In the dental industry, one procedure that often causes the most fear is a root canal. If you think you need this procedure done, these things are helpful to know:
Do You Really Need a Root Canal?
Before spending money on a root canal procedure, you need to know if you are a good candidate for it. Usually, root canals are used for two things, which include pulp damage or an infection. The latter can happen when a cavity is untreated.
If you start feeling pain in one or more teeth, and this pain seems to continue through the week, chances are you have a cavity. If this is not treated quickly, a root canal may be in order. Delaying the root canal is only going to cause your problems to become worse. In fact, the infected tooth may have to be removed from your mouth completely.
Also, if your teeth become discolored or start feeling sensitive, you may need a root canal.
What Does the Procedure Involve?
Your nerves may be at an all-time high, as you don't know what type of pain a root canal is going to cause. This is a perfectly normal fear, which is why it's always best to know what the procedure involves.
First, the dentist will take an x-ray of the infected tooth. Then, you may be given anesthesia, so you don't have to worry about experiencing any pain at all. Using root canal files, the infected pulp is removed. After the cleaning process is completed, the dentist will wait for a week. A filling is then placed to cover the worked-on tooth or teeth.
What to Do After a Root Canal
After your root canal is completed, your teeth are going to be a little sore. For this reason, it's best to not do a lot of chewing. Don't chew gum, and try to eat foods that come in liquid form. Protein shakes are great because they come in different flavors and are full of minerals and vitamins.
To help you deal with your tooth pain, you can take over-the-counter medication. You can buy this yourself or get it directly from the dentist. Prescription medications may cause you to feel a little drowsy, so that should be taken into consideration.
A root canal may cause you a lot of stress, as your teeth are going to be worked on. You can ease your apprehension, though, by considering the things above. To learn more about dental services, visit Dentistry for the Entire Family.
Share23 February 2015
When the bottled water craze began, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else who was drinking water from bottles instead of from the tap. I wasn't sure why bottled water was healthier, but I liked the taste. When I went for my next dental check-up, I had my first cavity in a while, so I had it filled and didn't think much of it. Well, I had two more during my next check-up after that, and I began trying to think of why my teeth were suddenly going bad. The only change in my habits was the switch to bottled water, so I made the switch back to tap water and my teeth began to improve. I created this blog to encourage others who have begun getting cavities suddenly to look into their changes in habits. They may find they made a change similar to mine.