A root canal treatment is one of the most common dental procedures done in a dental clinic and according to one of the research approximately 55.7% of the people globally have at least one root canal treated tooth.
When you have a cavity i.e. your tooth has decayed and the caries has reached the center of the tooth (the pulp), you might experience either pain or sensitivity to hot in that particular tooth. The option of just filling the tooth in such cases will not work and can sometimes even increase the pain. So, root canal treatment is the only option left if the tooth is to be saved.
Most of the time, a root canal will require either one or two sittings and is done under local anesthesia. Your doctor might take approximately half an hour for the treatment depending on the tooth. He or she will give you some post-root canal instructions which you need to follow.
When is a Root Canal Treatment Advised?
Root canal of the tooth is advised when:
- Caries (cavity) have reached the pulp (nerves and vessels of the tooth), causing severe pain on biting or otherwise.
- Gums concerning a particular tooth are swollen and there is a periapical infection (Infection at the tip of the root).
- Swelling on one side of the face, can be due to an infected tooth.
- Trauma, which causes discoloration of the tooth, will require a root canal treatment.
- Fractured tooth.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold.
Related: Who is an Endodontist?
Post Root Canal Instructions
- Your endodontist would have given you anesthesia before the start of the procedure, so your respective side of the jaw will be numb for a while. Try to avoid eating until you start feeling sensations in that area again.
- Try to avoid eating from the same side of the treatment for 2-3 days. You might experience some pain in the tooth. Also some amount of discomfort few days after the treatment is also normal even if you did not have any before the treatment.
- Avoid eating hard and crunchy food.
- Take the medication as prescribed by your doctor. Do not miss any. You might need pain killers for a few days. If your endodontist has prescribed antibiotics, take them as advised.
- For better healing, rinse with warm saline water i.e. luke warm water with some amount of salt, 3-4 times a day.
- Do not stop brushing or flossing. Continue as before.
- A temporary filling is placed in the tooth after the root canal treatment. It is common for some amount of top layer to come off, but if the whole filling comes out, report to your dentist immediately.
- After a root canal treatment, a crown is important as otherwise there are chances of fracture of the tooth. Visit your dentist for a crown as advised.
Sometimes, in rare cases there can be a flare up after the treatment. In this situation, you might feel considerable pain and swelling, discomfort and throbbing. Report to the endodontist immediately if such is the case.
Root canal treatment are very common procedures, and are done routinely by endodontists. Always have a good meal before going to the dentist for any kind of treatment. Make sure to give a proper dental and a medical history to your dentist before starting any kind of dental procedure.
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Related: Post Extraction Instructions
Disclaimer:
This blog provides general information about post-root canal treatment instructions. The opinion and content on this blog are only for conversational purposes and should not be interpreted as medical or dental advice about any particular individual. If the reader or any other person has a medical or dental concern, he or she should consult with an appropriate licensed medical or dental physician or a health care provider
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