Root Canal

What is Root Canal

Root canal is a procedure to repair the damaged inside of a tooth (endodontic treatment). Teeth are filled with soft tissue (pulp), which contains nerves and blood vessels.

When you have a root canal, your dentist will remove the damaged pulp and then fill and seal the tooth.

You may need a root canal if:

  • Your tooth is painful, tender, and sensitive to heat and cold.
  • The pulp inside your tooth has become inflamed or infected. This can happen if you have a deep cavity or a crack in your tooth from:
    • A tooth injury.
    • Having several dental procedures done to your tooth.

When your tooth has healed after the root canal, you may need to return to get the filling and seal removed and replaced with a permanent filling or a hard, protective cover (crown). This may be done a few weeks after the procedure.

Tell a health care provider about:

  • All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
  • Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
  • Any blood disorders you have.
  • Any surgeries you have had.
  • Any medical conditions you have.
  • Any allergies you have.
  • Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

  • Pain.
  • An infection in your tooth root (abscess).
  • The need to have another root canal procedure.
  • Loss of your tooth. This can sometimes happen after having a root canal.

What happens before the procedure?

  • Dental X-rays will be taken to plan your procedure.
  • Ask your health care provider about:
    • Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
    • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines unless your health care provider tells you to take them.
    • Taking over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.

What happens during the procedure?

  • You will be given a medicine to numb the area (local anesthetic). This medicine will be injected into the gum near your tooth.
  • You will have a protective shield placed over your tooth (dental dam). The dam is a barrier to protect your tooth from bacteria and debris in your mouth.
  • Your dentist will use a dental drill to make a small opening in your tooth and allow access to the pulp.
  • All of the diseased and dead pulp in your tooth will be removed with a small tool (file or rotary tool).
  • The dentist may put medicine inside your tooth to prevent infection.
  • Your tooth will be filled with a material that can remain inside it (is biocompatible). The tooth will then be sealed with a filling to prevent bacteria from entering it.
  • A temporary crown will be placed to seal the access hole.

The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

  • Do not eat anything until the numbness from your procedure has worn off.
  • You may be given an antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.

Summary

  • A root canal is a procedure to repair the damaged inside of a tooth (endodontic treatment).
  • You may need a root canal if you have a tooth injury or if your tooth is painful, tender, and sensitive to heat and cold.
  • When you have a root canal, your dentist will remove the damaged pulp and then fill and seal the tooth.
  • When your tooth has healed after the root canal, your dentist will place a hard, protective cover (crown) over the tooth.

Root Canal, Care After

This sheet gives you information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common to have:

  • Tooth sensitivity.
  • Tooth pain.
  • Jaw soreness.
  • Mild swelling of the jaw or gum.

Follow these instructions at home:

  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • Do not drive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
  • If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
  • Do not chew food on the side of your mouth that had the root canal until you get the permanent filling or crown.
  • Brush and floss your teeth as directed by your health care provider.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important. You may need to return to get the filling removed and replaced with a permanent filling or crown. This may be done a few weeks after the procedure.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • Your pain is not controlled with medicine.
  • Your bite feels uneven.
  • Your temporary filling falls out.
  • You have any of the following:
    • A fever or chills.
    • More swelling inside your mouth.
    • A rash, hives, or itching.

Get help right away if:

  • You have severe pain.
  • Your face is swollen.
  • You cannot swallow or open your mouth.

Summary

  • After the procedure, it is common to have tooth sensitivity, tooth pain, jaw soreness, and mild swelling of the jaw or gum.
  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, do not stop taking it even if you start to feel better.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. You may need to return to get the filling removed and replaced with a permanent filling or crown.
  • Get help right away if you have severe pain, your face is swollen, or you cannot swallow or open your mouth.
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