Root Canal Treatment

What is a root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is treatment for a tooth that has become infected from having the nerve exposed by a crack or deep cavity in the tooth, or by an injury. The tooth is abscessed, which means a pus-filled sac has formed at the root of a tooth, causing pain and swelling.

When is it used?

Root canal treatment is done when you have an abscess at the root of a tooth. This procedure cleans out dead or dying nerve tissue and infection from the inside of a tooth. It helps prevent loss of the tooth and allows healing of the bone around the root.

What happens during the procedure?

During a root canal treatment, the dentist removes bacteria and dead tissue from inside the canals of each root.

The dentist will inject an anesthetic to numb the tooth. The dentist then drills a small opening in the top of the tooth and uses small files to clean out dead tissue and bacteria from the tiny canals. The canals are washed with special solutions. Often, your dentist will place a medicated cotton pellet in the pulp chamber to help kill any remaining bacteria. The dentist may use a soft, temporary filling to seal the clean canals.

What happens after the procedure?

At another appointment, your dentist will seal each canal with a filling material and place a permanent filling on the chewing surface of the tooth. Most often, the dentist will recommend a crown to protect the tooth from breaking because a tooth treated with root canal therapy may break or crack more easily.

Your dentist may recommend a follow-up X-ray of the tooth in 6 months to help evaluate how well the bone is healing and to see if the infection has cleared up.

What are the benefits of the procedure?

Treatment with a root canal can stop the infection and save the tooth so that it does not need to be pulled. If you lose too many teeth, your remaining teeth will be forced to do extra work and may wear down at a much faster rate.

What are the risks associated with this procedure?

Sometimes an abscess persists, even after root canal therapy. In this case, your dentist may refer you to a specialist who may perform a surgical procedure to remove the diseased tissue from the tip of the root and reseal it with another filling.

How can I take care of myself?

Follow your dentist's instructions and take the full course of any antibiotics prescribed. In addition, you can:

• Rinse your mouth 3 to 4 times a day with warm saltwater.
• Take a pain relief medicine such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen. If you are allergic or sensitive to these medicines, take acetaminophen. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, do not take for more than 10 days for any reason.
• Chew on the side that does not have the affected tooth or tissue.
• Keep your mouth as free from bacteria as possible by brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily.
• Follow any special instructions given to you by your dentist.
• Keep any follow-up appointments with your dentist.