Managing Pain After Root Canal Treatment Depending on the severity, it does take some time for the swelling to dissipate and for the soft tissue to fully heal. You can take over-the-counter pain relief medications to reduce any discomfort. Your dentist may also prescribe a stronger pain reliever and antibiotics.
Typical pain or discomfort following a root canal is most often described as mild soreness. If you experience severe pain or if your discomfort lasts longer than 3 days, contact your dentist. Severe and persistent pain could indicate a postoperative infection that may need to be addressed with an antibiotic.
The trauma of the fibers/ligaments being stretched can also be very painful and will need some time to heal during your root canal recovery. Ibuprofen, either over the counter or a stronger dosage prescribed by your dentist, has an anti-inflammatory action that will provide relief during the healing period.
Ice Pack or Cold Compress. Cooling the site of your procedure will help to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. A reusable sports ice pack is ideal, but a cold washcloth or a bag of ice will also do the trick. Just hold it to your cheek for 5 minutes at a time, with a 10 to 15-minute break in between rounds.
Post treatment care
Take any pain medications as recommended by your dentist or endodontist. Over-the-counter pain medications are usually adequate, but your dentist may prescribe a stronger prescription medication if deemed necessary.
The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterward, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.
The duration of root canal pain varies among individuals. It depends largely on the complexity of the procedure and the individual's overall health. At best, root canal pain after 3 days will lessen, but on average, it can last anywhere from a few days to about a week.
If the pain you're feeling is so severe that you can't go about your normal life, you should definitely contact your dentist. Sometimes, complications can develop after a root canal. You might be feeling extreme pain because the treatment didn't fully remove the bacteria or source of the infection.
Serious Or Prolonged Pain 1-2 Weeks After Treatment Is Not Normal. If you have severe, sharp pain, or pain that's still very intense up to 1-2 weeks after your treatment, this is not normal at all, and it indicates that your root canal has failed, and the infection is still present in the tooth.
It means that you need a dental crown to hold your tooth together. This will be determined during your first dental visit, allowing your dentist to create your dental crown installed on the second visit. To observe the success of the root canal procedure, dental experts take dental x-rays of the treated tooth.
In most cases, simple root canals require just one appointment lasting between 30 minutes to just over an hour. However, severe cases may demand 90 minutes or more, or even a second appointment if the dentist or endodontist recommends a permanent filling or crown for the tooth.
Swelling is normal following surgery and cold compresses will help minimize it. Swelling may increase 48-72 hours before diminishing. Swelling may be worse in the morning and usually subsides as the day continues. Slight bleeding or oozing may discolor saliva up to 24 hours after surgery.
Painful root canals are actually a myth. Even if anesthesia is not used, you shouldn't feel any pain during your root canal treatment. To be on the safe side, the dental professionals at Locust Family Dentistry use anesthesia to numb the tooth and avoid the slightest possibility of pain.
Root canals are considered to be the most painful because they require removing the nerve tissue on a tooth's root. The removal of the nerve tissue is not only excruciatingly painful but also commonly leads to infection.
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.
Peak inflammation after root canal treatment occurs in the following 48-72 hours if a dentist does not treat the pain by reducing the occlusion (the way your upper and lower teeth fit together). Inflammation can cause post-operative pain that hurts right away, peaks, then improves.
Can I Brush My Teeth After a Root Canal? The short answer is yes! It's very rare that any dentist will instruct you to not brush your teeth after a dental procedure. Once the numbing medication has completely worn off, you are free to brush your teeth as you normally would.
Don't have hard or crunchy foods after the root canal: Even if you have resumed your normal life, try to avoid crunchy or hard foods. As mentioned above, the root canal site is still recovering and will take some time. So, unless your dentist permits, avoid these foods for some time.
Eating Guidelines After a Root Canal
You can eat 30 to 45 minutes after a root canal, which is enough time to allow your temporary filling to fully harden, but it's generally recommended that patients wait to eat until after the anesthetic has worn off to prevent you from biting your cheek or tongue.
Even after months or years, you might experience signs of failed root canal. This could be heightened tooth sensitivity or occasional pain. Some of these symptoms are similar to those that lead to the emergency root canal in the first place.
People believe a root canal is a painful process. This is the biggest myth ever. Generally, we use anaesthetic in a root canal procedure, even in cases where the tooth is dead.
Avoid Drinking Through a Straw
Proper hydration can keep harmful bacteria away from the treated tooth, help you heal faster, and keep your energy up. However, you need to be careful and avoid straws as these can induce bleeding. Aside from bleeding, it can also expose your tooth to infection.
If your dentist recommends a dental crown, you should get it placed as soon as the inflammation and discomfort from the infected root canal subsides. This is typically about a week after the root canal treatment. Most dentists recommend you get your dental crown placed within 30 days of your root canal treatment.
In reality, the most painful part of a root canal is the pain you are experiencing before the procedure is performed. Here's the list of the most common questions about root canals and the topics we'll be covering in this blog post.
While root canals are indeed a serious dental procedure, and it is normal to feel some pain after the operation, it is normally not as drastic or terrible as you may think. The procedure does irritate surrounding nerves and gums, but modern dental health care improvements have made it much more tolerable.