Root Canal Treatment

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? Root canal treatment is a procedure to remove the pulp of a tooth. Each tooth has 3 parts: the crown, the root, and the pulp. The crown is the top part of the tooth that you can see. The root is the part of the tooth that goes down into the gum and jawbone. The pulp is in the center or "canal" of both the crown and root. The pulp is living tissue such as blood vessels and nerves inside the tooth. The crown and root are made up mostly of calcium and are not "alive."

Why do I need a root canal? The pulp can become infected if a tooth has a cavity or if the tooth has been injured. A tooth infection can cause an abscess (ab-ses) which is a pocket of pus. This abscess can cause pain as it presses on the nerves in the pulp of the tooth.

Care:

• You may need to see the dentist 1 or more times to complete a root canal. The dentist will numb one side of your mouth with local anesthesia (an-iss-thee-zuh). It is given as a gel and as a shot. The diseased pulp will be removed. The tooth is cleaned out to get rid of any infection. The canal will be filled with a small cotton ball that has medicine in it. A short-term filling or crown will be put in place. You may need to take antibiotics to make sure the infection is completely gone before your next appointment.
  
  
• At the second visit to the dentist, the short-term filling or crown is removed and the canal is filled and sealed. A tooth without a pulp is dead so it is not as strong as a normal tooth and can break easily. So, it is important to have a crown put on the tooth to protect the tooth and keep it from breaking. The crown may be put on the tooth at the 2nd appointment or a third appointment may be needed.

What other choices do I have besides having a root canal? You could choose not to have any treatment to the tooth. Or, you could have the tooth pulled. But, removing a tooth can cause the teeth next to the missing tooth to move over into the empty spot. This can cause problems with your "bite" or the position of your teeth in your mouth. Changing your "bite" can cause problems with chewing and speaking.

What are the risks? There are risks with having a root canal. If any of the pulp is left in the canal you could still have pain. If any area of the canal is not filled you could get an infection which might cause you to lose your tooth. But, without root canal treatment you could have pain, get a serious infection, and you could lose your tooth. If you have the root canal treatment it is very important to protect that tooth with a crown. If you do not have a crown the tooth might break and would need to be pulled.

What happens after I go home?

• Call your caregiver for a follow-up visit. Write down questions you have about your root canal treatment. This way you'll remember to ask these questions during your next visit.
  
  
• To lessen pain or swelling put ice in a plastic bag and cover it with a towel. Place this on your jaw for 15 to 20 minutes out of every hour as long as you need it. Do not sleep on the ice pack because you could get frostbite.
  
  
• Brush your teeth or rinse your mouth 2 to 3 times every day. It is best to do this after meals. Gently brush your teeth and gums using a brush with soft bristles. After brushing, floss your teeth and then rinse with an anti-plak mouthwash. See your dentist for regular check-ups.
  
  
• You may want to eat soft foods for a day or two after your first root canal visit. Some examples are gelatin, cooked cereal, ice cream, applesauce, bananas, eggs, pasta, cottage cheese, soups, and yogurt. Your mouth may feel better if you do not chew on that side until the root canal treatment is done.
  
  
• Drink 6 to 8 (soda-pop can size) glasses of liquid each day. Or, follow your caregiver's advice if you are on a fluid limit. Good liquids to drink are water, juices, and milk. Limit the amount of caffeine you drink, such as coffee, tea, and soda.
  
  
• Bending over and lifting heavy things may cause your jaw to ache or throb. Do not bend over or lift anything heavy for 2 to 3 days if this causes you pain.
  
  
• If you smoke, you should quit. It harms the heart, lungs, and the blood. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. It is never too late to quit. Not only will you help yourself but also those around you. If you are having trouble quitting, talk to your caregiver about ways to quit.

Call Caregivers If:

• You have a temperature over 100.4° F (38° C).
  
  
• You have chills, a cough, red or swollen skin, or feel weak and achy. These are signs that you may have an infection.
  
  
• Your skin is itchy, swollen, or has a rash. Your medicine may be causing these symptoms. This may mean you are allergic (uh-ler-jik) to your medicine.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your root canal treatment or medicine.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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