How to Have an Effective Recovery from Root Canal

There are many misconceptions about root canals, causing many people to fear the procedure. Though a serious dental procedure, it's a relatively painless routine treatment aimed at saving the affected tooth.

At Solay Dental in Oldsmar, New Port Richey, and Brandon, Florida, our trained and skilled dentists perform root canals using the latest techniques and tools to minimize pain and shorten recovery time. 

What you do after the procedure is vital to the healing process. Here are some tips on how to have an effective recovery from a root canal.

About your root canal

Before we go into recovery from a root canal, we want to explain a little more about the procedure. Despite what you may hear, a root canal isn’t a painful or lengthy procedure. The goal of a root canal is to save your tooth and we do everything possible to keep you comfortable.

We apply numbing cream to the gum before injecting a local anesthetic near the tooth we treat. Once numb, we drill through the cusp of the tooth to access the tooth pulp, which contains the blood vessels and nerves for the tooth. 

We remove the pulp, clean and disinfect the area, and pack the empty tooth chamber with a special dental material. Then, we cover the drill hole with a temporary filling and take impressions of the tooth for the permanent crown.

Once the crown is ready, you return to the office, remove the filling, and cover the tooth with the crown.

Both appointments take about 90 minutes each.

What to expect after

Your mouth remains numb up to four hours following the initial procedure, but you can resume your usual activities right away. However, you can’t eat until the feeling returns.

Some soreness is normal after the anesthesia wears off. We recommend over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication to ease discomfort. You may also have some oral sensitivity. 

The pain and sensitivity resolve within a few days. If the pain continues or worsens, come to the office so we can see what's going on and fix it.

At-home care for root canal

At-home care is an important part of the recovery process from a root canal. Eat soft foods the first few days and gradually add harder foods as tolerated. 

Avoid chewing on the treated tooth to minimize complications. The filling we use to seal the tooth isn’t as strong as the permanent crown and eating hard or sticky foods may cause it to loosen or fall out. Be gentle when brushing and flossing around the tooth too.

We may prescribe an antiseptic mouthwash  to reduce risk of infection.

Root canals are a restorative dental procedure for deep cavities and cracked or broken teeth. Dentures, bridges, and dental implants are suitable fixes for missing teeth, but nothing beats your real teeth. We'd much rather save your tooth than extract it. 

Don’t let root canal misconceptions keep you from visiting the dentist. Call us at 727-516-9900 today to schedule an appointment at our Oldsmar, New Port Richey, or Brandon, Florida, office, or book online. We offer gentle dental care, customizing plans for individual needs.