root canal treatment
™
Copyright © 2003-2007 Royanna Joy Puen, DDS, All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer: The information provided within is intended to help you better understand dental conditions and procedures. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical or dental care. If you have specific questions or concerns, contact your health care provider.
Disclaimer: The information provided within is intended to help you better understand dental conditions and procedures. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical or dental care. If you have specific questions or concerns, contact your health care provider.
root canal treatment
Root canal treatment begins with its obvious symptoms of extreme pain to hot or cold foods, to chewing, or simply to pushing the gums around your tooth. Sometimes the signs are not so obvious, or maybe the pain is not consistent. What triggers this pain can be as simple as a gaping hole in your tooth, or it can be a hidden crack on your tooth that has grown into the nerve area. Simple tests can be performed to assess how far the nerve in your tooth has been infected. An xray along with our tests, will help determine how to treat your tooth in order to save it.
Having root canal treatment is much like getting a filling, only the filling extends to the end of your tooth, inside the "root canal". This canal contains the "life" of your tooth -- pulpal tissue composed of blood vessels and nerves. Once it is infected by decay or inflamed by trauma, the nerves inside your tooth become hypersensitive, causing the pain. Allowed to continue, an abscess may form along your gums above the infected tooth. Sometimes there is no abscess, and little pain, although the pulp of the tooth may have been damaged. This will be apparent over time, as the tooth will become darker because of the loss of its "life" -- the nerves and blood vessels eventually die.
The purpose of having root canal treatment done is to save the tooth by cleaning the canal of this dead or infected nerve, and seal the canal so that bacteria does not re-infect the tooth. Although a small percentage of treated teeth require re-treatment in the future, the majority of cases go on to be restored with no further problems.
Root canal treatment begins with its obvious symptoms of extreme pain to hot or cold foods, to chewing, or simply to pushing the gums around your tooth. Sometimes the signs are not so obvious, or maybe the pain is not consistent. What triggers this pain can be as simple as a gaping hole in your tooth, or it can be a hidden crack on your tooth that has grown into the nerve area. Simple tests can be performed to assess how far the nerve in your tooth has been infected. An xray along with our tests, will help determine how to treat your tooth in order to save it.
Having root canal treatment is much like getting a filling, only the filling extends to the end of your tooth, inside the "root canal". This canal contains the "life" of your tooth -- pulpal tissue composed of blood vessels and nerves. Once it is infected by decay or inflamed by trauma, the nerves inside your tooth become hypersensitive, causing the pain. Allowed to continue, an abscess may form along your gums above the infected tooth. Sometimes there is no abscess, and little pain, although the pulp of the tooth may have been damaged. This will be apparent over time, as the tooth will become darker because of the loss of its "life" -- the nerves and blood vessels eventually die.
The purpose of having root canal treatment done is to save the tooth by cleaning the canal of this dead or infected nerve, and seal the canal so that bacteria does not re-infect the tooth. Although a small percentage of treated teeth require re-treatment in the future, the majority of cases go on to be restored with no further problems.
patient instructions after root canal treatment
- Sensitivity to hot/cold/pressure and swelling may occur after having treatment completed. Take 800mg ibuprofen (4 tablets of 200mg Advil or Motrin) before anesthesia has worn out. If needed, continue taking 800mg ibuprofen every 8 hours for pain.
- Eat soft foods for the next couple of days.
- A temporary filling is used to seal your tooth once root canal treatment is completed. A permanent filling must be placed after the tooth has healed (about 3-4 weeks). In most cases, a crown is the final restoration. Do not avoid getting this done, as the temporary filling will break down and the tooth may become re-infected!
- If you experience pain that cannot be controlled with the medication that has been given to you, call us immediately.
- If you experience an increase in swelling, call us immediately.
If you have any questions or concerns give us a call
510.865.2450
510.865.2450