Avoid any kind of alcohol or tobacco for at least 24 hours before the root canal to prepare your gums for the local anesthetic. Get a full night of sleep the evening before the procedure. Take an anti-inflammatory painkiller before you arrive at the endodontist's office.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco for a full 24 hours before the procedure. During the procedure, the dentist will inject the gums with a local anesthetic, and it may have an adverse reaction to tobacco and alcohol.
We recommend taking your usual medications and eating whatever you normally would prior to having a root canal. After the procedure, you will be numb, just as if you had a filling done, and won't want to eat for a while. It's best to wait for the numbness to go away before eating to avoid biting your tongue.
Preparing for your root canal
You don't need to do much to prepare for a root canal procedure. Depending on the type of sedation you're having, you might need to avoid eating just before your appointment, and you might need someone to drive you home. Let us know about any medications you're taking prior to your exam.
In most cases, patients require only a few days to recover from a root canal procedure. After the procedure, the patient may feel some irritation or soreness for the first 24 to 48 hours. To manage this pain and soreness, your dentist will prescribe over-the-counter pain medication.
How long does a root canal take? Depending on the amount of infection in your tooth, root canal therapy may require one or two appointments. On average, a root canal takes about 30 to 60 minutes to complete. If you are having treatment on a larger tooth with multiple roots, it can take up to an hour and a half.
Patients should plan to rest the day of their root canal procedure, and most can return to work the very next day. Our bodies need proper healing time, and this time can vary between patients. In most cases we recommend patients can return to work the day after their root canal procedure.
Before having root canal treatment, you'll usually be given a local anaesthetic. This means the procedure should be painless and no more unpleasant than having a filling.
The root canal procedure is completed in two separate visits to ensure that the tooth is thoroughly cleaned out, sealed up, and protected from further damage.
You will remain awake and conscious throughout the root canal but will feel very relaxed. Another common option, conscious oral sedation, is a prescribed sedative pill that you will take before your appointment. It will help you to greatly relax during your procedure.
Going under unconscious sedation for a root canal is unnecessary and will only put your body through more distress. For patients dealing with fear, a severe gag reflex, special needs, dementia, or other complications, we recommend and will provide, nitrous oxide analgesia to help you relax.
As soon as you find out you need a root canal, you need antibiotics right away. Don't delay! It could turn into a life-threatening condition if you don't.
Rinse your mouth with a warm salt solution to help kill bacteria. Soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and press it gently on the symptomatic tooth. Alternate hot and cold compresses on the area of tenderness. Use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)
Because you will be fully numb during treatment, it is unlikely that you will experience pain. The primary sensation most patients feel is pressure as the tooth root cavity is cleaned.
A root canal causes mild pain for a few days. The discomfort is temporary and is manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers and practicing proper oral hygiene. However, if the discomfort lasts over three days, you must see your dentist for advice.
The need for a crown is typically determined by the amount of remaining tooth structure after a root canal. Generally, if more than half of the tooth is gone, a crown is indicated to restore the tooth's structural integrity.
Is the second visit for a root canal painful? Not at all. During this visit, you have just completed a course of antibiotics, and your dentist has removed most of the infection within the tooth structure.
Yes, if you had no sedation for your root canal treatment or only nitrous oxide, you will be able to drive yourself home in most cases. Patients who have conscious oral sedation will need to have someone drive them to and from their appointment.
Keep your head elevated and don't eat right away
To keep this under control and minimise the pain, try to keep your head elevated and avoid lying down as much as possible. It's also worth adding another pillow so that your head's a little elevated while you sleep for the first few days.
Will Medicare cover your dental needs? The short answer is no. When it comes to most dental care and procedures, Medicare offers no coverage. That includes cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, and dentures, among other things.
Three to five days after your procedure, the pain should be gone. General discomfort around the tooth may last a few weeks and be most obvious when flossing, brushing, or eating. In limited cases patients may experience persistent post-operative discomfort.
One thing that bothers many patients is the need to keep their mouths open for an hour or so while the root canal is being done. Toward the end of the procedure, it's imperative that no saliva enters the tooth, but during the beginning and middle stages, you can take a break if you need to.