“I have had 6 root canals in the past. I need another one now. Why is this?”

The most common cause for such conditions are multiple large restorations as necessary due to large cavities/decay or thermal shock from very hot or cold foods (chewing ice for example)

It will be important to find out your saliva ph level. Another important point will be to evaluate your enamel condition and your dietary habits. Seems like you have a high risk for dental decay, so a risk assessment exam will help.

You should find a dentist who emphasizes prevention. In my practice I go through entire weeks without finding a single cavity on patients of record. Most dentists do not emphasize prevention, and I think that is wrong because there is nothing that I can put into your teeth that is better than what you were born with making prevention so very important and healthier.

Brushing, flossing and routine cleaning are excellent ways of preventing cavities from starting and helping restorations last longer. However, once a cavity begins and a filling is done, especially if it is deep or large, or a tooth is traumatized, the damage to the nerve is irreversible and irreparable, so eventually in one’s life, a root canal becomes necessary. If you have had 6 over a number of years, then it suggests that your past history was that of constantly needing dental treatment. If they are all recent, then one needs to evaluate why your dentist cannot control the rampant condition. Root canals are not an elective procedure, they are done in response to pain symptoms. If you are not getting pain, you should re-evaluate the dentist’s diagnosis. Perhaps a second opinion to put your mind at ease could help. Good luck with your treatment.
Dr. Cyril Tahtadjian

Root canals are the consequence of the decay, large fillings, periodontal disease, or trauma. One of those factors might determine your situation.

Some people are just more prone to caries and need fillings over time. Fillings break or teeth fracture and your dentist may advise a crown. Sometimes they will advise a root canal when a filling is deep and close to the nerve (pulp) prior to placing a crown. Visit your dentist regularly and keep up your good oral hygiene.

There is no medical reason for why you alone have had to have 6 root canals. I would hesitate to say that you started your road to improvement too late but thank goodness that dentist to put you on to a good hygiene program including floss and fastidious adherence to his appointment schedule didn't come too late. I would say that your adolescent years for probably the years that caused the advanced decay which led to the repetitive need for root canals by way of larger and larger feelings being done over the years although I do not know how old you are. It's the only theory that I can think of unless you grew up in a rural area with no fluoridation, were plagued by Oral hygiene that was less than perfect, or put 3 tablespoons of sugar and everything that you drink, the reason why I was there in among these postulations.

This is difficult to answer without an exam. There are a number of possibilities including:1) brushing or flossing incorrectly, 2) Not having Fluoride vitamins, water, toothpaste, rinses, 3) Genetic or underlying medical issues, 4) Bad habits (smoking, sweets), 5) I would hate to say poor dentistry or dishonest dentistry - not common I would think but I have seen it - and 6) Different philosophies of dentists leading to different opinions...not that it is right or wrong (for example, 40 years ago, a dentist may see a cavity but wait until it is larger to treat because at that time, they would destroy more good tooth to get to the cavity to treat it. Today's materials allow the cavities to be treated when they are smaller. Or, a cavity may seem big and a large filling would be done that may last a few years before it blows up needing a root canal...or another dentist may say that it is a big filling, will ultimately need the root canal in the near future so do the root canal now before it abscesses and gets infected....no pain and easier to deal with. If your dentist cannot identify the cause, perhaps a 2nd opinion would be appropriate...at least to rule out bad dentistry. It the 2nd opinion agrees with the 1st, then clear conscience and continue treatment with original dentist.

Hi,

Generally, root canals are needed due to infection and is the last step to take to save a tooth, the other option will be to pull it. Again, generally root canals are needed due to extensive decay which is now involving the nerve or gum infection leading to infection of the nerve. The usual symptoms indicative of a root canal is pain keeping you up at night, pain on pressure or chewing, and pain with hot drinks and food.
Hope this helps.

A root canal is necessary when the nerve in your tooth gets damaged, most frequently as a result of decay, cracking of the teeth or fillings, trauma, deep or failing dental restorations, periodontal disease, or traumatic occlusion. Without knowing the exact cause of your most recent root canal, and also the cause of your past root canals, it is impossible to answer your question as to why this is happening. A review of your past dental records may reveal why you needed root canals in the past, and moving forward, you should practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for regular and preventative maintenance and necessary care to guard you as best as possible against a need for future root canals.  

There are various reasons that this may occur: having a diet or food intake with high sugar intake can lead to more cavities and therefore more root canals. Grinding your teeth can also lead to similar problems, if you have a lot of very hot or cold foods may also lead to the same problem. The other reason is if you have bacteria that cause more parthenogenesis (more acid producing).