How To Take Care Of Root Canal Treated Teeth

How To Take Care Of Root Canal Treated Teeth By Dr. Abhi Singh | January 20, 2022

How To Take Care Of Root Canal Treated Teeth

You have just undergone endodontic treatment, and now you need to care for your root canal-treated tooth. You must pay special attention immediately following the procedure so that no complications will occur.

If you want to learn the guidelines for taking care of your root canal-treated teeth, continue reading this blog post.

A root canal therapy is a surgical procedure to save an infected tooth. The nerve and dental pulp chamber of your tooth can become infected due to deep decay, large cracks, and trauma.

In root canal therapy, the diseased tooth pulp is removed, and the tooth’s interior is cleaned and disinfected before being filled and sealed to prevent additional tooth decay. An abscess may form if you do not treat the infection in the soft tissue surrounding your tooth, which makes root canal therapy a lifesaver. After the procedure, it removed the bacteria from the infected root canal, prevented reinfection of the tooth, and even saved the original tooth.

Root canal therapy is highly effective, with a greater than 95% success rate. Many teeth that have had root canal treatment usually last a lifetime.

Root canals do not kill teeth, and the tooth usually goes back to normal function after undergoing a root canal procedure. Root canals remove the nerves inside the tooth, but these nerves do not have much use in a fully developed tooth. After the root canal procedure, you will feel a spontaneous pain in your root canal treated teeth. However, you can take over-the-counter medication to manage the pain. You must also make sure that you don’t have any experience of allergic reaction to the medication.

Moreover, after root canal therapy, a tooth may become brittle, more prone to damage, and even have a loss of blood supply because to reach the infected pulp, dentists drill down through the tooth to remove the dead pulp tissue. Fortunately, when a tooth is too weak to function, your dentist may put an artificial crown on it.

A follow-up appointment is recommended after every root canal therapy, so your dentist can assess if there is still dental decay remaining on your teeth. This is also to make sure that there will be a long-term success after the procedure.

After root canal therapy, the tooth’s surface is at greater risk of infection and contamination. To prevent decontamination of the infected tissue, a dental crown will be placed over the tooth to prevent harmful leakage.

Also, some teeth may change colour after receiving root canal treatment. If a tooth seems grey or deeply discoloured, a dental crown can restore the colour like your natural tooth while also making the tooth whiter in colour to match the adjacent teeth.

Following a root canal, it is critical to practise good oral care. Proper care of your teeth and gums will ensure they remain healthy for a long time. Here are some guidelines on taking care of your root canal-treated teeth.

Keep your root canal treatment clean.

You may gently clean and floss the treated tooth, but you should avoid flossing if the temporary filling is placed in the area between the teeth since it will damage the temporary filling. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to clean the area.

Rinse your mouth with saltwater.

Rinse your mouth with salt water several times a day for the first three days following therapy. A teaspoon of table salt should be included in the rinsing. It should be mixed with lukewarm water and rinsed for a few seconds to clean the area.

Avoid chewing on crunchy foods.

Avoid chewing crunchy or hard foods with the root canal-treated tooth, as this may cause discomfort or even fracture of the tooth. While you wait for your general dentist to perform the final restoration on the tooth that has received treatment, you should be cautious when eating with that tooth. This is especially crucial to do if your tooth has been suspected of having a break in it previously.

Eat a soft and healthy diet.

Because of the increased sensitivity that may arise during treatment, it is vital to be selective with your foods. Choosing softer foods such as soups, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs can help your tooth heal completely.

It is also recommended that you pay attention to the temperature of the foods you consume since too hot or too cold can aggravate the area.

Avoid applying excessive pressure.

Please prevent excessive pressure on the treated tooth or from touching it with your tongue, finger, or any other foreign object. The treated tooth may experience prolonged sensitivity due to this.

Regular checkups with your dentist

As with any procedure or treatment, every patient’s recovery is essential. Therefore, they must adhere to the precise recommendations provided by their dentist to have long-term survival of their root canal. Following the advice of dental professionals will ensure that your recovery will be as quick and painless as possible.

You must also regularly visit your dentist at least twice a year for a dental checkup and cleaning to maintain that natural smile.

Endodontic treatment has more than a 95% success rate, making it safe and effective. However, like any other medical or dental procedure, it might also fail due to unwanted circumstances like a loose crown, a fractured tooth, or new decay. Root canals can fail as quickly as a few days after treatment or years later.

But you don’t have to worry! Our dental clinic, Prospect Road Dental, is an expert in endodontic treatment procedures. Our dental professionals have vast experience in treating all types of tooth problems, so you can entirely rely on us to treat your toothache without worrying about anything. Just visit our clinic if you want to achieve your dream smile.

Since root canal therapy has a rare occurrence of treatment failure, you must observe your teeth after the treatment. Here are the signs of root canal failure and what to expect if it occurs.

Severe Pain

It is typical to experience some soreness for a few days following a root canal procedure. If you have significant pain that lasts for an extended period, you may be suffering from root canal failure.

Tooth sensitivity

It is not usual to experience tooth sensitivity following a root canal procedure. Something is wrong with your tooth if it becomes sensitive to temperature fluctuations or even slight stimulation, such as brushing your teeth.

Discharge

When a red or pus-filled discharge comes from the treated tooth or surrounding gums, this could indicate the formation of a new abscess. Pain is usually associated with an abscess, although this is not always the case, so it is crucial to examine any discharge.

Swelling

You may notice some mild swelling around the treated tooth or in your face for a day or two following your root canal procedure, but this is normal. However, a new swelling or a swelling that lasts longer could indicate that your root canal procedure was unsuccessful.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, retreatment is the most common treatment for unsuccessful root canals. This method, which entails removing the original filling and cleansing the canal, has the best success rate. The region is then sealed to prevent future infection and bacteria from entering.

However, if retreatment fails or we are unable to restore the tooth in any other way, tooth extraction is the last option. In this case, implants could be used to repair the gap left by the tooth extraction.

Our dental professionals will assess it carefully to identify the extent of root canal failure. We will consider all choices before deciding on the management of a failed root canal for each patient. Patients’ health is our top focus at Prospect Road Dental, so you don’t have to worry about your dental health.

Having endodontic treatment can indeed treat your tooth pain. Therefore, you must be careful with your teeth after the procedure to avoid tooth loss. If you have problems with your root canal-treated teeth, don’t hesitate to visit our clinic.

Prospect Road Dental is a dental clinic with years of experience delivering the best dental services with special care to our patients. We use modern technology while maintaining our core values of professional and pain-free dental services for everyone. Our dental professionals underwent advanced training with the latest dental treatments to offer our specialised services, such as root canal therapy, dental implants, teeth whitening, and cosmetic dentistry.

If you want to achieve healthy teeth, book an appointment with us by contacting 0890207002.

Disclaimer – Use At Your Own Risk :- The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as advice for any individual case or situation. Any action you take upon the information on these blogs are strictly at your own risk. We will not be liable for any losses or damages in connection with the use of the information from these blogs.

Prospect Road Dental Surgery
Dr. Abhi Singh
Dr. Abhi is a member of the Australian Dental Association and loves living and working in our community. He has eight years of experience in all aspects of dentistry, with a special interest in dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, and cosmetic dentistry.