After two years post-root canal treatment, a tooth still presents with radiolucency. What is the appropriate action?

In the context of a tooth that continues to show radiolucency two years after root canal treatment, retreating the tooth is the appropriate action. The presence of radiolucency often indicates ongoing infection or a failure of the initial root canal treatment to adequately eliminate the source of infection. This suggests that bacteria may still be present in the root canals or surrounding tissues, leading to persistent inflammation and potential healing issues.

Retreating the tooth involves re-accessing the root canals, cleaning them out again, and potentially using medication to ensure that any residual infection is treated. This is critical, as waiting for additional symptoms (which may not always manifest) or applying a medicated filling without addressing the underlying issue would not resolve the problem. Similarly, extracting the tooth would only be considered if other treatment options are not viable or successful, which is not the first line of action in cases where retreatment could resolve the issue. Thus, retreatment is aimed at ensuring that the tooth can heal and regain function.