necessitating retreatment.

The Benefits of Root Canal Retreatment
Saves Your Natural Tooth
Root canal retreatment offers a second chance to preserve your natural tooth, helping you avoid extraction and the need for replacement options.
Resolves Pain and Infection
By addressing the underlying cause of your symptoms, root canal retreatment can alleviate pain, treat infection, and restore your oral health.
Cost-Effective Solution
Retreatment is often more cost-effective than tooth extraction and replacement with a dental implant or bridge, making it a smart choice for your smile.
Our Approach to Root Canal Retreatment
At Relieve Root Canal Specialists, we use advanced technology, like dental lasers, to thoroughly clean and disinfect the root canal system during retreatment. This innovative approach allows us to reach areas that may have been missed in the initial treatment, providing more effective results. We also offer sedation options to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.

The Root Canal Retreatment Process
Accessing the Root Canal System
After numbing the area, our endodontist will reopen the tooth and carefully remove the previous root canal filling material to access the canal system.
Cleaning and Shaping
Using advanced laser techniques, we thoroughly clean and disinfect the canals, addressing any areas that may have been missed in the initial treatment.
Filling and Sealing
Once the canals are clean and shaped, we fill them with a biocompatible material and seal the tooth to prevent future infection. A temporary restoration is placed.
Have Questions?
While most previously treated teeth can be successfully retreated, the ultimate success of root canal retreatment depends on several factors. These include the complexity of the original treatment, the tooth's current condition, and the presence of fractures or extensive decay.
With expert diagnostics and significant clinical expertise, Dr. Makadia evaluates each case individually to ensure there is a viable path to restoring your natural tooth. At Relieve Root Canal Specialists, we see retreatment not as a failure of the past but as an opportunity to provide patients, even the most anxious, with a second chance at healing, comfort, and tooth preservation.
If you’ve been told your only option is extraction, a second opinion with us may offer a gentler, more forward-thinking alternative. With same-day and virtual appointments available, we make it easier than ever to get the compassionate, expert-led care you deserve.
Root canal retreatment differs from the original procedure in that it involves revisiting and carefully removing the previously-placed filling materials from the tooth’s internal structures. Dr. Makadia then thoroughly cleans, disinfects, and reshapes the canals, ensuring any hidden infections or missed anatomy are addressed more precisely this time around.
This is possible thanks to the use of operating microscopes and other enhanced technology now available to our San Diego patients. One of the key differences lies in the tools and techniques now at our disposal. Advances like the GentleWave system allow for a minimally invasive yet deeply penetrating cleaning that reaches areas traditional methods can miss.
In addition, patients undergoing retreatment are often more anxious. We recognize this and respond with a full suite of sedation options, including IV sedation, to make the process as stress-free and pain-free as possible.
Signs that you may need root canal retreatment are often similar to the original symptoms you experienced before your first procedure. These can include persistent or returning pain, tenderness when biting, swelling, and sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the initial treatment. In some cases, a tooth may appear fine externally.
However, advanced imaging during a follow-up visit at our San Diego office may reveal hidden infection or missed canals that require attention. Because symptoms aren't always obvious or sudden, Dr. Makadia relies on both patient-reported concerns and high-resolution diagnostics to determine whether retreatment is necessary.
For those experiencing ill-defined discomfort in a previously treated tooth, a virtual or in-person consultation with Dr. Makadia can provide reassurance, clarity, and a clear path forward without judgment or unnecessary delay.
Choosing root canal retreatment over tooth extraction often comes down to preserving your natural tooth, which is always worth exploring when it's a safe and viable option. Root canal retreatment may be necessary when a previously treated tooth doesn't heal properly, or if new issues arise months or even years after the initial procedure.
Instead of removing the tooth entirely, retreatment gives it a second chance. This allows Dr. Ronak Makadia at Relieve Root Canal Specialists to treat lingering or newly developed infection with updated techniques and tools not previously available.
Tooth extraction may seem like a quicker fix, but it can lead to added costs and complications such as bone loss or the need for a dental implant or bridge. Root canal retreatment allows you to keep your original tooth structure. This is almost always the best outcome when supported by modern methods like the GentleWave system and advanced microscopic imaging, both of which Dr. Makadia uses to enhance precision and success.
Thanks to modern anesthesia and sedation techniques, most patients experience minimal discomfort during root canal retreatment. We prioritize your comfort and offer various sedation options to help you relax throughout the procedure. While some post-treatment sensitivity is normal, this can typically be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and usually subsides within a few days.
Root canals can fail for various reasons, including complex tooth anatomy, inadequate cleaning or filling of the canals, delayed placement of the final restoration, or new decay or injury to the tooth. In some cases, narrow or curved canals may be difficult to treat, leading to incomplete disinfection or filling. Our advanced technology and expertise help us address these challenges and provide successful retreatment.
Ready to get started?
Don't let dental pain control your life. Contact Relieve Root Canal Specialists today and take the first step towards a healthier, happier smile.
