How Long Does It Take To Recover From A Root Canal

Root canal treatment is one of those dental treatments that people dread, not because of their experiences, rather because of the stories they have heard from people. Still, a root canal is a major dental procedure that is expected to leave some pain residues after it is completed.

This, however, does not mean that the pain should last forever. Instead, the irritability is only right after your procedure, as your mouth tries to adjust to the new changes. if you are still dreading the endodontic, read on to learn more about the procedure.

What Is Root Canal Treatment?

It is a dental procedure performed to save a tooth that has already incurred some damage, usually in the form of dental decay. An endodontist near you will be your attending dentist, as they are specialized in this area of dental health.

Understanding The Root Canal Process

The process of getting a root canal done is in itself an intricate procedure. The endodontist makes way into inner parts of your teeth, to trace any damaged tissues and remove them. This process is the major culprit for your discomfort, which might cause irritability.

Since the goal is to save the structure of your tooth all while treating it, the complexity of a root canal cannot be overlooked. Some of the things to expect from your procedure include:

1. Local anesthesia and sedation – even though root canal treatment in Pearland is not entirely a surgical procedure, it is invasive. You need to have a numb mouth before your treatment, not to mention, be relaxed and calm throughout the procedure.
2. Drilling – without compromising the structure of your tooth, a Pearland dentist will drill a small hole on your tooth. This hole will go through to the inside layers of your teeth, allowing access through it.
3. Cleaning the tooth – every food residue, bacteria, and infection is cleaned out at this stage. More to that, the dentist will clean out all the damaged tissues in your tooth, including never endings and blood vessels. Since your tooth is all mature, it can survive without the blood vessels and never endings.
4. Filling and sealing – the space created by the removal of the soft tissues in your tooth cannot be left empty or open. Often a dental filling is used to close up the tooth. In other cases, a dental crown is needed to hold everything in place.

Recovering From A Root Canal

In recent years, things have changed in dentistry, including in the treatment of root canals. Unlike in ancient times, pain is not as severe and excruciating. Endodontists use pain-relieving measures to ensure that patients are both comfortable during the procedure and can quickly recover afterward.

Once the local anesthesia used begins to wear off, you are likely to experience some pain and discomfort. This comes in the form of soreness and sensitivity, often as a result of the cleaning process. However, this issue should only trouble you for a few days after your procedure. To cope, your dentist will prescribe over-the-counter pain medications for relieving the pain and discomfort in the initial days after treatment.

Overall, it should take you a few days to recover from a root canal. Any pain that stretches beyond that could indicate a problem. Some people require more than one cleaning for a successful root canal.

Managing Your Tooth After A Root Canal

After your dentist declares your treatment successful, you need to focus on a quick recovery. This means being intentional about managing your mouth. If you do so, you should be fully healed in under a week. Some tips to help you cope include:

1. Get a prescription for pain meds – narcotic pain relievers or ibuprofen will help you get by. However, they are a temporary thing.
2. Avoid chewing and crushing hard foods – this will only make things harder for you.
3. Keep up with proper oral hygiene – the last thing you want is to keep going through similar procedures on other teeth.
4. Keep in touch with your dentist – if you feel like your recovery is taking too long, talk to your dentist about it. It could be that you need another cleaning before you are good to go.