Root Canal Aftercare and Recovery

Has a root canal been recommended for you as a means to repair a damaged, diseased or decayed tooth? If you will be having this procedure for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions. While most dentists explain the procedure quite thoroughly as they are outlining the need for it, those explanations are often light on details about what patients can expect afterwards. Here we’ll go over the basic details of root canal aftercare and recovery to help ensure that you have the information you need to prepare for a successful, comfortable recovery period.

Illustration showing a root canal procedure

After Your Root Canal

You can expect to feel the effects of the local anesthesia that was used during your root canal for about two hours after your procedure. That means that your mouth will be quite numb. To avoid the risk of serious injury, you should not chew or drink hot or cold liquids until that numbness has faded away and feeling is restored.

When your anesthesia does wear off, you can expect to feel some tenderness in the area of your root canal for a few days. Your jaw may be a little sore as well, due to the extended period it will be open during the procedure. In some cases, there may be mild swelling or bruising around the treatment area. These discomforts are generally mild, easily addressed with over-the-counter pain relievers or mild medications prescribed by your dentist, and typically resolve within a week or less. An antibiotic medication may be prescribed to treat or prevent infection in the treatment area. It is very important to take all prescribed medications – but especially antibiotics – exactly as directed to avoid complications and ensure a comfortable recovery.

Lastly, it is very important that you practice good oral hygiene during your recovery period to help ensure the success of your root canal, and that you do not chew on the treated tooth. Generally, the tooth will be fitted with a temporary filling or crown during your procedure, and placing stress on that tooth should be avoided until a permanent restoration is securely in place.

Situations That Warrant Concern – And A Call To Your Dentist

While root canal treatment is very safe and effective, as with any procedure, there is some risk of developing complications. Signs that may indicate the development of infection – the most common potential complication – include increased pain or tenderness, swelling, bleeding from the gums around the treatment area and/or bad breath or a foul taste in the mouth. Other issues that warrant a call to your dentist include the loss of a temporary filling or crown, or symptoms that indicate an allergic reaction to medications, such as a rash, hives or itching. Again, complications are rare, but knowing – and watching for – signs of trouble is an important aspect of root canal aftercare, helping to ensure a healthy, comfortable recovery.

All-in-all, a root canal procedure and the aftercare and recovery is a fairly straightforward process – despite the common myths and misconceptions about this very common and beneficial means of saving at-risk teeth. It is simple, routine, and, given today’s advanced anesthetics, a comfortable, virtually pain-free procedure. In fact, most patients here at Medgaus Dental Care find that experience is no more painful or complicated than having a cavity filled. So if a root canal has been recommended for you, have it done – repairing that tooth will save you a lot of pain and hassles now and well into the future, since a good root canal and restoration can last a lifetime.

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