Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPurposeWhat to ExpectRecovery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Purpose
What to Expect
Recovery
In root canal treatment, the infected pulp chamber is removed from inside the tooth that travels down the length of the root to the tip or “canal.“Human teeth may have one to four root canals, depending on the anatomy of the tooth.
Molars, may have 2 to 4 canals,premolarstypically have 1 to 2 canals (but may have three at times),cuspidsmay have 1 to 2 canals, and finally,incisorsgenerally have 1 canal. Extra canals may branch out from the main canal, called “accessory canals.” The number of canals and the anatomy can vary among teeth.
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Purpose of Root Canal Surgery
The tiny canals contain the pulp of the tooth also commonly referred to as the nerve, which originates from thepulp chamber. Any trauma or infection of the nerve will result in the need for root canal therapy.
Common reasons for root canal therapy include:
What to Expect on the Day of Surgery
After your tooth is “numb”, you may expect the following procedures:
When the local anesthetic has worn off, your tooth may be sore from the procedure. Your dentist may recommend a pain reliever to take at home, and depending on the circumstances behind your root canal, antibiotics may be prescribed to clear up any remaining infection in the tooth.If you were on antibiotics before the procedure, your dentist will instruct you to finish the remaining medication.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Association of Endodontists.What is a root canal?
American Association of Endonotists.Reasons for root canal treatment.
Ahmadi H, Ebrahimi A, Ahmadi F.Antibiotic therapy in dentistry.International Journal of Dentistry. 2021;2021:e6667624. doi: 10.1155/2021/F6667624
American Association of Endodontists.Root canal explained.
American Association of Endodontists.Endodontic retreatment explained.
Vishwanath V, Rao HM.Gutta-percha in endodontics - A comprehensive review of material science.Journal of Conservative Dentistry. 2019;22(3):216. doi: 10.4103/JCD.JCD_420_18
Yavorek A, Bhagavatula P, Patel K, Szabo A, Ibrahim M.The incidence of root canal therapy after full-coverage restorations: a 10-year retrospective study.Journal of Endodontics. 2020;46(5):605-610. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2020.01.025.
National Institute of Dental and Cranofacial Research.Opioids & dental pain.
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