The Process of Recovery After a Root Canal

World Wide Web | The Process of Recovery After a Root Canal | While endodontic root canal procedures are commonplace in dentistry today and patients most often return to normal activities immediately, it is not unusual to expect some recovery symptoms. Your root canal has been cleaned, treated, and filled, but the process is not quite over. Recovery from any procedure always takes time, and depending on the individual the recovery experience will vary. In this article, we will discuss some recovery tips, as well as what happens during root canal recovery, and what you should do after treatment.

Recovery Tips

Eating Habits - Before your procedure, your tooth was likely sore and sensitive so you grew accustomed to eating on one side of your mouth. While you will likely want to continue this habit until the root canal procedure is finished and the tooth is permanently filled, your ultimate goal should be to use both sides of your mouth again.

Pain - Many patients experience a manageable amount of pain and sensitivity immediately following a procedure. An ice pack and over the counter analgesics such as ibuprofen or naproxen can help you keep your pain under control so you can return to normal activities immediately.

Advice - If your pain and sensitivity symptoms persist for more than a week, seek the advice of your dentist. Root canals are a common procedure that should not affect you in the long term.

What Happens During Recovery

Pain is obviously the primary concern of patients during their recovery. In fact, most patients find that root canals are no more painful than recovering from a filling. Nevertheless, there will likely be a mild to moderate amount of pain and sensitivity following your root canal due to your body's natural inflammatory response. This pain should not interfere with your ability to engage in normal daily activities, and as already mentioned, over-the-counter painkillers are usually sufficient for managing pain.

Some procedures will require more than one dental visit. The restoration of your tooth will generally require a filling or even the placement of a crown, and you should be vigilant about pain symptoms. Sudden onset of pain, for example, could indicate that there is a problem with your filling and you should visit your dentist.

After Treatment

Root canal procedures can protect your teeth, prevent decay, and ultimately save your tooth. After treatment, you should avoid foods and fluids for several hours. You should not chew with the treated tooth until the filling has been placed; but also, the treated tooth may be more sensitive immediately following the procedure. If your tooth has been infected, your dentist may also recommend anti-bacterial treatment in addition to painkillers to prevent future problems with the tooth. Immediately after a procedure and for the long term, you should return to regular brushing and flossing of your teeth. Even though a root canal removes the pulp and nerves from affected teeth, these teeth are still susceptible to cavities and proper oral hygiene is critical.