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.
If the tooth is not dead, 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, since a tooth treated
with root canal therapy may break 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.
- 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.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
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This
information is approved and/or reviewed by U-M Health System providers
but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical
treatment. You should speak to your physician or make
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this information or your medical condition.