# Root canal treatment in Mexico City · Gloss Dent > Explore root canal treatment in Mexico City, including diagnosis and the restoration that follows. Discuss tooth preservation at Gloss Dent. Página: https://glossdent.com/en/endodontics 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. | If your assessment shows… | Usually considered… | | --- | --- | | Pain from a deep cavity, a broken tooth or an abscess | Consider a root canal to keep the tooth. | | No lesion at the tip of the root | A better prognosis. | | A lesion at the tip of the root, or a fistula | A somewhat less favorable prognosis; healing is checked with an X-ray from one year on. | | It is a molar or a premolar | A 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 fracture | A less favorable prognosis; it is checked before deciding. | | A previous root canal that failed | Retreatment (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 restored | Extract 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 ### Diagnosis first Symptoms, examination and indicated investigations guide the proposal. ### Restoring the tooth Ask how the tooth would be restored and protected after the canals are treated. ### 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. **Diagnosis** Symptoms, pulp vitality tests, an X-ray, gums and cracks, and whether the tooth can be restored. 2. **Anesthesia and isolation** With a rubber dam, the current standard. 3. **Cleaning and filling the canals1 or 2 appointments, sometimes more** A temporary filling stays in place between appointments. 4. **Final restoration** A filling or a crown; on molars and premolars, usually a crown. 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. - [Ng 2007: root canal treatment outcomes (systematic review)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17931389/) - [Ng 2010: tooth survival after root canal treatment](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20158529/) - [Ng 2011: factors in tooth survival (prospective study)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21366627/) - [Ng 2008: retreatment outcomes](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19133093/) - [Setzer 2010: endodontic microsurgery (meta-analysis)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20951283/) - [Iqbal and Kim 2007: root-canal-treated tooth vs. implant](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18437793/) - [Aquilino and Caplan 2002: crowns and survival of root-canal-treated teeth](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11941351/) - [Cochrane 2015: crown or composite for root-canal-treated teeth](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26403154/) - [Cochrane 2022: root canal treatment in one visit or several](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36512807/) - [European Society of Endodontology: S3 guideline (2023)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37772327/) - [NHS: Root canal treatment](https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/root-canal-treatment/) - [ADA · MouthHealthy: Root Canals](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/root-canals) - [American Association of Endodontists: options for a compromised tooth](https://www.aae.org/specialty/clinical-resources/treatment-options/) ## Arrange an assessment at Gloss Dent Discuss your dental health, goals and treatment options in Mexico City. Local and international patients are welcome. ## Guides to prepare for your consultation Read our articles about veneers, implants, aligners and preparing for your visit. [Explore Gloss Dent guides](https://glossdent.com/en/blog) Explore treatments ## More from Gloss Dent ### Smile Design ### Smile Design Explore a plan for shape, color and proportion, guided by an assessment. View treatment ### Dental Veneers ### Dental Veneers Compare composite and ceramic options, preparation and ongoing care. View treatment ### Invisalign® ### Invisalign® Clear, removable aligners with an individual plan and professional reviews. View treatment ### Orthodontic Options ### Orthodontic Options Discuss alignment, bite and a timetable based on your diagnosis. View treatment ### Dental Implants ### Dental Implants Review implant-supported restorations, treatment stages and maintenance. View treatment ### Endodontics ### Endodontics An assessment of root canal treatment to help retain a tooth. 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