Root Canal Post Treatment
If you need a root canal, you may be wondering what happens when it’s over. Will you be sore? Groggy? Will you be able to drive home or should you bring a friend to help? If you have questions about what you can or cannot do after a root canal, you’re not alone. Here is some information about root canal post treatment to help you better understand what happens after your root canal.
Root Canal Post Treatment: Types of Sedation Available for a Root Canal
Once you arrive at our office to complete your root canal therapy, you may be concerned that the procedure will be painful. You might wonder if you should be sedated, or if this is something that you don’t want to remember. We hear these questions a lot and would like to provide some clarity to help alleviate any anxiety you may be experiencing about coming to the endodontist.
The root canal procedure itself will be painless. It should actually be boring. In over 15 years of practice, Dr. McCann has never sedated anyone because he’s never felt the need to sedate anyone. In addition to the cost, the downsides of being sedated include having to make sure you have a driver to get you home safe. After sedation, you will be groggy and unable to properly operate a motor vehicle. Also, you (and your driver) will have to take the whole day off from work, as you will need someone to take you home and watch you after the procedure.
Once you reach our office, you’ll quickly experience our comforting atmosphere. When you come back into the operatory, one of the first questions we’ll ask is “what type of music do you like?”. That’s because we customize everyone’s experience and let them choose whatever type of music they’d like to hear during the operation. From Kenny G to Metallica, we’re able to accommodate whatever type of music you want so you can have an enjoyable and comfortable stay. We strive to make the experience comfortable and pleasant so that once you leave, the anesthesia goes away and you can go about your normal life.
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO A STRESS-FREE ROOT CANAL
How Long Will You be Numb After a Root Canal?
Most of the time, when we numb you for a root canal procedure, you can expect to be numb for a few hours following the procedure. Everyone is different. Some might be numb for less time; some might be a numb for a little more time. Normally, numbness goes away within a few hours following the procedure. If for some reason you are still numb for several hours after your procedure, please contact our office right away.
Root Canal Post Treatment: Can You Drive Right After a Root Canal?
Having a root canal is no different than getting a filling or having your teeth cleaned if they happen to get you numb. When you leave here, you can drive yourself and go right back to work or go about all your normal daily activities. Again, we want your root canal to be painless and boring. In fact, several patients are actually surprised when we tell them we’re done. They didn’t even know the treatment began. That’s how routine and “boring” the root canal treatment truly is. You no longer have to dread coming to get a root canal. Due to the technology we use, we can offer precise, low invasive procedures that are truly pain-free.
Root Canal Post Treatment Pain
Pain is the primary concern any time you hear the words, root canal. However, when you do come in for root canal treatment, we expect you to have zero pain. Following the treatment, you’ll be numb for a few hours. You can go right back to work, play sports, or do whatever your normal life would have included that day. Once the anesthesia wears off, you can normally expect a dull achiness, and even a mild throbbing would be the extent of your discomfort.
Most teeth will be slightly tender as you chew; however, most of them are slightly tender when you come in, and that will continue for a little while. We usually recommend taking over-the-counter ibuprofen if you’re medically able to do that. That usually takes care of everything and you’ll be back to normal in no time.
What to know more about root canal post treatment? Contact Precision Endodontics to schedule a consultation today.