Old root canal are breaking?

Can happen: Endodontically (root canal) treated teeth can crack if the forces of our bite is overwhelming to the area. The teeth take a heck of a beating every day, and every night when we sleep and grind our teeth (yes we all do it even if we don't know we do it). So it is not unusual.

Crown the tooth: I agree that teeth that have had root canals can break for many reasons. Molars are usually restored with a crown to protect the tooth from breakage. If your tooth is not fractured below the gum line you may still be able to have a crown placed.

Crowns needed?: Teeth requiring root canals are usually compromised structurally to start with from a large cavity, crack, or fracture. Performing the root canal removes even more of the tooth. What is left is often fragile and brittle. On back teeth, a crown is needed to restore the tooths durability so it will not break after a root canal.

Root Canal Failures: Not sure what you mean by "breaking" as a root canal is a service not a device that can break. That being said there are many reasons why a tooth that had previous root canal therapy might fail and need additional treatment or an extraction. Most commonly, this is due to not properly following the root canal with a strong restoration or a crown, but check with a dentist to see if it can be saved.

Teeth become brittle: An important function of the nerve inside the tooth is to provide moisture to the deep structure of the tooth. Once a root canal is completed this source of moisture is gone and over time the interior of the tooth "dries out" and becomes brittle (like a green twig drying out ) and more likely to break.

Tooth: your best bet is to get yourself to a dentist and have them evaluate what exactly is going on....

See a dentist: If the crack goes below the gum-line, the tooth may require a with crown lengthening or possibly even extraction. See your dentist for evaluation and treatment options.

Not uncommon: Teeth that have had root canal therapy are brittle... you probably need a post and crown

See your DDS: According to the literature published by the dental association posterior teeth with previous root canal treatment have a six times great risk of fracturing if not covered by a crown for various reasons. I suggest that all posterior teeth that have root canal be restored appropriately within 30 days of root canal completion to avoid breakage. See your DDS for help.

Root canal failure: Did your tooth break? What are your symptoms? Root canals can fail and root on root canal treated teeth can fracture. If you are experiencing pain, swelling, or a fractured tooth, see your dentist. If you have a root canal treated tooth that has fractured it may not hurt your because the nerve of the tooth is dead. In this scenario, the tooth is still at risk to infection, see your dentist.