04/23/2026
Not every failing root canal needs to be torn apart.
Tooth 18 had persistent apical pathology isolated to the distal root after prior treatment. The easy answer would have been full retreatment.
The better answer? Find the real problem.
CBCT revealed a missed DB canal hiding in plain sight. Instead of undoing what was already functioning, treatment was focused on the untreated anatomy through selective retreatment.
Preserve what works. Correct what doesn’t.
Sometimes the most advanced treatment isn’t doing more… it’s doing exactly enough.
Would you have fully retreated this tooth or focused on selective retreatment?