i had a root canal 5 years ago. I didnt have insurance so i went to the first dentist that returned my call. i got the root canal and crown. 5 years later the crown fell off. my trusted primary dentist advised me to go back to the dentist who did the procedure and that there was decay so he would need to make a new crown. i went back and he glued it back on. and crooked so he needed to trim the crown. now a year later the only option is implant or bridge. because the decay has gotton so bad
May 2, 2016
Answer: Root canal treated tooth needs extraction I am so sorry that your root canal treated tooth only lasted 5 years. The goal of this treatment, and the subsequent placement of the crown, is so that you may keep it for a lifetime. Research has shown an 86-93% success rate for 10 years. Unfortunately, as long as you have teeth, you can get decay. The risk of decay, especially around restorations like crowns and fillings, just gets worse as we get older due to the gums receding. Proper oral hygiene and regular maintenance visits with your dentist can minimize this risk. Many times, though, decay that starts at the margin and extends under the crown of a root canal treated tooth can be difficult to detect due to lack of sensitivity in the tooth (the nerve is no longer present) and x-rays that are blocked due to metal in the crown. However the decay happened, now you are faced with a situation of needing to replace the tooth. A dental implant is the best option for a good long term prognosis in many cases. I hope you will see a practitioner who can best evaluate your situation and explain to you the pros and cons of each option. It is also never a bad idea to get a second opinion. Good luck!
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May 2, 2016
Answer: Root canal treated tooth needs extraction I am so sorry that your root canal treated tooth only lasted 5 years. The goal of this treatment, and the subsequent placement of the crown, is so that you may keep it for a lifetime. Research has shown an 86-93% success rate for 10 years. Unfortunately, as long as you have teeth, you can get decay. The risk of decay, especially around restorations like crowns and fillings, just gets worse as we get older due to the gums receding. Proper oral hygiene and regular maintenance visits with your dentist can minimize this risk. Many times, though, decay that starts at the margin and extends under the crown of a root canal treated tooth can be difficult to detect due to lack of sensitivity in the tooth (the nerve is no longer present) and x-rays that are blocked due to metal in the crown. However the decay happened, now you are faced with a situation of needing to replace the tooth. A dental implant is the best option for a good long term prognosis in many cases. I hope you will see a practitioner who can best evaluate your situation and explain to you the pros and cons of each option. It is also never a bad idea to get a second opinion. Good luck!
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