Serious infection and decay can compromise the quality of a tooth. Dentists recommend having a root canal to eliminate any bacterial contamination that has caused the nerve of a tooth to die. Root canals are meant to help save the tooth from further decay and ensure that the natural tooth can remain in place over the patient's lifetime.

Unfortunately, a root canal has the potential to fail. Be on the lookout for these three common causes of root canal failure so that you can seek retreatment before more damage to the treated tooth occurs.

1. Salivary Contamination

The saliva that fills your mouth contains bacteria that is designed to help you break down the foods that you eat. After a root canal treatment, saliva can seep into the restorative crown placed over the treated tooth. This leakage results in salivary contamination that can lead to a new infection within the tooth.

Your endodontist can remove the crown, clean out the canals in the tooth once again, and apply an antibacterial paste to help kill off new infection. A new crown with a better seal can be fitted to prevent salivary contamination in the future.

2. Undetected Canals

A root canal is not always a straightforward procedure. To completely clear the tooth of all infection, an endodontist must use specialized tools to clean out each of the canals within your tooth. Some canals can be overlooked, while others might be too small to fit a dental instrument into. Calcification is also a problem, as calcified canals cannot be thoroughly cleaned out.

You may find that an undetected canal could become infected after you have had an initial root canal treatment. Your dentist can utilize a three-dimensional X-ray image to help locate canals that have been overlooked, and you can undergo a second root canal treatment if the first one fails to resolve your issue.

3. Delayed Crown Placement

It's imperative that you don't wait too long to invest in a permanent restorative crown following your root canal procedure. You will be advised to give the root canal time to heal following your initial treatment.

A crown shouldn't be placed until your dentist is sure that the root canal was successful. A lot of patients opt to rely on the temporary crown rather than investing in a costly permanent crown. The temporary crown is more susceptible to contamination, which can cause your initial root canal to fail. For more information, contact a company like Apollo Dental Center.