Root canals remove damaged or inflamed pulp from the inside of a tooth. During a root canal, the interior of a tooth is fully cleaned and disinfected, and a crown is usually placed on the tooth at the end of this procedure.
If you’re new to the world of root canals, you might wonder what your mouth will feel like after the procedure and what you can expect in terms of recovery. Right after your root canal, you may still feel some numbness in the treated area for a few hours due to the local anesthesia. Be cautious when you’re eating and drinking while you’re still numb to avoid accidentally biting your tongue or cheek.
You may also experience some minor pain and discomfort for a few days following your root canal. If needed, we may prescribe something to help with this pain. However, in most cases, over-the-counter pain medications can take care of the majority of this discomfort.
In addition to this discomfort, you may notice some swelling around the treated tooth or in the surrounding gum tissue. If needed, apply an ice pack to the affected area for about 10-15 minutes at a time within the first few hours after your appointment.
We recommend that all our patients who come in for root canals take it easy after this procedure. The day of your root canal, avoid any strenuous activity to let your body recover and prevent any issues with the affected tooth.