Until the tooth lasts….If you develop complications, than the root canal will need to be re done or the tooth removed.

That can vary, but it will last longer if you put a 'cap' or crown on the tooth.

No one can give you an exact answer but the success rate is over 90%. Therefore, if done properly and restored correctly, it could last you the rest of your life. On the other hand, you could be part of the minority of patients who develop a problem later on. If you need root canal therapy, it would probably be wise to get it done.

It depends on the age of the patient and the reason for the procedure. As you get older, teeth become more brittle (like bones). Also, once a tooth has a root canal, it loses its internal source of nourishment and becomes even more brittle. I have seen teeth with 30 year old root canals, in good shape. But I have also seen teeth root canaled that had an extensive amount of decay. A root canal is done, but the tooth is so fragile, it ends up fracturing in a short time. Currently, in these cases, a dental implant may be a better long-term solution!

Studies show that a tooth with a root canal last an averages of 25 years.

If the tooth is not badly broken down and all the pulp tissue are removed through a proper root canal and the tooth receives a crown after the root canal, the tooth will function for many many years.