A root canal procedure is a standard oral treatment that can help save damaged or diseased teeth. While you may experience some pain after a root canal, this is to be expected and is only temporary. Getting a root canal procedure is a smart choice if you have one or more infected teeth causing you discomfort.
If you’re worried about root canal pain after seeking root canal therapy, understanding more about the procedure may help alleviate your concerns.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure used to clean out decay in a patient’s infected tooth, specifically in the tooth’s soft pulp and root. A root canal procedure effectively removes the inside of an infected tooth by cleaning out bacteria from the pulp, root, and nerve; disinfecting with antibiotics; and finally, filling and sealing the tooth to prevent reinfection.
Like the standard filling, a root canal is performed under local anaesthetic, and patients experience minimal discomfort. Available Dental Care offers root canal procedures that utilise the latest technology for greater reliability with less risk of complications, including rotary endodontics and the 3D obturation system.
By seeking root canal treatment, you can save your teeth from further decay, potential extraction, and restore your chewing, bite, natural appearance, as well as safeguard your teeth from undue wear and strain.
If you notice you have extra sensitivity or discomfort in your teeth, you may require a root canal. Severe discomfort while eating, intense or lingering sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages, or tender and swollen gums, are all signs that you need a root canal.
Additionally, more apparent damage to the teeth such as chips or cracks, pimples on your gums, or darkening gums are also symptoms of infection or trauma that require a root canal procedure. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see a dentist immediately.
What to Expect After a Root Canal Procedure
Thanks to technological advancements and modern anaesthetics, root canal pain is no more severe than what you are likely to experience when getting a cavity filled.
While moderate discomfort immediately after a root canal is common, especially early on in the recovery process, it’s only temporary. It is more tolerable than what you’d experience if you didn’t seek treatment for your damaged tooth.
If you are seeking root canal therapy, the chances are that you were already in a fair amount of discomfort. By putting off root canal therapy, your tooth pain can worsen and increase the risk of permanently losing the affected tooth.
Like most dental procedures, your chances of experiencing acute pain are most likely to occur after the anaesthetic wears off and during the first few days of your recovery. When it comes to root canal pain, any discomfort you might feel after the procedure is typically due to the cleaning process, in which your dentist must extract decay from sensitive areas inside your tooth. While uncomfortable, this sensitivity around your gums and teeth should dissipate after a few days.
How to Manage Root Canal Pain?
Understanding that the pain after your root canal is not permanent is a helpful reminder while you’re experiencing tenderness and possibly inflamed or swollen gums. To help further manage any discomfort post-procedure, you can take over-the-counter medications or those prescribed by your dentist. Ensure you follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions to ensure a speedy recovery and healing.
To relieve discomfort and swelling after your root canal therapy, you can apply a cold pack to the side of your face intermittently for 5-10 minutes at a time. You should also avoid eating hard, crunchy, or otherwise chewy foods. By sticking to soft foods and chewing on the opposite side of the affected area, you can eliminate pressure on the affected teeth and decrease your discomfort.
If you are experiencing lingering pain or swelling more than a few days after your treatment, you should follow up with your dentist. You may need another session to remove the infection fully. A root canal retreatment addresses difficult to treat infections or obstruction in front of a missed canal in the initial treatment.
Get Your Root Canal Pain Treated Today
If you are experiencing sensitivity or discomfort in your teeth, you may require root canal therapy. At Available Dental Care, we use state-of-the-art technology to provide effective and minimally invasive root canals.
If you think you may need a root canal or are dealing with discomfort after a root canal, book an appointment with us.
Disclaimer: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.