08 Apr What to Expect After a Root Canal
After a root canal, you might experience some temporary pain. However, the pain of a decaying tooth or infected tooth is much worse! Don’t let a fear of pain stop you from getting the treatment you need. If you’ve been troubled with a painful or sensitive tooth, the caring doctors at Prescott Dentistry can help—here’s more about what to expect.
A root canal is a major dental procedure, so it is normal to be worried about what to expect in terms of recovery following a root canal. Deep cleaning the inner chamber of the root of your tooth can cause irritation in the surrounding nerve tissue and gums. However, this procedure will prevent tooth loss, bone loss, and further infection.
Root Canal Recovery
Before beginning the root canal, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic. You may feel some pressure during the procedure, but you should not feel any pain. Your dentist will create a small opening in the crown of your tooth and then clean out any diseased pulp inside the chamber of the tooth.
After the anesthetic wears off, you might experience some minor pain or sensitivity. This can be uncomfortable, but it should only last a few days.The pain should be mild to moderate at most, so you will likely only need to use over the counter pain medications, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen).
Be sure to check with your doctor before taking any over the counter medications to be sure that they don’t interact with any of your existing medications or supplements. If your symptoms don’t respond to over-the-counter pain medications, your doctor may recommend prescription-strength pain relief medications until the problem is resolved.
Post-Root Canal Oral Care
After a root canal, you should also avoid eating anything hard, crunchy, chewy, sticky, or too hot or cold for the next few days. You should also continue to practice a good oral hygiene routine while your gums heal, in order to prevent infections.
Brush gently with a soft toothbrush at least twice a day. Floss carefully and finish with an alcohol-free rinse. This can help you avoid any further tooth infection or decay, and keep you from needing more root canals!
When To Seek Help
Pain and discomfort after your root canal should decrease over time. Your pain level could be anywhere from mild to moderate for up to 3-5 days following a root canal. If the pain persists longer than a week after your procedure, you should contact your dentist right away, as there could be complications.
Call Us With Your Questions
At Prescott Dentistry, we strive to make your dental experience as comfortable as possible. If you’ve recently had a root canal and have any questions or concerns about your aftercare, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We are here for you and look forward to restoring your smile to its natural, healthy state.
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