A root canal procedure may fail resulting in a need for retreatment. Failure usually involves bacterial access due to some deficiency in the procedure or deterioration over time.
Failure may occur:
(1) within days or weeks (early)
(2) within months
(3) within years (late)
Presentation of a failed root canal:
(1) reappearance of a periapical lesion
(2) signs and symptoms such as pain on chewing or increased tooth mobility
(3) variable radiographic evidence of deficiency in the root filling
Causes of a failure:
(1) performance of the endodontist
(2) failure of the restorative materials
(3) underfilled or overfilled canal
(4) missed canal
(5) voids in restorative materials
(6) silver cones
(7) fractured instrument
(8) inadequate flare
(9) loss or defect of the coronal restoration
(10) perforation
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