Root canal therapy is a dental procedure in endodontic dentistry done to save a tooth by treating the insides. Our dental team at Family Dental Care recommends root canal procedures to patients whose damaged teeth are not too structurally compromised to be salvaged.
What Does a Root Canal Treatment Entail?
The process of root canal treatment entails accessing the internal layers of teeth, typically through the crown. A dentist starts by drilling the tooth to create an access hole, exposing the internal layers. With the primary focus being the root canal and pulp, the dentist will clean out the tooth. The cleaning process helps rid the tooth of all bacteria while removing the damaged soft tissues, including nerve endings. Once cleaned, the dentist will shape and fill the tooth accordingly, sealing out any room for re-entry of bacteria.
8 Useful Tips to Prepare for A Root Canal Treatment
Instead of allowing anxiety to build up inside as you await your dental procedure, it should be the perfect time for you to learn a thing or two about what to expect and start preparing accordingly. Some tips to help you are:
- Ask questions – whether you think you are nervous or not, you need to ask all the questions you have. A dental consultation is meant for that purpose. By asking questions, you can learn a lot about what to expect from your procedure. Better yet, get a clear perspective about what is and is not a misconception or myth regarding root canal procedures.
- Do not consume alcohol – alcohol deteriorates your oral health, whether you are scheduled for dental treatment or not. When undergoing any intricate dental procedure, your dentist will recommend avoiding alcohol usage for about a week or longer in preparation for your treatment. You may continue to withhold yourself from taking alcohol a week or two after your treatment to allow ample time for your mouth to heal.
- Avoid smoking – tobacco usage will work against your treatment, before and after. As you prepare for a root canal procedure, you must stop smoking for at least two weeks before the day of your procedure. Afterward, your dentist will recommend avoiding smoking and all tobacco usages for the first one or two weeks. For excellent oral health, however, it would be best to quit smoking altogether.
- Eat a few hours before the procedure – once the dental works begin, you will not be able to eat for a couple of hours during and after your procedure. Besides, the numbing of your mouth necessary for observing a painless root canal procedure will limit you from eating anything you want, lest you accidentally bite or hurt your tongue or gums. Further, where sedation is employed, you should not have a full stomach, which is why you should eat a couple of hours before your procedure.
- Get a good night’s rest both before and after your RCT – resting allows your body to concentrate on necessary processes in your body. Before your treatment, resting will ensure you remain calm and relaxed throughout the dental protocols for your treatment. Afterward, resting will help your body focus on speedy healing and recovery.
- Take painkillers before the procedure – although it may not look like a logical move, it is not something dental experts advise against doing. Taking pain medication soon before your procedure is one great way to mitigate any discomfort that may occur during your treatment. It may also be helpful after your procedure, more so when the numbing effect wears off.
- Talk to the dentist about antibiotics – your root canal specialist in Chicago should walk you through the kind of medication you should be taking before or after your procedure. Antibiotics are necessary for fighting infections in the body. As your mouth heals from your RCT, antibiotics will ensure that you don’t have an infection at the site. It will be much more necessary for endodontic procedures like apicoectomy that leave a wound on your gum tissue.
- Prepare your ice packs – do this the night before your procedure. The ice packs will be helpful for cold compressing, which plays a big role in reducing swelling and soreness in your treated tooth.
