Welcome to my site! My name is Verity. I work as a receptionist in a dentist office. Every day for the past 20 years, I have come in to the office, worked on paperwork, and greeted patients. I love my job, because it has helped me meet a lot of really wonderful people. I have seen families grow up! But an added benefit from my job is that I have also picked up some small information about dentistry. I'm not one of the dentists, but I do know quite a bit about simple procedures and basic dental hygiene. Hopefully this blog can teach you something, but remember to always consult with your actual dentist for real professional advice!
About Verity Longpar
Continuing Care After Your Root Canal
Eleanor Crawford
Although root canal therapy is generally painless, many patients approach their appointments with trepidation and apprehension. Once the root canal is done, you might feel a sense of relief and gratitude that it's all over with. While you can relax knowing that you've gotten through the procedure, it's important to understand that the care of this tooth is not finished quite yet. You will still have some follow-up procedures that need to be completed.
Post and Core
In most cases, your endodontically treated tooth will need to have a post and core done. Once the nerve space is cleaned out and filled (which is the root canal procedure itself), your dentist can insert a metal post into part of that space. This is what will eventually stabilize the crown that is placed on the tooth. The composite material packed around the post is called the core, and it adds additional structure to the tooth that had the root canal.
The reason why a post and core is usually needed is that a tooth that has had endodontic treatment can be more brittle than a tooth that still contains the nerve and its associated blood supply. The post and core add strength and reduce the chance that the tooth will crack or fracture.
Crown
While some dentists will recommend that you wait a month or two before proceeding, your tooth will eventually need a crown in most cases. The crown, which may be made of metal, porcelain, or a combination of the two, will further protect your tooth. Although part of the tooth (and the core) will be drilled away, you will not feel a thing, because the nerve of the tooth has already been removed.
Having a crown fabricated and placed is usually a two-appointment procedure. The first appointment will be for prepping the tooth and for taking impressions, and the second will be for fitting the new crown. Once the crown is permanently placed, you can treat the crown like any other tooth in your mouth.
Continuing Care
After your root canal and crown have been completed, you'll just need to brush and floss around the tooth as usual. Sometimes, regular floss can snag on the edges of a crown. If this happens, let your dentist know; he or she may be able to smooth out the margins (where the crown meets the gum tissue) or can recommend a different type of floss. The crown will be cleaned during your routine dental visits, too, and periodic x-rays will be taken.
While the root canal is the part of your tooth's treatment plan that often takes the longest, it's only the first step toward permanently restoring the tooth. Be sure that you understand all of the steps of your treatment plan so you are not surprised later with further work and further expense. For more information, talk to a professional like Rick Chavez DDS.
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