FRIDAY, May 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- If you've had a root canal, you can expect your tooth to survive for about 11 years, researchers say. For a time, root canals can maintain teeth affected by cavities or other problems, but the tooth eventually becomes brittle and dies.
A root canal often weakens the outer tooth. Because a big part of the tooth's structure is removed during a root canal, the outer tooth is likely to crumble if it is not reinforced with a crown.
A tooth can survive for several weeks without a crown. However, this is not advisable as your teeth remain exposed. This could make your teeth sensitive to hot or cold temperatures and cause further damage. If you would not like to use a crown on your tooth, you could use dental veneers as an alternative for crowns.
Root canals are sometimes uncomfortable and costly, so it can be disappointing to hear that you may also require a crown. While not necessary in every case, crowns can provide the protection and stability needed to extend the life of a tooth.
But if a patient delays in getting a crown in a reasonable amount of time, eventually the decay will reach the inner layer of a tooth where the pulp and nerve reside. Then a root canal is necessary to remove the infected nerve.
This treatment may weaken your tooth and require a permanent dental restoration to remain healthy. Some people get fillings instead of crowns as a restoration for a root canal treatment, but in most cases, a dental crown is a better option.
If you are getting a crown to keep a cracked tooth together, the crack or fracture could become worse if you don't get the crown. Fractures in the teeth can lead to tooth decay or even infection in the innermost part of the tooth, because bacteria can leak into the crack and infect the tooth.
Reasons to Wait Before Getting a Dental Crown
It takes time for an infection to become evident – Some dental schools teach dentist to wait six months after root canal treatment before crowning a tooth. But a dentist doesn't always wait that long because each patient's case is different.
A crown should be placed within a few months of the root canal, but it can take up to a year for your tooth's nerves to heal completely. A crown is a replacement tooth that covers the root canal.
The final stage of the root canal is restoring your tooth. Because the tooth typically has a large filling or is weakened from extensive decay, it needs to be protected from future damage and returned to normal function. This is usually done by placing a crown — a realistic-looking artificial tooth — over your tooth.
During any root canal, body tissues not directly being treated have a chance to become agitated and mildly inflamed. In the case of throbbing pain after a root canal, the culprit is the bone surrounding the tooth. The bone tissue becomes irritated and provokes some discomfort. For most patients, this is very mild.
As mentioned above, only about five percent of root canals fail, and sometimes it is not actually a “failure.” In cases, of teeth that have more than one root, it is possible that only one root was infected and filled.
If the crown broke off cleanly, and you aren't in significant pain, an emergency dental appointment isn't usually necessary. However, you may want to schedule one quickly to protect your exposed tooth. As a general rule, you should schedule an appointment to see your dentist within one week of losing a crown.
Be mindful of what you eat.
Avoid chewing in the side of your mouth where the temporary crown is located. Additionally, you should avoid sticky or hard foods that might crack the crown or pull it out of your mouth. This includes things like chewing on ice, gum, or even hard or chewy breads among other things.
It is important to note that a root canal tooth is prone to cracking or chipping because it is weaker than a natural tooth. The reason for this is because the treatment involves removal of pulp, causing the tooth to die as the blood supply is severed.
Possible Symptoms of a Reinfected Root Canal or Other Issues
Increased sensitivity to temperature, lingering pain after eating either hot or cold food. Constant pressure or pain. Pain when tapping teeth together, Swollen gums.
First, though the nerve-filled “pulp” is removed from your tooth, there are still other nerves and sensitive tissues near the canal of your tooth, and these can be irritated and become swollen or inflamed after your endodontic treatment, causing some minor discomfort.
Don't bite directly onto the tooth you just got the procedure done either. Be sure to keep this up until all the tenderness is gone. In terms of foods to avoid, try to stay away from things that get stuck in your teeth. Avoid hot fluids and alcohol, and try not to drink anything from a straw.
For most patients, the feeling of numbness usually subsides after 2-3 hours. It is normal for teeth to be sore for a few days after root canal treatment. Some teeth, particularly ones that have been problematic for a while, may take a few months to settle.
Antibiotics are not absolutely necessary after a root canal. After a root canal, you need very little time to recover, and post-operative care is the best way for fast healing. However, a dentist may recommend antibiotics before root canal to improve the chances of a successful outcome.
Though a root canal involves removing the nerves from inside a tooth, the tooth continues to function as normal. The nerves play an insignificant role in a fully developed tooth; thus, the tooth is still alive.
With proper care, even teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime. But sometimes, a tooth that has been treated doesn't heal properly and can become painful or diseased months or even years after treatment. If your tooth failed to heal or develops new problems, you have a second chance.