Does It Take Long to Recover from Root Canal Treatment?
You may jump out of the dentist’s chair if recommended root canal treatment to eradicate a dental infection inside your tooth. You may also have many questions in your mind besides a few concerns. Most people who suggested root canals want to understand does it take long to recover from a Root canal? This article provides information to help you prepare beforehand for your upcoming endodontic therapy.
Your fear and questions about this treatment are justified because of the myths surrounding root canals. However, updated dentistry techniques and equipment currently make root canals merely as uncomfortable as having a routine filling. The myths surrounding this treatment are just that MYTHS. The pain associated with endodontic therapy is before the root canal procedure and not during or after because root canals help relieve the excruciating pain and sensitivity your teeth endure because of the infected or inflamed dental pulp.
What Precisely Is Root Canal Treatment?
Endodontic therapy to eradicate infections from inside your tooth is known as root canal treatment. The treatment aims to remove the infected or inflamed from inside your tooth, clean the canals, disinfect them, and fill and seal them.
The treatment becomes necessary if you leave tooth decay untreated for long or have chipped or cracked teeth allowing bacteria to penetrate the tooth to contaminate them. This treatment helps eradicate the infection from within your tooth to prevent extraction, the only alternative available if you don’t want to undergo root canals.
The Root Canal Process
The Root canal process is pretty straightforward because after you arrive at dentistry Portland, OR, you receive anesthesia near the affected tooth and gums. However, if you are incredibly anxious about the procedure, you can discuss it with the dentist treating you to receive more potent anesthesia from undergoing the treatment comfortably.
After your tooth is entirely numb, the dentist near me makes an access hole in the crown of your tooth to expose the dental pulp. After that, the dentist removes the infected or inflamed dental pulp and begins cleaning and disinfecting the canals. After carefully ensuring eradicating the infection, the dentist places a biocompatible sealing material called gutta-percha inside the canals with adhesives to seal them. The access hole in the crown of your tooth is also filled with a temporary filling that you must have restored with a permanent filling or dental crown after you recover from the procedure.
Recovering from Root Canals
You require a few days to recover comprehensively from the root canal procedure. The recovery process depends on which tooth required the treatment and whether it was completed in one visit or required multiple appointments. Endodontic treatment on the molars is complicated because they have numerous canals and improper cleaning and leave you with pain and sensitivity even after undergoing the treatment.
However, if you needed a root canal near me for an anterior tooth having merely one canal, you recover faster so long as you follow the after-care instructions your dentist provides.
Managing Your Treated Tooth after a Root Canal
As you leave the dentist’s office, receive after-care instructions from the dentist, you must follow diligently. The anesthesia administered by the dentist wears off in three to four hours when you begin to feel the discomfort of root canal treatment. The pain is manageable with over-the-counter or prescribed painkillers from the dentist and ice packs over your cheeks to reduce swelling. However, the discomfort will likely continue for a couple of days before it subsides. Meanwhile, there is no reason for you to exist on a diet of liquid foods because you must keep yourself nourished.
Biting or chewing with the treated tooth is a challenge you must overcome by eating from the other part of your mouth. It helps if you avoid complex and crunchy foods that require excessive chewing and consider having soft foods like mashed potatoes, applesauce, broths, soups, et cetera.
You must follow the oral hygiene practices recommended by the dentist, including brushing twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Flossing at least once a day to prevent gum inflammation or infection is also recommended. Do not consider having acidic and spicy foods during your recovery, and continue with the habit even after you recover. Please do not neglect to visit your dentist to get the tooth restored with a permanent filling or dental crown to ensure you strengthen the tooth and restore its appearance. Also, maintain contact with your dentist every six months for cleanings and exams to make sure you never require root canal treatments ever again.