According to the American Association of Endodontists, root canals have a success rate of more than 95% and, in most cases, last a lifetime. The success rate of endodontic treatment is very high. This is something we see first-hand with the patients in our office, and scientific research supports our observations. One of the most detailed studies on the subject examined the long-term effectiveness of 487,476 endodontic treatments.
According to this report, 98 percent of root canals last one year, 92 percent last five years, and 86 percent last ten years or more. Molars treated by endodontists had a 10-year survival rate, significantly higher than that of molars treated by general dentists. Most teeth that have undergone endodontic treatment will last a lifetime. They will last unless the roots decay, the entire tooth cracks or moves, or if advanced periodontal disease requires tooth extraction.
The most important thing is to brush and floss your teeth regularly to maintain the health and integrity of your teeth. While the vast majority of root canals will last at least 5 years, most of them will last up to 10 or 15 years. If you wear a crown and maintain impeccable dental hygiene habits, it can last a lifetime. Root canals are designed to save teeth that are severely damaged or infected.
With proper care, a tooth that has been treated with a root canal can last a lifetime. However, while this treatment is more than 95% successful, there is a remote chance that your dentist will recommend that you have your treatment done again. Here's why you might need a new endodontic treatment in Edmond and what you can expect when repairing your smile. Saving your natural teeth, if possible, is always the best option.
Nothing artificial can replace the look or function of a natural tooth, so it's important to always consider root canal treatment as an option. Endodontic treatment has a high success rate and many teeth treated with endodontics last a lifetime. Replacing an extracted tooth with a bridge or implant requires more treatment time and may result in additional procedures on neighboring teeth and in the supporting tissue. An endodontist can save your natural tooth and potentially preserve it for years, decades, or even a lifetime, by extracting the pulp and cleaning, shaping and disinfecting the root canals.
While root canals can last a lifetime, there are some circumstances where the tooth may need to be retreated. If you wait longer than recommended between endodontics and restoration than recommended, your tooth will be at greater risk of complications. In general, a root canal won't take much longer than filling a cavity or removing a wisdom tooth. The idea of a root canal can make you feel afraid or uncomfortable if you're not familiar with the procedure.
Dentists often recommend root canal treatment when the inner tissue of the tooth, known as pulp, becomes infected or affected by decay or trauma. A root canal is generally the last attempt to save a natural tooth that is substantially decayed or infected. However, it also offers sedation dental services and same-day emergency consultations to make treatments, such as root canals, as comfortable and effective as possible. Endodontics performed by an endodontist is the go-to treatment for an infected or sore tooth and, under optimal conditions, the patient can expect the treated tooth to last 20 years or more.