What is a root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is treatment for a tooth that has abscessed or become infected, which means a pus-filled sac has formed at the root of a tooth.

When is it used?

Root canal treatment is the most commonly accepted therapy for an abscessed tooth. This procedure cleans out dead or dying nerve tissue and infection, if any, from the inside of a tooth. The tooth then can remain in the mouth.

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, your dentist will give you a local anesthetic. The dentist then makes a small opening in the top of the tooth and uses small files to clean out the debris and bacteria from the tiny canals. 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 is no longer vital, is more brittle, and 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?

The effectiveness of a root canal treatment will probably last a lifetime.

What are risks and complications with this procedure?

Occasionally, an abscess persists, even after root canal therapy has been performed. 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 salt water.

• Chew on the side that does not have the affected tooth or tissue.

• Keep your mouth as free from bacteria as possible by brushing frequently and flossing daily.

• Follow any special instructions by your dentist or dental hygienist.

• Keep any follow-up appointments with your dentist.