What Are the Precautions for a Root Canal Treatment?
An infected pulp can cause pain, swelling and make it hard for you to carry out daily activities. But, more than that, the bacterial infection can spread to the surrounding tissues and cause the teeth to decay, leading to other dental problems. The dentist can recommend root canal treatment to remove the infected pulp and prevent complications.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal treatment removes the affected pulp and saves the teeth from extraction. Understanding the pulp helps you to know why the root canal is important. Inside the tooth, there is an inner layer called the pulp chamber. The pulp chamber contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues that nourish the teeth during development. The pulp can get infected due to poor oral hygiene or repeated dental procedures.
This causes severe pain when chewing, pimples on the gums, lingering sensitivity, swollen or tender gums.
How is Endodontic Treatment Done?
Our endodontist in Breckenridge, CO, begins the process with a comprehensive examination and takes you through the treatment steps. He will numb the gums and place a dental dam over the area to keep them dry during the procedure.
He will open the crown using small instruments, remove the chamber, clean the area and shape the canal for a filling. The cavity is covered with a biocompatible material—gutta-percha and cement to seal the area. A temporary filling is then used to close the opening and protect it.
On the follow-up visit, the root canal specialist will fix a crown or other restoration on the teeth so you can have fully restored teeth. At times a post is placed to hold the crowns if the tooth lacks sufficient structure.
What Happens After the Root Canal Procedure?
You may experience sensitivity, swelling, inflammation, and soreness for the first few days after the root canal procedure. Some people may experience an uneven bite or an allergic reaction to the medication given. It is important to follow the endodontist’s instructions to ease the discomfort and reduce swelling.
These symptoms will clear with time, but contact the dentist if you experience:
- Severe pain and pressure lasting for a few days
- Swelling on the inside of the mouth
- Allergic reaction
- The temporary filling or crown is out of balance
What is the Root Canal Aftercare Instructions?
Following the instructions given can help you recover faster; some of the tips include:
- Avoid chewing immediately after the procedure because the gums are still numb, and you risk injuring your cheek or tongue.
- Maintain proper oral hygiene to keep the area clean and avoid infection
- Use ice packs on the first day after a root canal to ease pain and prevent swelling.
- Elevate your head when lying down to stop blood from accumulating in the affected area
- Eat soft foods for the first few days after the endodontic treatment to avoid irritating the gums.
- Stay away from hard, crunchy, hot, and spicy foods that can affect the gums and slow down the healing process.
- Visit our dentist for routine checkups and cleanings to keep the teeth and gums healthy.
What Happens if You Fail to Get a Root Canal?
The pulp infection will spread to the nearby tissues and cause the tooth to decay. This may lead to tooth extraction to protect the rest of the teeth. Tooth removal leads to gaps between the gums and can cause the supporting bone to deteriorate, leading to other dental issues. Additionally, you will need to get other expensive teeth replacement treatments to restore the teeth.
Are There Root Canal Complications?
The endodontic procedure has a high success rate, but a few complications may occur after the procedures. The common problem is reinfection which occurs if you have multiple root canals that go unnoticed. You may also experience reinfection if the dental fillings fail or crack.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Breckenridge Dental Group for more information about root canals and what precautions to take after the procedure.