A guide to what you should expect and what care or precautions you should take during and after Root Canal Treatment (RCT) is done for you:
What You Should Expect
- If you are in a severe pain and you visit your dentist and if he decides to do root canal treatment (RCT) then you might experience a drastic relief from pain within 1 hour of first sitting.
- In most cases root canal treatment (RCT) requires in 2-3 sittings.
- In certain cases where there is no infection present, we may complete root canal treatment (RCT) in a single sitting.
- It is common to experience mild to moderate pain in between the sittings during the period when your root canal treatment (RCT) is going and mild pain can even last for approximately 3 days after completion of root canal treatment (RCT). If the pain persists for more than 3 days, please contact us.
- If your tooth was in pain or there was an abscess associated with that tooth prior to starting root canal treatment (RCT), it will take up to a week or more for the tooth to get back to normal.
- If the procedure was done under local anesthesia, you may feel numbness for 3-4 hours in certain parts of your mouth and face. If numbness persists for more than 12 hours, please contact us.
- If you have visited us with a swelling present on your face and if your dentist decides to do root canal treatment (RCT), you should expect the swelling to go away gradually within 3 days of first sitting for root canal treatment. If the swelling persists for more than 3 days or if it is increasing, please contact us immediately.
- If your tooth was not in pain prior to beginning treatment (likely because the tooth was abscessed and pulp was already non-vital or had a deep cavity that had not begun to hurt), your tooth may be quite sore for a few days after the first sitting for root canal treatment (RCT). This will be alleviated with time and it may take as much as a week or more.
- You may experience facial muscle soreness due to excessive opening of mouth. Contact us and we will determine if you need any medication for the same. Use warm towel pack or hot water bag to apply on area of muscle soreness only after 72 hours.
- Between appointments, a temporary filling is placed in tooth being treated to protect it and also to prevent any food particles or other liquids in mouth going into the root canal.
- It is common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to break off.
- If entire filling comes out, please contact us to know and set up an appointment and have it replaced.
You should contact us to seek help, if you notice any of the following:
– Severe pain that you can’t tolerate.
– Abnormal swelling on face or neck.
– Fever
– Anything that you think that your doctor should know.
What Care Or Precautions You Should Take While Your Root Canal Treatment (RCT) Is Going On
- If anesthesia was given in lower jaw than please avoid eating anything until the anesthesia wears off and the numbness is gone.
- Continue brushing and flossing twice daily from the same day the procedure was performed. Good oral hygiene is a key to success of treatment.
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after every meal.
- Avoid chewing hard food and hard substances from the side on which you have your root canal treatment (RCT) going on until it has been restored with a crown.
- If you have been prescribed any medication, take it regularly according to prescription and do not alter the schedule or duration of medication without consulting your dentist.
What Care Or Precautions You Should Take While Your Tooth Has Been Left Open To Drain The Abscess
- Irrigate your tooth as instructed with warm salt water for five minutes after every meal or snack.
- Avoid blocking the open tooth with food by continuously eating on the opposite side of your mouth.
- Avoid using objects such as tooth picks to remove debris within the tooth.
- Notify us in the event of any significant increase in swelling or severe pain despite of taking medication.
What To Expect And What Care Or Precautions You Should Take After Your Root Canal Treatment (RCT) Is Complete
- After root canal treatment (RCT), the tooth becomes more brittle and prone to fracture so it is necessary to replace temporary filling with permanent final restoration to give strength to the tooth.
- In some cases if the tooth structure is significantly destroyed then a post and core restoration may be required.
- In most cases a crown is advised for better strength, function and aesthetics.
- Avoid chewing hard food and hard substances from the side on which your root canal treatment (RCT) done until it has been restored with a crown.
- If you have been prescribed any medication, take it regularly according to prescription and do not alter the schedule or duration of medication without consulting your dentist.
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