Teeth are designed to last for a lifetime, but an infection in your tooth drastically limits the possibility of you being able to keep it in place. While the thought of losing a tooth is unsettling, root canals help to eliminate the problem at its source so that you avoid an extraction. Naturally, you want to know that any dental procedure that you schedule in West Hollywood has a high rate of success, and you can rest assured that root canals have a near perfect success rate. However, there are factors that you should know about that increase the chances of you having a successful outcome.

Factors That Influence the Success of Root Canals

A root canal’s success is influenced by multiple factors, some of which are under your control. For instance, you can choose an experienced West Hollywood dentist to perform the procedure that has an extensive history of performing successful root canals. You should also know that different teeth in your mouth have more roots than others. For instance, your back molars tend to have multiple roots, and these extra channels create more room for an infection to spread. An experience dentist is better able to make sure that each channel is cleaned out completely so that the infection does not return.

Complications That Could Occur Following the Procedure

The most common reason why a root canal fails is due to infection either returning or being left behind by a canal that is missed during the procedure. However, it is rare for an infected canal to be missed, and a second root canal can usually be performed to correct this issue if it does arise. In most cases, the only thing that you may notice after a root canal is some mild inflammation around the soft tissues of your mouth near where the procedure was performed. This is due to lingering effects from the infection that will continue to clear up as you heal.

Tips to Increase Your Chances of Successfully Saving a Tooth

A professionally performed root canal limits the risk of having a complication, and you also play a role in determining the outcome of your procedure. Be sure to follow the after care instructions to preserve your tooth structure. Teeth are weakened after the pulp is cleaned out. For this reason, a temporary filling is placed inside the hollowed out portion of the tooth to restore the structure. While it is strong, you still need to use caution with chewing food on that side until it is covered with a crown. You also want to have the restoration placed on top of the tooth as soon as possible so that it is completely sealed off from bacteria that could cause reinfection.

Modern dentistry has made root canals some of the safest procedures that you can have today. By understanding how to care for your tooth after the procedure, you can feel better about going forward with your first root canal to preserve your tooth.

If you’d like to schedule a complimentary root canal consultation, call us at (323) 654-2840