Root Canal Procedure and After Care Treatment

When you get a cavity on your teeth, it’s easier to downplay the long-term effect of the cavity. However, with time, cavities grow into tooth decay, which becomes a problem that needs to be solved. Many people underestimate the consequences of tooth decay until they face the reality of having to lose their teeth. Losing your teeth is usually not a necessity for treating cavities.

Root canal treatment is one of the most performed dental restorations. At the Art of Smile Dental Clinic, we offer root canal treatment in Vancouver. Sometimes, this is the ideal way to treat extensive tooth decay instead of removing the tooth. When you suffer from inflammation or infection-related pain in the soft pulp of the tooth, root canal therapy is usually the best choice to eliminate the pain, protect the tooth, and restore function.

A root canal is a surgical procedure in which dead or decaying tissue is removed from the tooth. The area is then cleaned and treated by your dentist in Vancouver to remove all traces of infection.

A root canal will help to get rid of infections caused by disease or dead skin, tooth loss, or health problems, which will prevent the occurrence of any oral infections in the future. Also, removing the dead pulp helps prevent infections. When the infected pulp is not completely eliminated, chances are the infection will spread to other oral tissues like the gums or jawbone.

By undergoing a root canal procedure, you can save your teeth instead of having them extracted. If your teeth are severely damaged due to an accident or disease, they can still be preserved through root canal therapy.

Root Canal Procedure

Here at Art of Smile Dental Clinic, we will provide you with the best dental care services at affordable prices. Our root canal procedure will involve:

1. Sedation

First, a local anesthetic must be applied to numb your mouth. Since this procedure is an invasive one, anesthesia is necessary to make it pain-free. After that, our dentist will start the root canal surgery since you will be relaxed and calm.

2. Drilling

In this procedure, our dental expert will use special tools to make holes in the enamel of your tooth. This hole serves as an entrance to the inside part of the tooth.

3. Cleaning

During the cleaning exercise, the decayed part and debris on the inside of your tooth are removed. This process not only removes infections but also harmful oral bacteria in the tooth cavity. The infected part of the pulp cavity containing nerves and blood vessels is also removed.

4. Filling

The cavity created must be sealed to prevent bacteria from entering. Usually, dental fillings will serve this purpose. However, sometimes a crown can be placed on the tooth to restore its full strength and function.

After Care Treatment

Since post-root canal swelling is common, patients are advised to use an ice pack to reduce the swelling. Also, when sleeping, raise your head with a pillow to avoid getting an irritation.

Plan your diet carefully for the first few days. Consider something that allows you to get proper nutrition without chewing a lot. When recovering from root canal treatment, soft foods such as soups, smoothies, and mashed potatoes are good choices. You will have the opportunity to satisfy your hunger without worrying about injuring your fixed teeth.

For smokers and alcoholics, please try to avoid smoking for the next few days since exposure to these harmful chemicals and products may slow the healing process.

You can also take pain relievers in case of pain. It’s important to take the prescribed painkillers to help you get through the sharp pain you might experience after a surgical root canal procedure.

Don’t aggressively brush your teeth. Oral hygiene is important, but that shouldn’t make you brush your teeth under much pressure. Brush gently to avoid tampering with your crown and opening the fresh wound.

Seek a dental expert’s help for any uncomfortable fillings or crowns following the procedure. Your filling or crown will feel strange for the first few days before you get used to them. However, after this, please report any unusual discomfort you may experience.

Always remember to visit our dentist in Vancouver for a follow-up check-up. This ensures that our dentist checks the progress of your teeth healing and any complications you might experience.