Re-Root Canal Treatment in Gurgaon
Still in pain after a Root Canal? It might be a failed treatment. Get an honest, expert evaluation (save vs. extract) at our modern centers in Sector 51 (near Artemis) & Sector 74 (near Golf Course Ext Rd).
Maulana Azad – Delhi
What Is Re-Root Canal Treatment?
If you are experiencing tooth pain after root canal treatment or notice swelling months (or even years) later, your tooth may be reinfected. This happens when the first treatment didn’t fully clean the hidden bacteria deep inside the roots or got re-infected.
Re-Root Canal Treatment (Re-RCT) is a “second chance” procedure. It is more complex because we must carefully disassemble the previous dental work to reach the infection again.
Uncover & Clean
We remove the old cap (crown) and filling material to access the deep infection.
Deep Disinfection
We use specialized tools to find missed canals that the first RCT couldn’t reach.
Reseal
Once bacteria-free, we seal the roots again. A new Dental Crown is mandatory.
Wait & Watch
Healing takes time. We monitor to ensure the root canal failed symptoms don’t return.
Not every tooth can be saved twice.
The re-root canal treatment success rate (60-75%) is lower than the first time. If your tooth has a crack or bone loss, saving it might just delay the inevitable. We will tell you honestly if a Dental Implant is the safer, permanent choice.
Why Did My Root Canal Fail?
Patients often ask, “Why is my tooth hurting again?” It doesn’t always mean the previous dentist did a bad job. Complex anatomy and time play a huge role. Here are the 4 most common reasons why root canal infection comes back:
Hidden Canals (Missed Infection)
Teeth often have tiny, curved extra canals that don’t show on normal X-rays. If bacteria were left behind here, the root canal failed over time.
Crown Leakage
If your cap (crown) became loose or was placed too late, saliva and new bacteria leaked inside. This reinfects the root filling material.
Curved or Narrow Roots
Some roots are extremely curved. Standard instruments may not reach the very tip (apex), leaving a small pocket of infection that grows later.
Vertical Root Fracture
A hairline crack in the root. This is the “Silent Killer” of root canals and often happens in teeth that have been treated for years.
If your evaluation shows a vertical crack or if the root canal tooth broke below the gum line, Re-RCT will NOT work.
No amount of cleaning can seal a moving crack. In this specific case, extraction and a Dental Implant is the only predictable solution to stop the pain permanently.
Signs Your Root Canal Has Failed
A treated tooth should feel exactly like a natural tooth. If you are noticing any of these 5 warning signs, the infection inside the bone may be active again.
Pain on Biting or Chewing
Sharp pain when you release a bite is a classic sign of re-infection or a crack in the root.
Swelling or “Pimple” on Gums
If you see a small boil (gum boil) releasing pus, this is an active abscess. Pus coming from root canal tooth means the bone is melting.
Sensitivity Returns
A root canal tooth has no nerve, so it should NOT feel hot or cold. If it does, hidden canals were missed.
Loose Crown or Cap
If your crown came off after root canal, bacteria have likely leaked into the filling material, requiring immediate re-treatment.
Usually flare-up or high bite. Often settles with medication or adjustment.
Almost always indicates failure or fracture. At this stage, the tooth is often non-restorable, and an Implant is the better cure.
Step-by-Step Procedure
Re-treatment is more precise than a standard root canal. At our Gurgaon centers, we follow a strict protocol to ensure we don’t just “patch” the problem, but solve it.
We gently remove the old crown (special tools used for slicing the crown and not pulling), post, and filling material to “re-open” the tooth. This is delicate work to prevent fracturing the root.
Before we proceed, we need to see what’s happening in the bone. Since 2D X-rays miss cracks, we will guide you to a nearby scan centre for a CBCT (3D Scan).
We review your scan. If we see a vertical crack or massive bone loss, we stop. We won’t waste your money on a failing tooth.
If the tooth is safe, we use ultrasonic tips and microscopes to clean the infection deep in the curved roots that was missed the first time.
We seal the canals with a biocompatible material. Within 2 weeks, a new Zirconia or Ceramic Crown must be placed to prevent leakage.
Will It Work This Time?
We believe in honest dentistry. While we have expert endodontists, the biology of a tooth limits what is possible. It is important to know the re-root canal treatment success rate before you invest.
Very predictable outcome.
Success drops significantly.
- Infection Duration: If the root canal failure after 10 years has caused significant bone loss.
- Structure: If very little natural tooth structure remains (mostly filling material).
- Anatomy: If the roots are blocked or calcified, preventing deep cleaning.
Think about this: If Re-RCT fails (which happens 1 in 4 times), you will pay for the Re-RCT, the Crown, and eventually the Implant.
For many patients, choosing a Dental Implant immediately is actually the cheaper, permanent solution in the long run.
When We Say “NO” to Re-RCT
At Center for Dental Implants & Esthetics, we do not believe in “heroic dentistry”—trying to save a tooth that is already lost. If your evaluation shows any of the following 4 conditions, we will not recommended re-treatment because it will fail.
If the root has split vertically (like a crack in a windshield), no filling can seal it. The tooth must be removed to stop bone destruction.
If the infection has eaten away too much jawbone around the root, the tooth loses its foundation. Re-RCT cannot grow bone back.
If the tooth is decayed to the gum line and there is not enough structure to hold a new crown, Re-RCT is useless.
If a tooth has already failed RCT twice, a third attempt has a success rate below 40%. It is financially wiser to stop.
If you have these conditions, we will stop you from spending money on a Re-RCT.
Instead, we will guide you toward Dental Implants—the only predictable way to regain chewing strength.
Alternatives to Re-RCT
If your tooth cannot be saved by a standard Re-RCT, you have two choices. We will help you compare Re-Root Canal vs Extraction honestly.
- ✓ Saves the natural tooth structure
- ✓ Single sitting minor surgery
- ⚠️ Only works if infection is at the tip
- ⚠️ Apicoectomy vs Re-Root Canal: Still carries risk of failure
- ✓ 100% Removal of infection source
- ✓ 95-98% Success Rate (Higher than Re-RCT)
- ✓ Prevents jaw bone loss
- ✓ No risk of “Root Canal Failure” ever again
Should I Take a Second Opinion about Re-RCT?
Absolutely. If you are still in pain after multiple dental visits, or if you were told “nothing is wrong” but the swelling persists, you need a fresh set of eyes.
Many patients come to us wanting to “save” a tooth that has been infected for years. My approach is different: I rely on data. We will guide you to get a CBCT Scan (3D X-ray) first. If the scan shows the tooth is cracked or the bone is gone, I will honestly tell you to stop spending money on Root Canals.
If You Still Choose Re-RCT:
Strict Rules to Follow
If you decide to save the tooth despite the risks, you must follow these rules to prevent a third failure.
Get a Crown Immediately
You cannot delay this. A seal is vital. Read why a crown after root canal is a must to prevent reinfection.
Avoid Hard Foods
A treated tooth is brittle. Avoid biting raw nuts, ice, or sticky candy directly on that side, or the root canal tooth may break.
Gum Health is Key
Infection often enters from the gums. Use a water flosser and maintain strict hygiene to protect the bone support.
6-Month Mandatory Checkup
Re-RCT healing is slow. We need X-rays every 6 months to ensure the infection at the root tip is actually shrinking.
Why Gurgaon Patients Are Switching to Implants
Many of our patients in Sector 51 & 74 are tired of the cycle of pain and re-treatment. They are choosing Dental Implants for these three reasons:
Re-RCT vs Implant: The Cost Truth
Many patients think Re-Root Canal is cheaper. But if you look at the 5-year timeline, the math often favors the implant.
+ New Crown Cost
+ Risk of Failure (30%)
= Uncertain Investment
+ Implant Cost
+ Lifetime Durability
= One-Time Fixed Cost
Don’t guess with your health. Visit our Sector 51 or Sector 74 clinic for a CBCT-based evaluation. We will tell you honestly if your tooth is worth saving or if it’s time to upgrade to an implant.
Book Honest Evaluation