A small filling may be placed to seal the end of the root canal and a few stitches or sutures are placed to help the tissue heal. In the next few months, the bone will heal around the end of the root. Most patients return to their normal activities the next day.
This helps your dentist see what's happening with a root canal, the roots, and any surrounding bone and tissue. Before starting the procedure, you'll get some cream and a needle in your mouth to numb the area. Then your dentist will make a small cut in your gums around the tooth.
Since patients are given anesthesia, a root canal isn't more painful than a regular dental procedure, such as a filling or getting a wisdom tooth removed. However, a root canal is generally a bit sore or numb after the procedure, and can even cause mild discomfort for a few days.
The root canal procedure is completed in two separate visits to ensure that the tooth is thoroughly cleaned out, sealed up, and protected from further damage.
Typical pain or discomfort following a root canal is most often described as mild soreness. If you experience severe pain or if your discomfort lasts longer than 3 days, contact your dentist. Severe and persistent pain could indicate a postoperative infection that may need to be addressed with an antibiotic.
Most patients get mild symptoms, if any. One comparative study of 168 root canal patients in the International Endodontic Journal cited a pain level hovering just above one on a zero-to-10 scale. Researchers noted that 63% of participants recorded no anterior pain at all.
Contrary to popular belief, the modern root canal procedure is no more painful than a standard filling, with many patients only feeling a slight discomfort, thanks to the powerful anesthetic options available.
How long does root canal recovery take? Typically, root canal recovery time lasts less than a week. Mild discomfort may be present for a few days, but this can be managed with medication. If you have severe pain or discomfort that lasts longer than a week, call your healthcare provider.
Root canals are relatively standard procedures, regardless of who conducts them. Similar to a filling, root canals are typically a same-day, in-house procedure that can take place in your regular dentist's office.
You can eat 30 to 45 minutes after a root canal, which is enough time to allow your temporary filling to fully harden, but it's generally recommended that patients wait to eat until after the anesthetic has worn off to prevent you from biting your cheek or tongue.
Root canals are considered to be the most painful because they require removing the nerve tissue on a tooth's root. The removal of the nerve tissue is not only excruciatingly painful but also commonly leads to infection.
Root canals are effective procedures, and pain after a root canal is expected. Root canals involve deep cleaning within the canals of your tooth, which can irritate the surrounding nerves and gums. The pain after a root canal shouldn't last forever.
Even though the pulp tissue is gone following a root canal, the tooth still retains some sensation. It just isn't the same sensation as before. "It still has a nerve sensation coming from the structures that are supporting it into the jaw bone," Richards said.
During a root canal, a dental instrument called a dental drill is used to bore a hole in the tooth's hard centre called the pulp. The instrument's cutting action cuts the soft inner part of the tooth away from the nerve endings that supply it with nutrients and oxygen.
Removing the pulp
Your dentist will use a drill to open your tooth through the crown, the flat part at the top, to access the soft tissue at the centre of the tooth (pulp). They'll then remove any infected pulp that remains.
The mouth has to be kept open during the treatment, and as a result, jaw joints and the muscles that keep the mouth open often get tired. Local anesthesia used in dental procedures is effective in preventing root canal pain during the treatment.
Two to four hours after the root canal
It is recommended to wait to eat until it does. If you try to eat when things are still numb, you could bite your inner cheek or tongue.
Molars will usually take the longest because they can have up to four roots, requiring treatment for up to four canals. If you require a dental crown, more time will be necessary to place the crown.
What Not To Do: Avoid eating immediately after the procedure – your mouth may still be numb, which makes you prone to biting yourself and other accidents. Avoid chewing hard and crunchy foods – you are still in recovery. Give your tooth ample time to heal before you can resume your normal lifestyle.
Swelling may increase 48-72 hours before diminishing. Swelling may be worse in the morning and usually subsides as the day continues. Slight bleeding or oozing may discolor saliva up to 24 hours after surgery. This is normal.
After root canal the treatment, what next; as the numbness begins to wear off, your mouth will feel heavy, and you might also feel drowsy and sleepy, this is normal.
During any root canal, body tissues not directly being treated have a chance to become agitated and mildly inflamed. In the case of throbbing pain after a root canal, the culprit is the bone surrounding the tooth. The bone tissue becomes irritated and provokes some discomfort. For most patients, this is very mild.
The maxillary molars, especially the second molars, have the most complicated root canal system in permanent dentition. There are many variations in canal number and configuration in maxillary molars. Treatment may be unsuccessful because the dentist may fail to recognize the unusual canal configuration.
Root canals can be a painful procedure. In fact, many find it to be more painful than an extraction, but the use of local anesthesia can reduce the pain.
The need for a crown is typically determined by the amount of remaining tooth structure after a root canal. Generally, if more than half of the tooth is gone, a crown is indicated to restore the tooth's structural integrity.