This is one of our patients main concern when they are getting ready for their root canal appointment.
How much pain will I be in after a root canal surgery?
Fortunately, we have the technology and highly-trained endodontist, Dr. James A Penney III, DDS, to make the procedure and the recovery painless.
While we are confident in our practice, we are always ready for the unexpected. Everyone is unique in how they go into the procedure and recover afterwards.
Here are a few things to help you understand what life will be like immediately following your root canal surgery.
At Home
Many of our patience choose to head home and rest after a root canal surgery. Some patients go back to work. It all depends on how they are feeling.
When you do find yourself at home, there are a few things you should keep in mind during your recovery.
- Your teeth will be tender. After all, you did just have surgery. It is very normal for your tooth and the surrounding tissue to be tender for several days.
- You’ll want to chew on the other side of your mouth. Speaking of tenderness. Give the side of your mouth that received endodontic treatment a break. Only chew food on the other side of your mouth. Once you have the treated tooth restored, you can return to chewing your food like normal.
- Continue your regular dental hygiene routine. We recommend that everyone brush gently in small circles, even if they aren’t recovering from endodontic surgery. During your recovery, you can brush your teeth like normal.
- Regular pain medications can be used. Before you leave our office, our team will make sure you have the right medication to handle any pain issues. Minor discomfort is not uncommon. It can be easily treated with over-the-counter medications.
Any irregular pain should be reported to our office immediately. Your comfort and full-recovery is our primary concern. This is why we keep our phone line open after hours. Call: 501-227-7668
Things to watch for.
It doesn’t matter how you are feeling after the procedure. You should still continue to take note of any discomfort or pain you experience around the treated area. Here are a few after-treatment problems that might occur.
- Lower teeth and nerve injury. After the numbing medication wears off, you may feel a tingling sensation or a loss of feeling around your tooth. This is caused by a nerve that was either damaged or irritated. In most cases the nerve will heal over time.
- Upper teeth and sinus communication. This problem is rare and usually heals quickly. If the endodontist notices a communication during the procedure, we will give you special instructions for the healing process.
- Postoperative infections. Any infection that might occur due to root canal surgery can usually be treated with a quick examination at our office and a week of antibiotics.
