Root Canal Care

Your dentist will:

• Do a thorough dental exam
• X-ray your mouth-a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body, especially bones

Local anesthesia (eg, lidocaine ) will be used. The dentist will numb the area in your mouth. The anesthesia will be given as an injection.

A small hole will be made through the top of the tooth and into the pulp. Next, steel files will be inserted to extract the pulp tissue. All teeth have 1-4 individual canals. Pulp will need to be extracted from all canals in the affected tooth. Once all pulp has been removed, the walls of the root canal will be reshaped and enlarged. Medicine will be inserted to kill bacteria.

At this point, the dentist may insert a temporary filling. This filling will protect the tooth. The procedure may be done within one visit or at multiple appointments. This depends on the condition of the tooth. Lastly, the canal will be dried, sterilized, and filled with a rubbery material. This material will prevent recontamination.

The dentist will:

• Permanently seal the area
• Place a gold or porcelain crown over the tooth to strengthen its structure

A root canal may take 1-3 appointments. Each appointment may last 1-2 hours.

You will have discomfort for a few days. Your doctor may give you pain medicine.

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

• Be sure to follow your dentist's instructions .
• Use warm, salt-water rinses to soothe your mouth.
• For a few days, avoid heavy biting and chewing on the side of the mouth that has the root canal.
• See your dentist for a follow-up x-ray as scheduled.