Treatments

Root canal treatment in Mexico City

Explore root canal treatment in Mexico City, including diagnosis and the restoration that follows. Discuss tooth preservation at Gloss Dent.

Assessing whether a tooth can be retained

Your assessment

Assessing whether a tooth can be retained

Root canal treatment addresses the inside of a tooth when the pulp is inflamed or infected. Care can involve cleaning, disinfecting and sealing the canals in an attempt to retain the tooth.

Diagnosis determines whether this approach is appropriate and what restoration would follow. Not every toothache requires a root canal; an examination helps identify the cause.

It depends on your tooth

Root canal or extraction? It depends on whether your tooth can be restored

When the tooth can be restored, keeping it with a well-done, well-restored root canal has survival comparable to an implant's: in one review, 87% of teeth were still in place at 8 to 10 years. What matters most is the restoration on top, usually a crown on molars and premolars. If the tooth cannot be restored, extracting and replacing it is reasonable.

Pain from a deep cavity, a broken tooth or an abscessConsider a root canal to keep the tooth.
No lesion at the tip of the rootA better prognosis.
A lesion at the tip of the root, or a fistulaA somewhat less favorable prognosis; healing is checked with an X-ray from one year on.
It is a molar or a premolarA crown afterward: in one study, teeth without a crown were lost 6 times faster (Cochrane cautions that trials comparing this are lacking).
A suspected crack or root fractureA less favorable prognosis; it is checked before deciding.
A previous root canal that failedRetreatment (77% success) and, if that is not enough, microsurgery at the tip of the root (94%).
One appointment or several?The same outcome; with a single appointment, a bit more discomfort the first week.
The tooth cannot be restoredExtract it and replace it with an implant, a bridge or a denture.

General criteria from the clinical literature (sources below). They do not replace an assessment: your plan comes from the diagnosis of your own case.

What to discuss

A plan you can understand

01

Diagnosis first

Symptoms, examination and indicated investigations guide the proposal.

02

Restoring the tooth

Ask how the tooth would be restored and protected after the canals are treated.

03

Progress and follow-up

An outcome cannot be guaranteed. Reviews help assess the response and any further needs.

The process

How a root canal is done

  1. 1

    Diagnosis

    Symptoms, pulp vitality tests, an X-ray, gums and cracks, and whether the tooth can be restored.

  2. 2

    Anesthesia and isolation

    With a rubber dam, the current standard.

  3. 3

    Cleaning and filling the canals1 or 2 appointments, sometimes more

    A temporary filling stays in place between appointments.

  4. 4

    Final restoration

    A filling or a crown; on molars and premolars, usually a crown.

  5. 5

    Follow-upfrom 1 year on

    An X-ray to confirm that it has healed.

Common questions

Before you decide

How long does a tooth with a root canal last?

In one review, 87% were still in place at 8 to 10 years, and success under strict healing criteria was 68% to 85%. With good care it can last a lifetime, but that is not a guarantee.

Does it hurt?

It is done under anesthesia. Some discomfort during the first week is common, a little more if it is done in a single appointment.

Do I need a crown afterward?

On molars and premolars, usually yes: the crown was the factor that most increased the tooth's survival. On front teeth with little damage, a filling is often enough.

Root canal or implant?

If the tooth can be restored, its survival is comparable to an implant's, and you keep your own tooth. The American Association of Endodontists calls for evaluating every option to save it before extracting.

Clinical sources

The criteria and figures on this page come from these sources. They are averages from studies, not a promise for any individual case.

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Discuss your dental health, goals and treatment options in Mexico City. Local and international patients are welcome.

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