Nonsurgical endodontic retreatment (NS RETX) is a promising yet underutilized option for managing teeth with previous endodontic treatment failure. Understanding recent advancements in endodontics and their impact on retreatment outcomes is essential for clinicians advising patients who wish to retain their natural dentition. Advanced imaging tools such as cone-beam computed tomography improve detection and diagnosis, allowing for highly precise treatment planning. Factors affecting NS RETX prognosis include the presence of apical periodontitis, the quality of initial treatment, unmanaged complications, and the amount of remaining tooth structure. Contemporary techniques, including the use of dental operating microscopes, nickel-titanium rotary files, ultrasonic irrigation, and thermoplastic obturation methods, have significantly improved predictability of retreatment outcomes. Recent studies demonstrate higher survival and success rates with these modern approaches, underscoring the importance of prioritizing retreatment over extraction in cases of primary endodontic failure.
Wu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.