When it comes to dental treatment, you probably want the best treatment available. Right? There isn’t much that is worse than investing time and money into something and then having it fail.
Today we are going to be covering root canals and the common questions and concerns that people have about them. We will be covering the common life expectancy of root canals and whether or not they are a good option. We will be answering many of the most common questions that our patients have regarding root canals, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have other root canal questions! Let us know if you have any other questions that you would like us to answer about root canals.
How long will it take a root canal to fail?
When it comes to dental treatment, no treatment is 100% guaranteed and the reason for this is that there are so many factors that play into the success of your dental treatment. However, according to the American Association of Endodontics, root canals have a success rate of over 95%.
If root canals fail it is usually due to one of two main reasons. The first is that the cleaning out of the tooth’s roots was ineffective and some of the bacteria remained in the tooth that caused the infection. The most common reason is due to a missed canal. Second, the tooth may not have been sealed properly after the root canal and bacteria re-entered the tooth and caused another infection. This could be the result of a restorative crown that was not sealed well.
Another reason as to why your root canal may have initially been successful and years later failed is due to poor oral homecare. Good home care is important for removing bacteria around your teeth and gum tissue and failure to do so can lead to decay and even possible infection.
What is the life expectancy of a root canal?
Your root canal really doesn’t have an expiration day. With a successful root canal treatment followed by good home care and routine checkups, your root canal could last the rest of your life. Root canals that fail shortly after treatment usually can be traced back to some identifiable cause. It could be that there was a hidden canal that was missed or that there was a cracked root or perhaps inadequate clinician experience.
How do you know if a root canal is failing?
While it is possible for a root canal to fail without you knowing about it, there are some tell-tale signs that you may be experiencing a problem with your root canal. If you notice any of these signs, please reach out to your dental office and seek out their guidance:
- Tooth sensitivity or pain when biting down.
- A blister-like pimple on your gum tissue near your tooth.
- Discoloring your tooth that had a root canal..
- Tenderness in your gum tissue near where the root canal was performed.
- Presence of pus near the tooth that was treated.
- Swelling near the tooth that had a root canal.
Do all root canals eventually fail?
Not all root canals fail. Remember that 95% of them are successful and many of them last decades or longer. Because of their success rate and longevity, root canals can be a great option for saving your tooth.
Root canals can be a great way to save your tooth when you have an infection. Depending on your situation, it may or may not be the best option thus we recommend that you see your dentist for an evaluation. Your dentist can evaluate your tooth and let you know if you would be a good candidate or if there are other options that you may want to consider.