Retreatment of Oval-Shaped Root Canals – Difficulties and Treatment Approaches

Abstract

The complex anatomy of oval-shaped root canals presents a major challenge for secondary endodontic retreatment. The positive outcome of the retreatment depends on the proper cleaning and reshaping of the root canal space. Despite the use of various retreatment techniques and the improvement of additional protocols, none of them has yet succeeded in cleaning the entire root canal from filling residue. The untouched irregularities of the oval-shaped canals represent a reservoir for debris and microorganisms that are the main cause of endodontic treatment failure or delayed healing process. Further research should be done to improve the retreatment protocols of oval shaped canals. The aim of this review was to observe the articles investigating the efficacy for retreatment of oval-shaped root canals in the last 10 years.