During your treatment
At first, our endodontists will conduct a detailed dental examination and discuss with you what to expect. In some cases, the treatment will be done within the same visit.
During root canal therapy, our endodontist will administer local anesthesia and remove the injured or diseased pulp from the root canal system. After that, the area is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. The whole procedure might involve one or more visits depending on the requirement of the treatment. You can soon return to your normal routine after treatment.
In some rare cases, it looks like your tooth is not amenable to root canal treatment, or the chance of success is unfavorable. In any such situation, our endodontists will inform you about it at the time of consultation or when a complication occurs during or after treatment.
Home care instructions
After the completion of treatment, we will send you home with a number of care instructions.
A few hours or days after root canal therapy, you need to be cautious about protecting the affected area and monitor any changes you may have, like swelling, bleeding, and fever.
If you haven't gotten a restoration over the tooth, then you should not chew or bite with the treated area. Please contact your general dentist to schedule an appointment to get your restoration placed within a few weeks after root canal treatment. We will forward a report of treatment to your general dentist, do let us know when you go for a visit. You also need to practice good oral hygiene habits like brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings.
Discomfort after treatment
Your tooth and surrounding gum tissue might feel a bit tender for several days after the treatment. This tenderness is quite normal. But you also need to consider some of the following steps:
- Do not chew food with the treated area until the endodontic treatment is completed or the affected tooth is covered with a restoration by your general dentist.
- Maintain your oral health with your regular dental hygiene habits.
- Discomfort may be alleviated by taking medications like ibuprofen (Advil®), aspirin, or acetaminophen (Tylenol®) as directed by the endodontist. Alcohol consumption is strictly not advised while taking any of these medications.
- If you still experience discomfort, pain, or swelling develop, then contact us as soon as possible.