First, your dentist removes the infection to promote healing

Next, he places a post to strengthen the tooth

Finally, he crowns the tooth to protect it

Your dentist wants the entire procedure to be comfortable for you, so the first thing he'll do is make sure you're thoroughly numb. Then, he will place a rubber dam around your tooth to isolate it from the rest of your mouth. It protects you by keeping debris from falling to the back of your throat. It also keeps the tooth dry and accessible so your dentist can do a better job.

To get at the infection, he makes an opening through the top of the tooth down into the pulp chamber. With a dental file, your dentist (or endodontist) carefully cleans out the infected tissue and shapes the canals to receive the filling material. X-rays are taken to make sure that all of the infected pulp is removed.

Sometimes it's necessary to strengthen a tooth with a post. The post is cemented down inside one of the root canals.

Making a crown is the last step in restoring your tooth. It protects your tooth and gives you back your smile.

Post-Op Instructions: After a Root Canal

Root canal therapy often takes two or more appointments to complete. A temporary filling or crown is placed to protect the tooth between appointments.

After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.

Between appointments, it's common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out, or if a temporary crown comes off, call your dentist so it can be replaced.

It's normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment, especially when chewing. To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.

To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water; dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, then rinse, swish, and spit.

To protect the tooth and help keep your temporary in place:

· Avoid chewing sticky foods (especially gum).

· Avoid hard foods and hard substances, such as ice, fingernails and pencils.

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
ROOT CANAL FILLING WITH GUTTAPERCHA	RADIOGRAPH OF ROOT CANAL TREATED TOOTH
ROOT CANAL FILLING OF MOLAR TEETH

Do I Need a Crown after Root Canal Treatment?

After root canal treatment, the tooth is weak and brittle. It is weak because the center of the tooth was removed to get at the infected nerve; only the sides of the tooth are left for support. And it is more brittle because the nerve and blood supply are gone.

This tooth was not crowned after root canal treatment. There is a tremendous amount of force on the edges of the teeth when they bite together, so it's likely that this tooth will break.

After a tooth breaks, it is much more difficult to repair. A crown covers and protects a root canaled tooth and helps to prevent it from breaking.