Root Canal 101: Questions, Procedure, and Recovery Tips You Need to Know
In the US alone, over 15 million root canal procedures are done yearly—that’s 41,000 root canal procedures every day. It is safe to say that this is one of the most common dental procedures done by orthodontists to help relieve a patient from dental pain. Root canal procedures are also known to be among the safest dental methods with a success rate of 97 percent.
You are probably reading this article because your orthodontist recommends that you get a root canal procedure, or you might know someone who is about to get one. Here’s a root canal crash course for you to ease your worries and give you an overview of its diagnosis, procedures, and some treatments:
What is a root canal?
When you cut open a tooth, underneath the enamel, you will find a soft tissue called the pulp. When you have poor dental hygiene, you have high risks of getting tooth decay that can affect the pulp inside your teeth. Tooth decay causes infection and inflammation of the pulp, which gives you excruciating dental pain. A root canal procedure is what your orthodontist has to perform to relieve your pain and save your tooth.
Why do I need to get a root canal?
Root canal procedures don’t only relieve pain, but they save you from severe dental issues. When you get the procedure, you prevent the infection from reaching your nerves and stopping the increase of tooth decay or deep cavities. That limits more dental operations in the future and relieves you from tooth pain.
What happens during a root canal?
A root canal is an invasive procedure that your orthodontist should do carefully to avoid additional pain. Before beginning the process, your orthodontist will numb the area of the affected tooth. Once it’s numb, your orthodontist will create an opening on the crown of your tooth. This way, access to the infected pulp will be easier. Your orthodontist will then remove the destroyed tissues and clean the canal. After disinfecting the area, the canal will be filled with a biocompatible material, which will serve as a temporary filling for your tooth.
Many people avoid root canal procedures because it is known to be painful. Though this may be true many years ago, dental professionals have been developing ways to make this procedure more comfortable for patients. Still, if a root canal procedure is something you don’t want to do, you can opt to have the infected tooth extracted.
What’s the best way to recover from root canal procedures?
After your procedure, you may notice tenderness and moderate discomfort when you move your mouth, bite, or chew. That is extremely normal and should only last for a few days to a week at most. To prevent discomfort, your orthodontist may recommend over-the-counter medication to relieve you from any pain.
To avoid getting further infections while you recover, you should gargle warm salt water. This way, you are also cleaning the infected area and eliminating possible bacteria that surround it.
Another tip is not to let your body go through strenuous activities that may cause inflammation. When your orthodontist says to recover, you should spend a few days at home and rest. This recovery period is the perfect time for you to binge-watch your favorite TV shows, eat ice cream, and apply a cold compress.
Conclusion
At present, root canals are hardly uncomfortable because of the profound changes and improvements many orthodontists have made. It’s always best to speak to a dental professional right away when you feel discomfort and pain. You can prevent teeth infections and diseases with proper dental hygiene and effective treatments. These tips and facts should help you get ready for your root canal procedure. It would help if you loaded up on ice cream tubs and pain relievers. This mild discomfort will give you excellent dental rewards in the future.
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