When you visit Arizona Family Dentistry for a root canal treatment, the dentist will explain to you in detail what to expect before, during and after the procedure. There is great emphasis on ensuring you follow the right post-root canal care to ensure you not only recover smoothly but that the treatment is also successful.
Root canal therapy is used to treat teeth with deep cavities, where the infection has reached the roots. It is the best way to help save your natural tooth while getting rid of an infection. Contrary to what most people think, the procedure itself is not really painful but actually saves you from the pain associated with having an infected tooth. It involves completely cleaning out the tooth pulp, root and nerves to get rid of bacteria and decay. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia so you will experience little to no pain as the dentist or endodontist works on you.
Once the local anesthesia wears off, most patients experience discomfort such as swelling, sensitivity and mild pain around the area that was being treated. Root canal therapy is quite an intense procedure where different tools and techniques are used to deep clean the pulp cavity, and this can leave your mouth a little bit sore. Nonetheless, any discomfort you experience should only last for a day or two. Your dental care provide can some over the counter pain medications to help you cope.
Beyond the painkillers, there are other important steps you can put into practice to ensure your recovery is smooth. They include;
For the first few days you will have to plan your meals really carefully. Stick to soft foods that do not require much chewing while till ensuring you are getting proper nutrition. Good choices include soups, smoothies or mashed potatoes that allow you satisfy your hunger without the risk of hurting the healing area.
If you smoke or drink, this is not the best time to indulge as it may interfere with the recovery process. You can quit smoking altogether at this point as it is generally not good for your oral health or wait until you are completely healed to resume these habits, but with moderation.
As much as you are still recovering, you still need to take good care of your mouth to prevent other oral issues from arising. Practicing good oral hygiene does not stop just because you had a root canal treatment. You are still advised to brush and floss as you would regularly. Just be extra careful and make sure to avoid the healing area.
Rest is crucial for any recovery process. You may need to take a day or two from work and ensure you get adequate sleep so that you can feel like yourself again. If you go to the gym or engage in any physical exercise, it is best to slow down during this period and maybe only engage in light exercises like walking.
Like in any other medical procedure, there are some risks or complications that may arise after getting root canal therapy. You need to pay attention to how you feel and contact your dentist or endodontist in case you have any worrying symptoms.
After 2 to 3 days, the discomfort or any pain after the procedure should have faded away. But if you still continue to feel pain or it seems to persist other that subside, that is reason enough to reach out to your dentist. Other warning signs to watch out for include;
All this information about root canal aftercare may seem intimidating, but the good thing is that our dentists will ensure that you understand all the important steps before you are discharged. In case of anything you can contact us or visit the clinic to learn more.
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