When it comes to root canals treatment, patients frequently ask dentists:
How long does a root canal last?
If taken care of properly, root canals can last a lifetime. However, a number of factors, including the state of the tooth, the procedure’s effectiveness, and the patient’s oral hygiene practices, affect how well and how long a root canal lasts.
Do root canals hurt?
Although root canal therapy has an adverse record, most find it to be rather comfortable since there have been improvements in dental procedures and anesthesia. To ensure that you experience as little pain as possible throughout the treatment, dentists usually give local anesthesia to numb the area surrounding the tooth.
Is the root canal painful?
Because local anesthetic works so well, most you feel little to no discomfort throughout a root canal treatment. After the surgery, when the anesthesia wears off, there may be some mild discomfort or soreness. However, this is usually tolerable with over-the-counter pain medicines and goes away in a few days.
You should discuss any concerns or worries that they may have with their dentist regarding root canal therapy. To make you feel more at ease and secure about receiving treatment, dentists can answer concerns, give information, and give reassurance.
Causes of Pain After Root canal treatment
Following a root canal, pain is relatively unusual and can result from a number of factors:
- Normal Post-Procedure Pain: After a root canal, it’s typical to feel a little sore or uncomfortable in the area around the treated tooth. The process of twisting and cleaning the inside of the tooth causes inflammation of the surrounding tissues, which is usually the cause of this discomfort. During a root canal, the dental pulp which is made up of blood vessels and nerves is removed, which causes a brief increase in sensitivity in the affected area.
- Inflammation: The root canal treatment itself may result in inflammation of the gums and jawbone among other adjacent tissues. This inflammation is a normal element of the healing process and the body’s reaction to damage or treatment. However, it may cause pain or discomfort, especially if the affected tooth is compressed.
- Persistent Infection: The infection that required a root canal therapy may not have disappeared entirely in certain situations. Bacteria may continue to grow in the tissues around the tooth or in the root canals of the tooth, causing pain and infection. This may happen if the tooth has an intricate structure that makes thorough disinfection difficult or if the dentist is unable to thoroughly clean and seal the root canals.
- Gum Tissue Irritation: During the root canal process, the gum tissue around the tooth may become inflamed or damaged, causing soreness or discomfort. This may happen if there is a lot of swelling or inflammation in the area, or when the dentist needs to access the tooth’s root canals through the gum tissue.
- Reinfection: When bacteria find their way back into the root canal system, a tooth may get infected again, even if the first root canal treatment was effective in curing the infection. This may occur as a result of trauma to the tooth that exposes it to microorganisms, fresh dental decay, or insufficient sealing of the crown restoration.
It’s important that you inform your dentist or endodontist as soon as you experience any pain or discomfort following treatment. They are able to evaluate the circumstances, identify the underlying source of the discomfort, and suggest the best course of action to properly manage it. Additional operations, including antibiotic therapy or retreatment of the root canal, can be required to address the problem and ensure the best possible healing, depending on the particular circumstances.
How to stop throbbing pain after root canal treatment
There are several steps to get relief from throbbing pain after root canal treatment :
- Take Pain medications: Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) are examples of over-the-counter pain medications that can help reduce inflammation and lessen discomfort. Follow the recommended dosage instructions on the medication packaging.
- Apply Ice Packs: You can help numb the affected area and reduce swelling by using ice packs or cold compresses to the outer part of your cheek close to the affected area. This may help relieve throbbing discomfort.
- Avoid Chewing on the Affected Side: Refrain from chewing food on the side of your mouth where the root canal was done in order to avoid causing more discomfort and irritating the area.
- Maintain Good Oral Hygiene: Brush and floss your teeth gently and on a regular basis to maintain good oral hygiene. To avoid irritating the region, do not scrub it vigorously.
- Use Warm Saltwater Rinse: Several times a day, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater. This can aid in bacterial destruction, inflammation reduction, and healing.
- Observe Post-Procedure Instructions: If you recently had a root canal, follow any post-procedure instructions that your endodontist or dentist may have given you. This may include adhering to medicine routines and refraining from particular foods or activities.
- Speak with the best Dentist: Speak with the dentist or endodontist if the excruciating pain doesn’t go away or gets worse after using at-home solutions.
After assessing the condition, the Cosmodontist could suggest more medical care or medicines to deal with the underlying source of the pain.