Clinical Atlas of Retreatment in Endodontics

It is important to evaluate the endodontic failures so a decision can be made among non‐surgical retreatment, surgical retreatment or extraction [33, 34, 35].

Retreatment is classified into two major groups [18].

Non‐surgical or conventional retreatment: the retreatment procedure is done through the root canals. Used in cases where the initial treatment is incomplete or presence of inadequate treatments diagnosed as failures.

Surgical retreatment: the treatment procedure is carried out after surgical exposure of the apical portion of the tooth.

Clinicians should always opt for non‐surgical retreatment over the surgical option unless a successful outcome cannot be achieved by a non‐surgical approach.

With the advent of magnification and newer retreatment technologies, non‐surgical retreatment procedures take care of mechanical failures, previously missed canals or radicular subcrestal fractures. Non‐surgical endodontic retreatment procedures have enormous potential for success if the guidelines for case selection are respected and the most relevant technologies, best materials and precise techniques are utilized [21–23].

This book focuses on a variety of failed endodontic cases that have been treated successfully with different non‐surgical as well as surgical approaches. The aim of this book is to discuss:

different possible reasons for failure of endodontic treatment

different ways to avoid iatrogenic errors while performing a root canal treatment

different approaches taken to successfully retreat endodontically failed cases

do's and don'ts during an endodontic treatment

do's and don'ts during an endodontic retreatment

the decision‐making process between surgical and non‐surgical retreatment options.

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Mohammad Hammo

Introduction to the case: pulpal floor perforation caused by excessive cutting of the floor of the pulp chamber.

Age: 30 years old.

Gender: female.

Medical history: non‐contributory.

Identification: mandibular left first molar (Tooth 36).