When the soft tissue found in the root canal becomes infected or inflamed, your dentist may advise root canal treatment to save the tooth. If you are suffering from severe toothache pain, or prolonged sensitivity, this procedure can make a huge difference and alleviate any suffering.
If you’re worried about having a root canal, don’t listen to the rumours that say it’s painful. When done correctly, you shouldn’t experience any pain, meaning there isn’t anything to be scared of. However, to ensure everything runs to plan, here is a guide on how to prepare for your root canal treatment.
Avoid Smoking and Alcohol
If you’re a smoker or drink alcohol, it’s advised to stop doing so a full 24 hours before your root canal procedure takes place. The reason for this is that your dentist will inject your gums with a local anaesthetic, meaning you could experience an adverse reaction if you have smoked or consumed alcohol the day before. If you’re scared of needles especially, the last thing you want is for multiple injections, so take this into account before going to your appointment.
Eat Before Treatment
As you will be having an anaesthetic injected into your gums throughout your root canal procedure, your mouth may feel numb for several hours after which can make it hard to eat. This means you should eat in advance of your procedure, so you don’t go hungry afterwards. What’s more, if you’re prone to fainting, going to your root canal appointment on an empty stomach is not advised. Eating beforehand will help speed up the recovery process too.
Take Painkillers Beforehand
You will find that many dentists recommend their patients take painkillers a couple of hours before root canal treatment gets underway. Ibuprofen especially is an anti-inflammatory pain reliever, meaning it will help prevent any swelling that can occur in the aftermath. Make sure you listen to your dentist and take painkillers, otherwise the recovery period may not be pleasant.
Ask Questions
You’ll likely have all sorts of questions surrounding what happens during root canal treatment. Don’t hesitate to ask your dentist anything that is on your mind. Make sure you choose a dentist that has extensive experience in root canal treatments like these Bendigo dentists. Knowing you’re in safe hands can reduce stress and anxiety and help you feel relaxed throughout the procedure. No matter how big or small the question is, it’s best to ask rather than frantically worry in the run up to your root canal.
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
It’s important that you get plenty of rest the night before your root canal takes place. The human body recovers best when it’s relaxed, and when you factor in how much recovery takes place as you sleep, you need to ensure you’re well rested before treatment to help with the healing process later on.
As long as you pick a reputable dentist who has many years of experience performing successful root canal treatments, the experience should run seamlessly. The tips above will ensure everything goes to plan.
