What Are the Do's and Don'ts after a Root Canal
When cavities develop on your tooth, you don’t find it challenging to get by initially. However, when the cavity expands with time, it becomes a problem that needs attention from the dentist near you. You can no longer downplay the cavity’s consequences unless you prepare yourself to lose your tooth. Fortunately, things don’t have to reach that stage.
Root canals are not unique when matters related to tooth restorations are concerned. In reality, it is an ideal treatment for tooth decay instead of having the tooth extracted. Your visit to the dentist nearby will likely bring the surprising information that you need root canal treatment near you to eradicate infections in your dental pulp causing excruciating pain and sensitivity in the specific tooth when biting or having hot and cold beverages.
Root Canals Explained
Root canals are a dental procedure to preserve a damaged tooth in contrast to removing it. When mature adult teeth are severely decayed, they cause plenty of harm to the oral cavity, including severe toothaches and dental abscesses. Root canals are a viable alternative that helps preserve your natural tooth without pain and infection.
The Root Canal Procedure
An infected tooth doesn’t provide much time before it causes complications in the mouth. It is why the dentist performing root canal treatment in Ellicott city recommends early therapy without waiting for the bacteria to create additional damage. However, it helps ease your fears about this treatment if you know what to expect when undergoing root canals.
The dentist begins by giving you local anesthesia in the mouth to numb the area around the affected tooth. If you experience severe dental anxiety, you might even receive oral conscious sedation during the procedure.
The Ellicott City dentist uses unique tools to drill a hole in the tooth enamel. The drilling helps expose the infected and inflamed dental pulp within the tooth. Next, the professional cleans the insides of your tooth to remove the infection and bacteria within. The pulp chamber housing the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue is also removed. Your tooth can survive without the dental pulp because it has matured. Eventually, the dentist seals the access hole to prevent bacteria from re-entering.
The dentist completes the entire procedure in approximately 90 minutes. However, if you need a root canal on a molar, you might require two appointments with them because molars have multiple canals. After completing your root canal, the dentist provides a list of dos and don’ts, suggesting that you follow the instructions to ensure you don’t confront complications.
Dos and Don’ts of Root Canals
The nonsurgical root canal may not appear stressful for you when undergoing the procedure because of dental sedation. However, your concerns begin a few hours after the treatment as the anesthesia wears off. Therefore, it is a time when the after-care instructions require attention.
The Dos
- Do not neglect your oral hygiene routine after receiving a root canal. Dental plaque is primarily responsible for tooth decay and is the last thing you want after undergoing a painful procedure to treat a specific tooth.
- Following root canal treatment, you can expect swelling on your cheeks during the first few days. Using ice packs on your cheeks helps alleviate the swelling, which should subside as you recover. Unfortunately, if it doesn’t, you can contact the Ellicott city dentist for advice. You might also experience some sensitivity following the treatment. However, dentists provide antibiotics and painkillers to manage the discomfort. Please do not skip the medications because it keeps you uncomfortable and enduring pain, inviting infections in your mouth.
The Don’ts
- Avoid eating soon after the Root canal because your mouth remains numb for at least four to six hours after the treatment making you prone to biting yourself.
- Do not smoke or consume alcohol because the chemicals in tobacco will delay your recovery, and alcohol can interact with prescription painkillers to create complications.
- Stay clear from crunchy and hard foods during your recovery. Give your tooth sufficient time to heal before starting your regular lifestyle.
- Refrain from brushing aggressively to prevent damage to the filling placed by the dentist performing the Root canal. Instead, brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
After recovering from this procedure, you must have the affected tooth restored with a dental crown because the treatment would have rendered your tooth fragile and prone to breakage and fractures. After restoring your tooth, you can continue treating it like your remaining teeth.
Excel Dental Care provides root canal treatments in Ellicott city to many patients. If you experience severe pain and sensitivity in a specific tooth, please schedule an appointment with the practice to receive this treatment and preserve your tooth.