How Long Will a Root Canal Last
It is truly unsettling to look in a mirror and see a broken tooth with only a jagged edge remaining. When visiting the dentist it is sometime surprising to learn that the tooth can be saved by doing a root canal and then placing a silver or white filling, or a cap.
For other patients, a tooth may cause severe pain for days and may even develop a swelling in the gums or cheek. As we saw in the first example, the patient often goes to the dentist expecting to lose the tooth but, again, is happily surprised to learn that the dentist can do a root canal, and make the tooth look like new.
In both cases, the broken tooth or the hurting tooth, the issue of root canal cost and guarantee is a major concern. In other words, patients ask, can I afford this root canal ‘and how long will it last’. Following, are some ‘hard facts’ on the issue of root canal longevity, and, what you can expect for your money.
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What can I expect from my root canal? Will it work? Will it last? First ask the dentist about your specific tooth. There are many factors that determine whether or not your root canal and final filling (white filling, silver filling, or cap) will have long-term success.
Here are the factors that determine how long a root canal will last:
Every tooth that needs a root canal has infection in it. The amount of infection is different for each tooth. Some teeth have only a small, early infection, usually as a result of a cracked filling. Other teeth contain large infections that spread right through the root and deep into the surrounding bone. The more infection present at the start of the root canal, the less chance of long-term success.
Gum health in the area of the tooth plays a major role in root canal success. Your dentist will let you know if surrounding gum and bone infection can be cured, or if it will seriously hinder the chance of success.
The size of the filling placed after a root canal is completed, also determines the long-term success or failure of a tooth. A very broken down tooth has a greater risk of failure since it will need a very large filling, or even the placement of a metal or porcelain cap in an attempt to make the tooth useable again. Studies suggest that the number one cause of tooth loss after a root canal is breakage of the tooth. The next most common cause of root canal failure is infection.
After an infected tooth receives a properly completed root canal, it is possible that bacteria still remains in the root and will cause future problems. Why is this? Bacteria can lie in difficult to reach, and hard to clean, areas of the tooth. Sometimes, bacteria simply is very stubborn and does not clean out easily, even when the dentist properly scrubs and rinses the root.
Also sometimes new infections can reappear in a tooth after a root canal is completed, which results in tooth loss. These infections regrow in the roots of the tooth or in the bone and gum around the teeth.
What is the average time to failure?
Deep, infected, cavities and broken teeth are the main reason for needing a root canal.
Some root canal teeth can last a lifetime. Some don’t.
A review of many studies finds that the median (middle) survival time for root canal teeth is just over 11 years.
Those teeth in which a filling is quickly placed following a root canal will have improved median survival time to over 20 years. The lesson here is simple. After you receive a root canal treatment, it is important to make an appointment and immediately have a filling placed in the tooth. Remember, a root canal fills the roots of the teeth (down in the bone) and a filling covers the tooth on the top.
Why is there infection in my root canal tooth?
It is a tricky job for a dentist to thoroughly clean the infected roots of a tooth. A dentist will use a variety of techniques to accomplish this. First there is the scraping of the root with files - kind of like little nail files - to remove the infected nerve in the root. The scraping can be done manually, by hand, or with a rotary drill. The next technique is to apply washes into the root. A number of rinses are approved for use, but the major rinse has been, and remains, sodium hypochlorite.
Despite all of your dentists best efforts, it is almost impossible to remove 100 percent of the bacteria in an infected tooth.
The goal of any root canal is to remove enough infection so that the tooth stays healthy for years to come.
Sometimes the remaining bacteria begins to grow after the root canal is done. This can happen days, months, or years later. The symptoms of a failing root canal are pus, swelling, pain, tooth looseness.
The only solution for a failing root canal is to try and redo the root canal (if possible) or remove the tooth.
Should I do a root canal? Will it last?
Perhaps the better question is: ‘what happens if I don’t do this root canal?’ There are several answers.
Loss of a tooth.
Unacceptable esthetics - that is - a space where there was once a tooth.
Difficulty in eating.
Increased dental problems throughout the mouth.
Other dental expenses may be incurred such as placement of implants or bridges to replace the lost tooth.
Remember, an important discussion to have with your dentist before starting a root canal is:
How much infection is there?
How big a filling or cap (crown) will the tooth need?
How long will it last?
If I lose the tooth, what will be my choices?