What should I think about if I have a root canal treatment?

Because a root canal removes the pulp inside the tooth, the tooth becomes more fragile and may break more easily if it is not covered with a crown or cap.

A root canal needs to be done as soon as possible to avoid a severe infection, which can damage the bone surrounding the root of the tooth and infect other teeth.

If you have a severely decayed or infected tooth, you may not want to go through the expense and discomfort of a root canal and crown fitting. Instead, you may choose to have the tooth removed (extracted). The space can be left open or restored with a fixed or removable bridge.

It would be best to think about all your options and the fees before you do the root canal. You and your dentist should sit down and talk. You could have an extraction and an implant, an extraction and a bridge, or an extraction and a removable partial. If you choose the root canal, find out if the tooth will need a crown or just a filling. Once that is settled, you can rest easy with your decision. During the root canal you can bring headphones, or just think happy thoughts of how good you are for taking care of this tooth!

Among the many things to consider regarding endodontic treatment are:

• care in biting on the involved tooth during and after the treatment.
• having the tooth properly restored after root canal treatment to minimize the chance of fracture. (A crown is often the restoration of choice.)
• take any medication prescribed and as directed by your dentist.
• take medication from your physician unless changes are advised.
• follow dentists directions and ask about any concerns.
• understand that the root canal treatment can be excellent, but the tooth can be lost if not sealed, restored and protected from fracture.

You may wish to contact your dentist and ask him/her to provide you with information regarding endodontic treatment and your specific case. Information about benefits and risks of your care are also provided and reviewed in an informed consent prior to treatment.

You should think about how you can get the best prognosis to keep your tooth. After root canal treatment the tooth gets brittle and can easily fracture. It needs to be restored properly to be able to be used in function. If a tooth cannot be properly restored it many not be worth doing the root canal. Your dentist should be able to tell you the situation prior to doing the root canal.

Make sure you are financially able to handle the root canal treatment and restoration of the tooth prior to beginning treatment. Many times patients get the root canal treatment and not the restoration in a timely manner and the tooth ends up fracturing. So the patient not only loses the tooth but also the expense for the root canal. So, be careful and talk to your dentist.