Does Root Canal Treatment Last Forever?

With the advent and the developments in the new technology, it’s one of the various dental procedures that is essentially painless. And the best thing of it all, the success rate is very high. However, there are people who can’t help but wonder how long it can last? How far can the “saved tooth” go? These are just among the many questions in the minds of people; both for those who plan to have the procedure, or even for those who don’t.

There are various answers to the above question. It could be for decades or a lifetime. However, as no fingerprints are completely identical, so does a tooth with root canal. There are various factors that may result in having greater longevity after the treatment than the other. But before going into the details, it’s best to have a look what a root canal treatment really is.

What is Root Canal?

When inflammation and infection get inside a tooth, often as a result of uncontrolled decay or a trauma, wherein the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues that comprise the tooth pulp start to die. When this is untreated, it’s highly possible that the infection will spread going to the jaw bone. This results to further problems, such as the development of abscess, eventually, tooth loss.

The treatment involves having access to the pulp tissue that has been infected through a tiny hole in the tooth, then, remove it. Then, the space inside of the tooth will be disinfected and will be filled with a sterile material, and the access hole will be closed. Next, a crown or cap is necessary to protect the tooth or teeth and in order to restore the mouth’s full function.

Factors that Affect the Treatment’s Longevity

One of the main factors that highly influence how long the treated teeth can last is how soon it has been restored following the procedure. Of course, the sooner it received a crown or filling, the longer for it to last. Another thing, it can be whether or not the infection has already spread to the jaw bone. A tooth that received root canal treatment promptly prior to the infection will last longer.

Moreover, other factors that may influence the life span of a tooth after the treatment would be the tooth’s location, wherein the front tooth is easier to be treated and will receive lesser biting force than those at the back. Another one is the person’s age as teeth get brittle through time. The other works that are necessary to be performed on the tooth is a factor also, which may include placement of posts that can weaken the structure of the tooth.

Generally, there is no arguing that when the tooth received a quality treatment, it will last for so many years. In this case, it’s important to properly choose a dental professional who will be performing the treatment.