Blog

What to Expect During a Root Canal Treatment

Posted by Dr. Julie Boudreault On 19-09-2022

Root canal treatment often gets a bad reputation due to misconceptions about the treatment from inaccurate blogs and people uneducated on the subject. However, proper information on what to expect during and after the procedure helps you prepare for the treatment.

Suppose you have not scheduled a root canal therapy but have symptoms of a root canal infection. We provide root canal treatment to patients across Milton at Milltown Dental with safe, high-quality materials that cleanse your teeth of infection and preserve the life of your teeth. 

If you have scheduled a root canal treatment or know someone who has, we have put this article together to guide you through the procedure. Keep reading to get adequate information on the subject, so nothing surprises you and your anxiety is dispelled.

What is root canal therapy?

The treatment of an infection in a tooth's pulp without removing the tooth itself is known as root canal therapy. Root canal therapy exists to retain the life of a tooth by clearing out all infected tissues and nerves in the root of your teeth.

Removing these infected nerves and tissues poses no threat to the health of your teeth but choosing to keep them in will. Patients often want the option of complete tooth extraction. Still, aside from the fact that doing such is like amputating your arm because of a slight cut, tooth extraction may result in other complications.

What does a root canal treatment involve?

A root canal procedure involves all the activities carried out by your dentists and you from your first dental appointment, the root canal therapy, and the recovery process until your teeth are wholly restored.

During your first appointment, your dentist will properly examine your tooth to see if you have a root canal infection. Suppose you suffer from a root canal infection; in that case, you may decide to remove the teeth or have root canal therapy.

If you decide to have root canal therapy, your dentist will first administer local anesthesia to numb the tooth and ensure a painless operation, after which a dental dam is placed around the tooth to keep it dry. If you experienced pain before the procedure, you might still feel some tenderness, and this pain is not at all from the procedure but from the infection itself. 

The next part of this procedure is the actual removal of the infection. Your dentist will drill a hole at the top of the teeth to reach the infected root. The dead or damaged tissues and nerves are scooped out using a file, and your dentist cleans the tooth thoroughly.

Finally, your dentist fills the holes with a temporary filling and places a dental prosthetic on top of the operated tooth.

Root canal therapy is safe and straightforward, so you do not need to worry about complications during this procedure as your dentist has your interest at heart. However, if you encounter complications, you should return to your dentist for another examination.

A concern some patients have about root canal therapy is cost. Your medical insurance usually covers root canal therapy, but you should always make sure to cross-check what your coverage is. Root canal treatments usually cost between $500 to $3000, depending on your location and the severity of your case.

The best treatment for a root canal infection is root canal therapy. Just make sure to bring some headphones as you go for your appointment as the procedure may take a while, and you may be bored. Headphones will offer a little distraction as your dentist does their job.

What is the recovery process?

Just like root canal therapy, the recovery process is also straightforward. However, to ensure a seamless recovery, here are some things you should know and some things you should avoid. 

1. After a root canal therapy, you may experience tenderness along the affected areas for a few days, but this is normal and not a cause for alarm. Even though you did not feel the pain coming in for the appointment and you feel pain after, the pain is still normal. Your dentist may prescribe pain-killing medicine to reduce the pain you feel.
2. To further reduce pain and swelling, put a teaspoon of salt in warm water, rinse, swish and spit it out three times daily.
3. You have to avoid eating sticky or hard foods like gum, ice, or hard candy, as they could damage the crown placed on your tooth.
4. You should avoid eating anything on the side of the treated tooth for a few days to prevent further damage to the tooth.
5. You must continue brushing and flossing as usual to prevent plaque buildup. Bacteria buildup in the teeth causes infections, so endeavour to clean your teeth properly.
6. If your dentist prescribes any antibiotic to you, you should continue to take them over the specified length of days even if all pain and swelling recede.

If you follow these instructions strictly, you will avoid complications arising after root canal therapy. Note that it is normal for your crowns to crack a little as you use them, but if it is a source of concern to you, you should see your dentist to get them replaced.

Should you get a root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is the best way to solve the jaw problems that come with root canal infection. It is also a better option in this case compared to teeth extraction, as a tooth extraction may cause other teeth to become misshapen.

If you have been experiencing pain in your jaw or swelling accompanied by pus in your mouth, you might need root canal treatment. At Milltown dental, we have a team of qualified and knowledgeable dentists that will ensure you have a seamless procedure and experience full recovery.

We believe that if you have a root canal infection, the best approach is to remove the infection to curb the spread and relieve discomfort. Therefore, if you are considering root canal treatment in Milltown, do not hesitate to call us.

Call Milltown dental at 833-318-3281 to learn about root canal treatment or schedule an appointment. You can also contact us here.

4 Comments

Share Us On