Root canal procedure is mostly given to patients who experienced an extensive damage to their teeth. Usually the damage has reached the tooth’s pulp thus causing pain and swelling around the affected tooth. Instead of extracting the tooth, the dentist would try to salvage it by performing a root canal procedure.
During the process, the tooth is drilled in order to access the tooth’s pulp and remove the infected pulp tissues. The hole created may be temporarily or permanently sealed on the initial visit based on the dentist’s clinical decision.
In order to ensure the success of the procedure, it is very important to follow the root canal after care instructions your dentist will give you. Here are some of the instructions you need to follow:
- Watch out for complications such as: excessive bleeding, swelling of the gums around the treated tooth and prolonged pain or pain not alleviated by medications. Immediately report these complications to your dentist. A temporary filling that has loosen and fallen out should also warrant an immediate action.
- Take your medicines on time and on a full stomach. First dose of pain medications should be taken before leaving the dental clinic. This is done to prevent the occurrence of pain once the effect of the anesthesia wears off. Succeeding doses of the pain medication should be taken as per dentist instructions. If you are given antibiotics, never miss taking them to achieve the goal of the drug.
- Post root canal procedure, it is advised that you should not use the treated tooth in chewing foods. Wait for a few weeks before using the affected tooth to prevent the filling or crown from breaking.