How Do You Reduce Swelling After A Root Canal?
What Is a Root Canal?
It is an endodontic procedure that treats and restores damaged teeth. Root canal treatments entail removing the inner parts of a tooth to rid it of infection. Usually, teeth need a root canal due to severe dental pain resulting from an inflamed pulp. The inflammation causes various other symptoms like:
- Abscessed tooth
- Increased tooth sensitivity – especially to hot and cold foods.
- Swollen and tender gums
- Pimples or bumps on the gums
- Tooth discoloration – may begin to form a cavity.
- Throbbing sharp jaw and gum pain when you chew or apply any slight pressure on your mouth
What to Expect During Root Canal Procedure?
A root canal procedure at Pondside Dental Associates entails a drilling process. The dentist drills your tooth to access the inner layers of teeth. After drilling, (s)he begins to clean the tooth’s canal. The dentist is more intent to clean the pulp cavity, the innermost layer of a tooth. It houses all the soft tissues, including blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerve endings. Cleanings entail removing all the damaged tissues and the bacteria damaging the tooth.
After cleaning, the dentist will begin the restoration process to restore the tooth’s health. The initial step entails reshaping the canal before filling it with a special material called gutta-percha. It helps keep the tooth structure compact. After that, the dentist will place a dental filling to seal the tooth, preventing the re-entry of bacteria. The dentist will use a dental filling of choice.
Although it is not a mandatory step, sometimes dentists recommend crowning the tooth after placing a dental fillings near you. Therefore, your dentist may recommend getting a dental crown after root canal therapy in Jamaica Plain. The role of the crown is to hold the tooth filling in place, strengthen the tooth, and restore its optimal functionality.
Will It Be Painful?
Typically, root canals near you is an invasive procedure. Therefore, you should experience some pain and discomfort during the treatment. Besides, your tooth may already be in pain when you come in for the treatment. Fortunately, dentists counter this problem by incorporating local anesthesia. Before any dental work for the root canal procedure begins, the dentist will numb your mouth with local anesthesia. It will make the procedure painless.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
Typically, many people recover from root canal procedures after a few days. However, some patients take a bit longer, using up between one and two weeks to fully recover. It depends on various factors, including how well you care for your mouth post-treatment.
What Happens During Recovery?
The recovery period after root canal therapy in Jamaica Plain begins immediately after your treatment. Ideally, you should not experience any pain after a root canal treatment. Instead, you can feel some discomfort, typically accompanied by some of the following signs:
- Heightened tooth sensitivity
- Tender and reddened gums due to the endodontic dental work
- An uneven bite – this feeling usually lasts only the first day after treatment. If you continue to feel like your bite is uneven, call a dentist near you immediately.
- Visible swelling around the tooth and on the inside and outside of the mouth. The inflammation may spread to other parts of your mouth.
How Can You Overcome Swelling After Treatment?
There is nothing wrong with experiencing some swelling after an endodontic procedure. However, it can make it quite uncomfortable to use your mouth optimally. Therefore, a dentist near you will recommend the following tips to alleviate swelling:
- Take anti-inflammatory medication – your dentist will recommend over-the-counter medicine post the root canal therapy near you. The medicine alleviates pain and swelling, particularly during the first few days after treatment.
- Cold compress – apply an ice bag over your cheek on the side of the treated tooth. The low temperatures will constrict the blood vessels in that area, reducing the swelling.
- Keep your head elevated – elevation disallows blood pooling in the head, aggravating bleeding, pain, and swelling.
- Eat soft foods – besides heightening pain levels, hard and crunchy foods can worsen the inflammation.
- Avoid smoking or alcohol – they slow the healing process and increase inflammation.