What are some of the root canal risks?

Many: Root canal therapy is a treatment of choice when the nerve is invaded or affected during cavity or trauma. The risk involves swelling and pain postop, perforation of the root with the file or instrument separation, root fraction, short fill, accessory canal causing post op pain. A root canal therapy is used to treat the pain symptom but not the cause of having the root canal. Treat the cause!

Chronic infection: Besides the many risks enumerated by dr bui, there is evidence that most root canals harbor chronic infections that can lead to a variety of serious health problems including cancer. See http://www.Westonaprice.Org/dentistry/root-canal-dangers ; http://articles.Mercola.Com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/18/dangers-of-root-canaled-teeth.Aspx ; http://www.Dentistryhealth.Com/rootcanals.Html.

Bad Science: The Internet is full of pseudo science and misinformation. Over 20 million root canal treatments are performed in the U.S. each year. Like anything there are failures. Root canal treatment is more than 90% successful long term, but some teeth will remain infected and require extraction. It is still a very successful procedure and preferred to extraction.

Root Canal Failure: In case that root canal therapy is unsuccessful, your dentist or endodontist can discuss alternative options including re-treatment or extracting the infected tooth.