Root Canal Treatment

A root canal treatment involves the removal of decayed and living tissue, the pulp, from the tooth, in order to relieve pain and eliminate infection. With the use of an artificial plastic filling material, the hollowed out root canals are filled with the material known as gutta percha.

An important point about root-canaled teeth is that their overall strength is diminished; therefore, a crown is recommended to restore the strength.

Causes of root canal decay:

• Deep cavities on the coronal part of the tooth
• Periodontal disease leading to endodontic infections
• Fracture or crack of the tooth leading to exposure to pulp tissue
• Bone loss surrounding the root

Symptoms

• Spontaneous pain or continuous lingering pain
• Referred pain to other parts of the face
• Swelling on the face
• Abscess formation
• Sensitivity
• Fever may result

Diagnosis  for Root Canal Treatment:

• X-rays: The dentist will try to look for dark areas around the tip of the root, indicating inflammation and infection.

• Temperature Test (Cold and Warm Test)

o Cold Test: Using a cold spray, the dentist will check for a sharp lingering pain.

o Warm Test: If the tooth responds to a warm object, this may indicate a decayed pulp.

• Percussion: The dentist will tap on the tooth to see if you have pain, indicating inflammation surrounding the root.

• Electric pulp testing: An electric stimulation of the tooth to determine its response.

Procedure for Root Canal Treatment:

• Local anesthesia will be administered in order to numb the pulp tissue.

• A rubber dam will be placed to help isolate the tooth and prevent contamination while cleaning.

• Using files and other hand instruments, the pulp tissue will be removed and the canal cleaned out using antibacterial agents.

• Depending on the severity of the infection surrounding the tooth, the dentist may elect to place a calcium hydroxide paste inside the canal and finish the procedure in a week. This helps kill bacteria and replenish the hard tissue lost.

• Gutta percha will be placed in the empty canal.

• A temporary filling is placed in the opening of the crown.

• In the following visit, the preparation for a lab-fabricated crown will be done.

• 6- 12 month recalls will be needed to monitor the health of the root-canal-treated tooth.

*Patients who have had a heart valve replacement, or have a history of endocarditis, will be asked to take a prophylactic dose of antibiotics before the procedure.

Post-op instructions:

• Try to avoid eating hot food until the anesthesia wears off.

• Take over-the-counter painkillers to relieve pain that may linger for several days after the procedure. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or Advil are good options. If any discomfort or pain remains longer than a week, please call our office.

• In case of swelling and tenderness, rinse with warm salt water several times a day till it subsides.

• Refrain from chewing on the treated tooth while there is tenderness.

• Avoid sticky foods (such as caramel) to prevent dislodgement of temporary filling.

• Maintain good oral hygiene, including brushing twice a day, flossing, and using mouthwash. Fluoride paste may also be recommended.