Root Canal Procedures

What should I expect after having a root canal treatment done?

After undergoing a root canal treatment, it’s normal for your tooth to feel sensitive and tender due to tissue inflammation from the procedure, especially if there was pain or infection before having the root canal done. It might be hard to chew so you should avoid biting and chewing if it hurts too much. Some people encounter pain and soreness from the injection or from keeping their mouth open for a long time. This can be taken care of by taking over-the-counter pain medication including Advil, Motrin, or Aleve. If the pain lasts longer than a few days or if the pain and soreness gets worse, you should call your dentist immediately.

It’s important to remember, however, if your root canal treatment is not completely done (that is, your permanent filling and/or crown hasn’t been placed), you should try not to chew too much between appointments. This way, you will help prevent breaking the fragile tooth before restoration is completed as well as avoid getting the inside of your tooth re-contaminated. It would be a disappointment to have to go back to the dentist on your second appointment only to have the tooth cleaned out again, which means you would have to go back for a third visit to finish the procedure.

Are there any complications regarding a root canal?

You should always brush and floss as you normally would and visit your dentist at Karing Dental Center on the scheduled date. 

Your dentist may do his or her best job cleaning out the infected tooth and sealing it, but new infections can still occur. Here are reasons why this may happen: 

• Root canals can have branches or forks at the end of the root; dentists might not detect all of the branches and leave one of them untreated by accident.
• A crack in the root of the tooth that has gone unnoticed
• Defective or insufficient dental restoration of the tooth, causing bacteria to enter the tooth and re-contaminating it once again.
• Inner sealing material breaking down over time, causing bacterial to enter the tooth and re-contaminating it.

Sometimes treating the tooth again is needed; other times endodontic surgery is the best way to treat the tooth. Apicoectomy (or root-end resection) is the most common type of endodontic surgical procedure performed. In this procedure, the gum tissue is opened up so the infected tissue can be removed; they might remove the end of the root as well. To seal the root canal, a small filling is placed on the tooth. If re-treatment is not possible, then the tooth should be extracted to prevent pain and swelling.  

Are there any alternatives to a root canal?

Root canal is the best choice if you want to save your natural teeth. Your natural teeth allow you to eat different kinds of foods necessary for proper nutrition. If a root canal is not an option for you, you need to have the tooth removed. When one tooth is missing, it has an affect on the surrounding teeth because they will slowly start to shift out of place, which can cause problems in chewing and your jaw joint in the long run. To avoid this, the only other alternatives for a root canal is to have your tooth extracted (removed) and then replaced with a bridge, implant, or partial dentures that are removable. As a result, these alternatives end up being more expensive than a root canal alone, and they require longer treatment time as well as other procedures to adjacent teeth.

How can I prevent getting a root canal?

The best way to prevent getting a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene. You should brush your teeth twice daily, floss at least once a day, and visit your dentist regularly. In addition, wearing a mouth guard can prevent damage related to sport injuries.