A root canal is important for removing an inflamed or infected tooth pulp. If the procedure doesn’t take place, the infection can spread to the bone surrounding the tooth, which impacts the success and longevity of the root canal. It can also lead to tooth loss around the infected area. Therefore, you need to make sure that you get the treatment soon after the diagnosis. If you keep delaying the treatment, you’re going to worsen the damage. There are many other factors that can affect the longevity of your root canal.
What is the Success Rate of a Root Canal Treatment?
According to the NHS, root canal treatment is very effective in saving the tooth and getting rid of the infection. They further state that “9 out of 10 root-treated teeth survive for 8 to 10 years.” However, to ensure greater success of the treatment, you need to take some important steps.
How Can I Make My Root Canal Last for a Long Time?
Soon after the root canal, make sure that you get the filling and the crown fitted. This is even more important if you’re older. As you age, your teeth become weaker and brittle. Since the biting force of the back of the teeth is quite significant, you can easily fracture your root canal tooth. Therefore, getting a crown on top of the root canal tooth can make sure that the results of your procedure last a long time.
Having a crown fitted doesn’t mean that you’re free from the risk of developing cavities. You might develop it underneath the crown. This is why you need to keep your teeth clean. You should keep in mind that since the living tissue inside the pulp contains the nerves, after its removal, you won’t feel pain. So, the cavity might progress unnoticed if you don’t take proper care. For this purpose, you can always make sure to book regular dental cleanings.
Brushing twice a day, for 2 minutes and flossing is a must. It is also true that some teeth are more difficult to treat than others. The teeth at the back of the mouth have more than one root canal. The biting force of the tooth can also determine how long and successful your root canal treatment remains.
What Are the Reasons for the Failure of Root Canal Treatment?
Poor oral hygiene is one reason why your root canal treatment might fail. Therefore, if you want to ensure that the results of your root canal last you a long time, avoid smoking, eating sugary foods, and drinking fizzy drinks, among other things. As mentioned before, the teeth at the back of the mouth have more roots and canals. You might develop an infection in another root after the treatment of the previous one. For this, the dentist needs to perform another root canal. It can happen since the dentist might not notice the infection that is developing on another root because it’s too small. An infection can also return. Here too, the root canal is performed again.