A root canal is a procedure to eliminate a severe infection inside a specific tooth affecting the dental pulp and the nerves. The condition causes severe toothache, temperature sensitivity to hot and cold, discomfort when biting and chewing, pimples on your tooth roots, facial swelling, et cetera.
When you see the dentist near you to ascertain the cause of the toothache, they will likely x-ray the tooth to determine whether it is infected. They will also tap on the tooth to establish tooth sensitivity. After examining your tooth, they will recommend that you need a root canal to eliminate the infection or must consider extracting the tooth because it is the only alternative.
Root canals have a fearsome reputation as a painful therapy, although the treatment helps relieve the pain you endure from the infection. You will undoubtedly experience discomfort after receiving a root canal, but the pain emanates from the treatment, not the ailment within your tooth. Although the treatment itself is also considered painful, it is no more discomforting than getting a dental filling placed. However, follow the dentist’s instructions providing the after-care root canal treatment tips. You will find your recovery comfortable to return to your regular activities in about 72 hours, although the recovery will take approximately ten days.
After receiving root canal treatment in Glendale, your dentist will allow you to return home with instructions for pain management, caring for your tooth as you heal, and scheduling a follow-up appointment. Following the dentist’s guidelines is especially helpful if they have placed a temporary filling in the crown of your tooth.
As the local anesthesia provided to numb your mouth during the procedure starts wearing off, you will experience some tenderness near the treated tooth for a few days and mild soreness in your jaw from sitting with your mouth open for an extended period during the procedure. The symptoms are temporary and respond well to OTC medication. However, the Glendale dentist may prescribe narcotic medications with instructions that they might make you drowsy after taking them, exercising caution when indulging in strenuous activity, driving vehicles, or operating machinery.
You will likely experience different sensations from the treated tooth than your remaining teeth for some time. However, you must contact the dentist in Glendale immediately if you experience the following symptoms.
After your procedure, you must wait until your mouth numbness subsides before trying to eat or drink hot beverages to prevent biting your cheek or tongue or burning your throat. In addition, you must refrain from using the treated tooth until you have it restored by the Glendale dentist after you recover with a dental crown. As usual, you can continue brushing and flossing to keep your mouth clean and avoid infection.
After you have healed from the root canal and completed any follow-up appointments, you must have the tooth restored by the Glendale dentist to protect the treated tooth from damage due to fractures or breakage. While root canals eliminate the infection inside your tooth to help preserve it, they render the tooth fragile to need fortification with a dental crown.
The dental crown procedure is also lengthy requiring two appointments with the dentist because the restoration needs fabrication from a dental laboratory to ensure it matches your remaining teeth. In addition, some existing tooth structure also needs removal to accommodate the dental crown over the treated tooth, besides enduring a temporary crown over your tooth for about three weeks. Therefore, you must continue exercising caution with the treated tooth until you receive your restoration in about three weeks when you can revisit the Glendale dentist to have it bonded over your affected tooth.
Getting your tooth restored with a dental crown completes your root canal treatment to leave you without pain or temperature sensitivity allowing you to use the tooth for many years. You must take care of your teeth by brushing, flossing, and getting regular checkups and cleanings from your dentist. If you experience pain or swelling later, you can return to the Glendale dentist because it is possible for a root canal-treated tooth to need treatment again months or years after you had your teeth treated. However, if you encounter a situation of this type, rest assured the dentist can help preserve your tooth by performing root canal retreatment.
Smile Dental Group performs many root canals on patients providing them with comprehensive after-care tips to follow when recovering. If you need a root canal, kindly do not hesitate to contact them to ensure you recover quickly and get your tooth restored with a dental crown from them and enjoy the treated tooth for many years.