Occasionally, a tooth that has had a previous root canal may not heal as expected or may develop a new infection. Root canal retreatment involves reopening the tooth, removing the previous filling materials, and carefully cleaning and disinfecting the root canal system again. The canals are then sealed with a new filling to help promote healing and prevent reinfection. Retreatment can often save a tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted. Advances in technology and imaging allow us to identify and address problems that may have been difficult to detect previously. Our goal is to restore the tooth to health and function whenever possible.