What to Expect for Root Canal

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Many of us dread hearing the word root canal. Many wonder what to expect for root canal treatment. When you think of the procedure to correct a root canal, pain may come to mind. However, though a certain level of discomfort is expected, excessive pain is not normal.

Lucky for us, modern technology now allows us to save our natural tooth while going through the procedure in a typically pain-free and easy manner. The use of anesthetics makes this procedure of root canals a lot more safe and quick. 

However, to avoid letting the tooth get to an extreme, it is advised to seek professional help in the event of a toothache. Also, stay on top of your check-ups and teeth cleanings. At Dental One Care, we recommend a check-up before an infection has spread throughout the root system. 

Fast facts on pain after a root canal:

  • Our tooth is preserved while only the diseased tissue is treated 
  • Prior to the procedure, an anesthetic is given to the patient. Therefore, the pain is decreased to levels equivalent to that of a basic filling.
  • In the case of failure, redoing a root canal can help in fixing the problem 

How much pain is normal?

A slight feeling of tenderness or sensitivity is expected for a few days. The reasons for this are:

  • Tissues around your gums remain swollen and inflamed. Although the nerve root may have been removed, there may still be small nerves in ligaments that surround the tooth.
  • Dental instruments may have irritated the area surrounding the tooth, which will cause some tenderness. 
  • The tooth can experience pain and soreness if the case of a filling is too high or even slightly higher than the surrounding teeth.  

In most scenarios, the sensitivity and possible discomfort that you may experience from the root canal is expected to go away in a week or two at most. 

If you are experiencing persisting pain and extreme levels of discomfort, it is important to contact us immediately, and Dr. Fadi Farhart will meet with you as soon as possible.  

The reason why pain may still persist could be due to some of the following reasons:

  • A leakage in the restoration 
  • Unhygienic dental conditions and poor oral health 
  • Tooth cracking or breaking down 
  • The existence of an extra canal that goes unnoticed by the endodontist 
  • Error made by the dentist or endodontist 

Managing root canal pain at home 

We asked our friend, Dr. Kristina Neda, a dentist in Georgetown, Kentucky, about managing root canal pain at home. Dr. Neda suggests using over the counter prescription for pain management can be sufficient for relieving discomfort after the procedure. Also, don’t forget to practice good oral hygiene by flossing and brushing regularly.

How is a root canal performed?

First, an endodontist takes an X-ray of the tooth before the procedure. Next, a local anesthetic is given to numb the gum area where an opening is made to access the structure inside. A rubber-like substance is used to fill the root canal, called gutta-percha, which is then sealed within the tooth. Then, a temporary filling is placed to protect the insides during the healing process.

How Long Do Root Canals Last?

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How Long Will A Root Canal Last?

Your teeth may seem hard and tough, but the truth is that inside, these have living tissues. These tissues include nerves and blood vessels. Now, when these tissues inside your teeth become infected or inflamed, you will need to have these removed through a procedure known as endodontic treatment, more popularly known as root canal treatment.

The goal of this procedure is to remove the dead tissues inside the affected tooth. This will help prevent the spread of the infection to the surrounding teeth.

During a root canal procedure the dead tissues are removed and the root canals are then cleaned, disinfected, and shaped. The affected tooth is then sealed to prevent it from being infected again.

If your Sterling Heights dentist has recommended this procedure, you might be thinking to yourself, how long do root canals last?

The reason many patients ask this question is because they want to know how long the affected tooth will survive once the pulp tissues have been removed.

After undergoing a root canal procedure, the affected tooth remains attached to the bone surrounding it through the periodontal membrane. Quite simply, this means that your tooth can look and function normally despite the removal of the pulp tissues.

Back to the question about the longevity of a tooth after root canal, there is no simple answer simply because each condition is different.

Also, there are a few factors that influence the outcome.

What are these factors?

One of the key factors that influences the longevity of teeth after root canals according to available data is the absence of infection in the bone surrounding your teeth. If you have undergone the procedure in a timely manner and the infection has not spread to the bone, there is a higher chance that the positive effect of the root canal will last longer.

Another factor that influences the result of the treatment is the quality of work done by your dentist. If the damaged tooth was repaired quickly and the filling or crown was installed in a timely fashion, your tooth is more likely to last longer.

Location of the Root Canal

The specific tooth treated is another thing to consider. Teeth that are located in front are easier to treat compared to teeth located at the back of your mouth. Front teeth often do not require crowns after a root canal treatment. However, teeth at the back of the mouth do.

Finally, your age can also have an effect. The older you are, the more likely it will be that your teeth will fracture. This could potentially happen regardless of whether you have undergone root canal treatment or not. This is because human teeth become more brittle and vulnerable to fracturing as people grow older.

For more information contact your local dentist in Sterling Heights at Dental1Care today!

Contact Us: 586 274 2800

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