Root canals are procedures to eliminate infections inside a tooth. As it is a painful procedure to eradicate severe decay inside the tooth, you can expect some pain after receiving it. However, the pain does not last forever, but it eliminates the pain you experience from the infection. Although you remain reluctant to accept a root canal, you will undoubtedly thank your dentist for suggesting and yourself for receiving this treatment that helps preserve your natural tooth.

What Is a Root Canal?

Root canals are procedures performed by dentists to clean the inside of the inner chamber of the tooth root housing the dental pulp, connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. Root canals are adequate procedures and likely cause discomfort after the procedure. After receiving a root canal, you will experience mild to moderate pain for a few days. However, if the pain does not subside within a few days, you will require additional cleaning of the canals or dental procedures.

Initial Recovery

Earlier root canals caused incredible pain making people avoid the treatment. However, dentists now have excellent pain-relieving medications you use to alleviate pain during and after a root canal. Before starting root canal treatment in Houston, the dentist provides local anesthesia to minimize pain. You may feel some pressure during the cleaning without discomfort. After the local anesthesia wears off will experience mild to moderate discomfort and sensitivity from the cleaning process. During tooth cleaning, the dentist in Houston must make an access hole in the tooth's crown to clean out the infected dental pulp inside the pulp chamber. While the treatment is uncomfortable, the pain and sensitivity following a root canal should subside after a few days. As the pain you experience remains mild to moderate, you will likely need over-the-counter pain relievers to help you manage the discomfort. You can visit the local drugstore for the medications ensuring they will not interact with any supplements or prescriptions you take after the procedure.

When Does One Need a Root Canal?

You will likely never need a root canal if you maintain excellent dental hygiene by brushing twice daily, flossing once, and visiting the dental clinic near you for six monthly exams and cleanings. In addition, you must also ensure you pay attention to your dentist and have any infections or impacts on your mouth treated immediately to prevent bacteria from penetrating the tooth to cause infections within it. You become vulnerable to receiving a root canal when you leave dental infections treated or impacts on your mouth unattended over an extended period to allow deep infections to fester in your tooth and cause excruciating pain, temperature sensitivity to hot and cold, painful chewing and a dental abscess oozing pus besides causing swelling in your face, fever, et cetera. If you refuse a root canal even after experiencing severe symptoms, the infection can spread to your jawbone and your bloodstream, requiring multiple medical treatments from different doctors. You can also lose your natural tooth to extraction to require replacements with artificial solutions. You receive a recommendation from the Houston dentist to have a root canal immediately if you experience the above symptoms to help you prevent unnecessary expenditure and other complications from an infected tooth.

How to Reduce Pain after a Root Canal?

You will not experience pain after a root canal until the anesthesia wears off in about four to six hours. Before the discomfort starts after the initial period, you must begin taking the pain medications the dentist prescribes to help alleviate the pain without confronting challenges. However, it helps if you understand the pain you experience is from the procedure to remove the infection from your tooth, not the bacteria responsible for it. Besides advising you to take the painkillers, the dentist suggests not working or getting involved in strenuous activities to prevent bleeding from the treated tooth and resting for a few days before starting your regular activities. You will notice the pain subsiding 72 hours after receiving a root canal and will not experience the pain you felt earlier from the infection. You must continue having soft foods during your recovery to prevent irritating the treated tooth and clean your mouth as usual. However, remain clear of the treated tooth to avoid dislodging the temporary filling placed by the dentist in your tooth until you get it restored with a dental crown. Root canals are less fearsome than earlier because of modern techniques and anesthesia that help make the treatment comfortable and painless. Therefore if recommended, this treatment to eradicate infections from within your tooth, kindly receive it without hesitation because it helps preserve your natural tooth. The reputation of root canals provided by North Star Dental Center is fearsome, but the treatment itself does not cause pain but eliminates pain in a tooth to help preserve it. If recommended this procedure by the Houston dentist, receive it from them immediately before your condition aggravates.