Root Canal

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="021285a1erlcgo.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial" ><B>Lake Stevens Dental Clinic</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lake Stevens Dental Clinic"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>                                                </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Root Canal</B></I></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hygiene"><U>Hygiene</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Decay"><U>Tooth Decay</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Gum Disease"><U>Gum Disease</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cosmetic Dentistry"><U>Cosmetic Dentistry</U></A>   |   <B>Root Canal</B>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fillings"><U>Fillings</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Crowns"><U>Crowns</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Whitening"><U>Tooth Whitening</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=140 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="020d4c00dkelyh.gif"> <div>  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="014786a0.gif" border=0 width="120" height="362" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Questions? Feel free to ask the doctor or staff</div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The object of a root canal</B> is to remove infected nerve and canal tissue (red) from a tooth.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Without a root canal, the only other treatment option for an infected is extraction. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Treatment can take 1-4 appointments depending on the complexity of the case. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">About 95% (19 out of 20) root canals work fine, particularly if the initial infection is caught early before the infection and/or decay becomes large and aggressive.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">When cleaned and shaped, the canal is filled with an biocompatible filling material.  </div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A root canal procedure</B> typically includes the following :</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Remove any decay and restore the tooth so that a clean and sterile environment is possible.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The filling and root canal are billed separately.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A rubber dam is used to isolate the tooth and keep it clean and sterile.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A hole is made in the top of the tooth, filling or crown for access to the canals. (dashed line)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sometimes, thru no fault of the doctor, the filling or crown may fracture, which may require replacing the restoration at a later date. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Some teeth have one canal and exit for each root of the tooth; some roots have multiple canals and exits. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Bacteria sometimes will escape removal by hiding in these peripheral canals.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sometimes this requires retreatment of the root canal.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A temporary filling may be used to seal the tooth between visits.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Be gentle when chewing on a temporized tooth until the final restoration and the tooth settles down.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The files and drills that are used in cleaning and shaping the canals are subject to occasional breakage that is beyond the control of the doctor.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Attempts will be taken to remove or work around a separated file. If the canal was sterile at the time of breakage, a retained file may be no significant problem. </div> <div> <B>After a root canal </B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A tooth colored filling is provided to close the access hole.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">After treatment, It is possible to experience the following symptoms for a week or more : </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">sensitivity to hot and/or cold; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">sensitivity to pressure and biting; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">moderate swelling.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">If you can tolerate it, ibuprophen is a good pain medication to relieve post operative discomfort.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Take two or three 200 mg tabs four times. Never take more than 2400 mg (12 tabs) in a day. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">In some cases, an antibiotic and/or prescription pain medication may be prescribed.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Call the office if concerned about swelling or pain.</div> <div> <B>Long term considerations.  </B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">During endodontic treatment, the nutrient supply to the tooth is removed.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Without the nutrient supply, within about 5 years, many root canaled teeth become brittle and prone to fracture.  </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Some fractures are so deep and extensive that tooth loss can result. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700b400000000.gif" HEIGHT="12" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">In most cases, a crown is recommended to help prevent tooth fracture.  This can be performed as soon as the tooth settles down.       </div> </td> </tr></table></body>