Calcium hydroxide in endodontic retreatment after two nonsurgical and two surgical failures: report of a case

Aim To describe the role of calcium hydroxide in infection control during complex endodontic retreatment. Summary A case is presented in which two conventional endodontic treatments and two surgical interventions failed to bring periapical healing. Despite this history, a further conventional treatment augmented by long-term disinfection with calcium hydroxide finally delivered a successful outcome. Key learning points Periapical healing follows proper intracanal infection control. Despite repeated surgical and nonsurgical intervention, careful retreatment can often bring healing. Calcium hydroxide has long-acting antimicrobial and soft-tissue dissolving activity. It is a helpful adjunct in endodontic retreatment.