7 Things You Should Know About Root Canals
It is a common dental treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed and infected. Due to deep decay, a tooth’s nerve and pulp can become irritated, inflamed, and infected. It may also be possible due to trauma to the face. The procedure of the root canal has the reputation of being painful, but the tooth crown procedure itself is no more painful than having a filling placed. Below are some tips on what you should know before the procedure.
- Don’t assume to be healed if your pain goes away:
Root canals are all about infected teeth which are composed of nerves and blood vessels and can be painful. But do not assume your tooth has healed, if this pain goes away. It can be an infection progresses, the pulp begins to die or pain often disappears. But some other symptoms such as oozing pus or facial swelling will occur as the infection travels to the roots. So, you should not delay treatment based on symptoms.
- Antibiotics are not an alternative treatment:
The antibiotics will help your condition because the medicine treats bacterial infections, but antibiotics only work by reaching the site of infection through your blood. Bacteria that cause pulp infections are present within the root canal system, antibiotics can’t get where they need to go to work. If the infection of the root canal increases it will weaken the bone and break it down.
- You should protect your tooth:
A dentist that specializes in dental pulp health, perform the procedure, and a dentist will often place a temporary filling in the tooth. So, the dentist will restore your tooth with a permanent filling or crown at another appointment. It is vital to protect your tooth because it is susceptible to fracture before it is fully restored. You should avoid chewing or biting with it and also ask your dentist how to protect it.
- Your tooth is not invincible:
The root canal does not guard your tooth against cavities and gum disease, but the tooth should last a long time if you care for it properly. Visit your dentist regularly, brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes.
- It may protect your smile:
A root canal is only an alternative to removing the tooth if the soft tissue of your tooth is infected. Pulling one tooth will cause different teeth to shift, changing your bite and your smile.
- You may be a sore afterward:
You may be a little sore or sensitive for a few days afterward, although the procedure itself shouldn’t be painful. Whether prescription medication or over the counter medication is right for you, ask your dentist.
- The procedure should not be painful with anesthesia:
Most individuals think of pain when they consider having a root canal, but the procedure is designed to alleviate pain, not cause it. You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding area before the root canal. Talk with your dentist if you are concerned about pain.