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Root Canal Treatment and the Factors That Can Affect Its Success





When your tooth has developed deep decay, the decay can eventually become so extensive that your bone around the tooth becomes infected and increases your risk of tooth loss. The good news is, root canal treatment can stop decay and infections from advancing, in other words, it will save your natural tooth! 

What is Root Canal Treatment?

You may be wondering, what exactly is root canal treatment? Well, when your dentist in Livonia performs this treatment on a tooth where its pulp is badly decayed, infected, or inflamed, they will first begin by drilling into your tooth. This gives your dentist access to the inner pulp and enables them to remove the infected pulp tissue. Once this is removed, they can disinfect and then fill the empty chamber and roots canals with a filling material called gutta-percha. Lastly, your dentist will seal the tooth and place a custom dental crown to protect it and restore its function. Usually, the dental crown is placed on your treated tooth at a subsequent appointment. 

How Successful is Root Canal Treatment?

When you visit your dentist’s office near you for a root canal in Livonia, almost all these procedures are successful and the results are long-lasting. On the other hand, in some cases, your tooth could become re-infected after it’s been restored.  

What Factors Affect the Success of Root Canal Treatment?

We mentioned above how in some cases, root canal treatment isn’t successful… but in which scenarios could root canal treatment result in failure? Here are four factors that could affect the long-term success of root canal therapy. 

  1. Early Treatment 

In almost all cases, the earlier a dentist or doctor detects a health problem, the sooner they can treat it, which means the better the outcome. An infected tooth that has advanced beyond the pulp is at a heightened risk of re-infection than a tooth where the infection is localized in the pulp. When you keep up with regular checkups at your dental office in Livonia and visit your dentist when you notice any abnormalities, spots on your tooth, or pain, this can increase the chances of your dentist diagnosing issues sooner rather than later.

        2.  Tooth Complications 

A front tooth that has a single root and root canal is much simpler to access and treat when compared to a back molar that has an intricate root canal network. Not only that, but root canals can also be very narrow which makes them easy to miss during treatment. In these cases, an endodontist—a dentist who specialized in root canal therapy—can use their expertise and advanced equipment to increase the chances of this being a successful procedure. 

        3.  The Aging Process 

Over time, your teeth wear and become more brittle. When your teeth are more brittle, they are more susceptible to becoming fractured. Root canal therapy that was previously performed on an aging tooth could increase your risk of fracture. Avoiding this is important and will require a crown for your affected tooth after the procedure. This protects your tooth from both re-infection and stress from chewing. 

Even in these above situations, if your tooth has these problems or similar complications, root canal treatment may still be performed. Preserving a decayed tooth is far more beneficial than the risk of re-infection. If you notice any unusual symptoms or problems related to your teeth, don’t wait to visit your dentist in Livonia. He or she is equipped and experienced in conducting root canal therapy and other restorative procedures. 


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