BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A ROOT CANAL
A root canal is used to save a tooth that has been badly damaged by decay or infection. Your dentist may recommend root canal therapy if your tooth’s nerve has become infected, or if the pulp of the tooth is damaged. If you are visiting a dentist in Naples for a root canal, read on for more information on what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.
Before the Procedure
Prior to your root canal, you may be in intense pain due to the infection and damage to your tooth. If left untreated, this infection can cause facial pain and swelling, bone loss around the tooth’s root, or an abscessed tooth. Symptoms of an infection include a severe toothache, heightened sensitivity to heat and cold, inflammation and pain in the gums, and a discoloration of the tooth. If your dentist believes you need a root canal, he will take X-Rays of your mouth to look for signs of infection. If he finds an infection, he will schedule another visit for your root canal.
During the Procedure
A dentist or endodontist can perform the root canal procedure. Your dentist will numb your mouth or anesthetize you prior to the procedure, and then place a rubber sheet around your tooth to keep it dry. He will then drill an access point into your tooth. Your dentist will use root canal files to clean out the pulp, bacteria, and decayed nerve tissue from the tooth. This debris is washed away with sodium hypochlorite. After cleaning your tooth, your dentist will seal it.
After the Procedure
This procedure will relieve you of the pain you have been feeling. Your dentist may recommend a dental crown or filling to further protect the tooth after the root canal. Until this part of the procedure is complete, you should avoid using this tooth to chew. Your tooth may feel sensitive for a few days after the procedure, but any pain should be mild and easily controlled with over the counter medication.
