It's necessary to have endodontic or root canal treatment when the inside of your tooth (the pulp) becomes inflamed or infected as a result of deep decay, repeated dental procedures, faulty crowns or a crack or chip in the tooth.
Not Brushing and Flossing Regularly
One of the biggest issues that can lead to root canals is if you fail to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Remember that brushing and flossing help remove bacteria that can turn into plaque. If that plaque extends too much, it can turn into deep decay, requiring a root canal.
While it's not necessarily common, it can happen that someone needs a second or even third root canal treatment on the same tooth. This may be because the tooth didn't heal properly the first time around due to salivary contamination, the initial procedure wasn't performed well, or because a new cavity has developed.
Although any tooth can have decay form and need a root canal, the back molars are the most common teeth to need root canals.
Why are root canals necessary? Root canals are a simple procedure that are recommended to save damaged, natural teeth and prevent the need for dental bridges and implants. Root canals are necessary when the pulp, or soft tissue, inside the tooth becomes inflamed or infected, which could lead to an abscess.
1) Ozone Gas Cleansing
According to a study, Ozone gas has a great potential of killing bacteria and infection while penetrating through the whole tooth. It is an effective root canal alternative if the pulp is recently affected and it is assumed that it may worsen the situation in coming years.
Dental treatment alternatives to a root canal include direct pulp capping, pulpotomy, pulpectomy, endodontic retreatment, endodontic surgery, tooth extraction, dental implants, bridges, or dentures.
Most individuals registering for root canal treatments are between the ages of 35 and 44. Any age or person who consumes a lot of sugar and carbohydrates is susceptible to tooth decay and dental issues.
Tooth fracture – The only long-term side effect of getting root canal treatment done has to do with the increased brittleness of the treated tooth. The procedure for performing the root canal also involves a lot of removal of the tooth structure.
At times, however, a root canal treatment fails and tooth infection progresses. How does a root canal treatment fail? Under normal situations, the long-term success rate for root canal treatment ranges between 80-90% and there is a failure percentage of 10-20%.
62.34% exhibited four root canals, but also variations with five, six, or seven canals were identified.
Brushing and flossing are the two most straightforward ways to prevent issues that can lead to a root canal. A healthy mouth starts with keeping your teeth clean, so aim to brush at least twice a day. If you can brush after every meal or snack, that's even better. Don't skip flossing.
Teeth that receive a root canal and then a filling and crown last about 20 years. Teeth that receive either a filling or a crown after a root canal last about 11 years. Teeth that receive no restorative work after a root canal last about 6.5 years.
In most cases, root canal therapy is a better way to treat an infected tooth than an extraction. However, there are exceptions, such as if the tooth has suffered extreme damage. Your dentist will carefully analyze your oral health before making a treatment recommendation.
The tooth is sealed with a temporary filling following the root canal procedure. It is important to return to your general dentist to have the temporary filling removed and replaced with a permanent restoration within the next 2 weeks following treatment.
Even if the pain does go away, it's not time to cancel your dental appointment: while it is possible for inflammation to subside and nerves to heal, the more likely scenario is that pulp tissues and nerves inside the tooth are all dead. Root canal system infections can and will continue to get worse without help.
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.
Root canal treatment can weaken a tooth's structural integrity, especially with older teeth. This can make them more susceptible to fracture and a higher chance of infection.
Like any other medical or dental procedure, though, a root canal can occasionally fail. This is normally due to a loose crown, tooth fracture, or new decay. Root canals can fail soon after the procedure, or even years later.
Your front incisor and canine teeth (biting teeth) usually have a single root containing 1 root canal. The premolars and back molar teeth (chewing teeth) have 2 or 3 roots, each containing either 1 or 2 root canals. The more roots a tooth has, the longer the treatment will take to complete.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by age 50, most Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth. The full adult dentition consists of 32 teeth. That means by age 50 you can expect to have 37% fewer teeth.
A good oral hygiene routine is the best way to avoid a root canal. This means flossing, brushing twice daily, and getting a regular dental cleaning. But there's even more you can do to protect your teeth since other dental emergencies, such as tooth fractures, also might require root canals.
In most cases, general dentists will choose only to do simpler root canal procedures themselves. They're most likely to choose this route if the infected tooth is an incisor, canine, or lower premolar. This is because these teeth only have one large root and so require less precision and careful maneuvering.
The resultant production of toxic gases and solutions from these chronic infections challenge the immune system and can lead to illness. A holistic approach to dentistry avoids root canals whenever possible. They represent a stress on the immune system that can manifest in many ways throughout the body.