Endodontic retreatment involves surgery on a tooth that has already received root canal treatment in the past. There are many reasons why a tooth that has been treated might need treating again, from problems with the initial procedure such as delay in the placement of a crown, to new problems following treatment such as an infection or fracture.In most cases, endodontic retreatment will be similar to the original root canal procedure, but if the tooth remains infected or the root is inaccessible, a retreatment procedure may involve making an incision in the gum to seal the root from the other side.