Yes, you should keep your natural tooth whenever it is possible. 

Are root canal treatments successful?

Yes, they are. The success rate of Endodontic treatment is 95%. This provided your Endodontist assessment of the situation and there are no cracks or deep margins of cavities that could compromise the long-term top seal of the tooth. 

If my root canal treatment failed, can it be fixed?

In many occasions, it can be fixed. The success rate drops from 95% to about 75% and the procedure is more expensive.  The Endodontist will assess the situation and will decide the best treatment option.  The Endodontist will have to conduct an investigation to ensure the treatment will have a high success chance. 

Root canal treatments fail for different reasons. Ingress of bacteria into the root canal system caused by decay or a filling breakdown can usually be fixed provided the margin is no too deep under the gum. Missed canals are also common and the Endodontist can locate these under the microscope so it can be fixed.  A vertical root fracture that extends deep into the root cannot be fixed so the tooth would have to be removed. 

I had my root canal completed but I did not get a crown on my tooth.

The aim of root canal treatment is to clean and seal the canals so no bacteria will access and cause an infection. Therefore not only it is important to provide an adequate internal root canal seal but also the filling or restoration on top is crucial. It is, for this reason, your dentist will crown the tooth after Endodontic treatment is completed. 

The crown will provide stability and strength so you can chew on hard food.  An unprotected tooth with a successful root canal treatment will fail if you chew on something hard and it cracks. Deep vertical cracks cannot be fixed so this means the tooth will have to be removed. 

This is a frequently asked question, Yes, a tooth with an existing endodontic treatment can still hurt. However, the pain from a tooth with Endodontic treatment originates from the supportive tissues rather than the tooth itself. Any load is transmitted through the tooth onto the supportive tissues. The tooth then would hurt to touch or if subjected to a biting force. You can also experience swelling. 

Common toothache usually originates from the pulp or commonly called “nerve”.  Pain originating from the pulp is usually a more severe sharp pain often triggered by cold temperature or spontaneous constant throbbing pain.  If you have had a root canal treatment you may be familiar with these symptoms.

Why does my root canal tooth hurt?

There are different reasons a tooth with an existing root canal treatment can hurt. A recently completed root canal treatment is a common reason.  This is usually due to an inflammatory response of the surrounding supportive tissues to the procedure, just like any post-op surgical procedure symptoms you would have in any part of your body.  

 The discomfort experienced after a root canal treatment should subside within a few days or up to a couple of weeks. If the pain persists then this could be due to the top restoration being “high”, which can cause severe additional and continuous trauma.  After the root canal treatment is completed, a top restoration is done.

When doing so, the occlusion (bite)  is adjusted so the loads are evenly distributed. Occasionally high spots are missed and this can lead to severe pain.  If this happens, you will need to return to your clinician as soon as possible to have the bite adjusted. This severe pain would subside soon after the adjustment.

If my tooth had a root canal several years ago and now it is painful. Does this mean my root canal treatment failed? 

If the root canal treatment is several years old and you start experiencing pain, this is most commonly caused by an infection or abscess. Root canal treatments fail if bacteria gain access to the sealed root canal system. Bacteria present in your saliva can gain access through broken down margins of restorations, decay, fractures or an inadequate root canal treatment where bacteria was left behind.  This type of pain is most commonly described as “pressure” pain, sore to touch or bite down on and swelling around the affected tooth.  

Where does the pain of a root canal come from?

The pain experienced in this situation is originated in the supportive tissues around the apex of the root. This means any load applied on the tooth will be transmitted to the tissues and this causes pain. It is natural for the patient to report that the pain is coming from the tooth but in reality, it is not the tooth itself, it is the bone and tissues surrounding the tooth.

Some failed root canals can be re-treated and the tooth can be saved. Advanced and specialised equipment is required to retreat a tooth. At JCV Endodontics we are equipped with microscopes and advanced tools to carry out such a technically challenging procedure.

Welcome to our new website and branding! Over the past few months JCV has been collaborating with Pixel Group Au and Perth’s photo restoration specialist “Yesterdays” to create a new, refreshing branding for our endodontic services. Together, we have formed a new website complete with the information that patients may need to know before or after root canal treatment. Our website follows recent web design trends by being visually pleasing while also being a nice interactive experience for the viewer  . Need information on the go? JCV’s website is also cross-compatible will all devices.

We hope you enjoy our new website and branding!