How Long After a Root Canal Can You Go Back to Work?
Infections from tooth decay are caused by bacteria that form plaque on teeth. These bacteria can spread to the tooth and infect the pulp chamber. A dentist will then perform a root canal procedure to remove the infected tissues.
What is a Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal treatment in Oxnard, CA, is done to remove infected or damaged tissues from the inside of the tooth. The root canal is a hollow space in the center of the tooth that contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. When the canals get infected, you can experience swelling, pain, and pus in the area around the tooth.
What Causes You to Need a Root Canal?
A root canal infection can occur due to several causes like poor dental hygiene that leads to infection, injury, and repeated dental procedures. When you get multiple dental procedures on one tooth or laser treatment, it can damage the pulp cavity. A pulp chamber infection can cause a few symptoms that include:
- persistent pain
Persistent pain is a common symptom of a root canal infection. In most cases, the pain only affects the infected tooth. However, some people may feel pain in their jaw or neck. They may also experience headaches and difficulty chewing food.
Other causes of tooth pain include a cavity, gum infection, impacted tooth, or a damaged tooth filling.
- Gum swelling
Root canal infections are usually caused by bacteria that enter the tooth through cracks in its surface or a damaged filling. When these bacteria enter the tooth, they produce toxins that irritate the tissues inside of it and cause pus to form. The pus occurs in small pimples and can cause the gums to swell up. In some cases, it may lead to tooth pain or discomfort when you chew on food or brush your teeth. If left untreated, gum swelling could lead to potentially life-threatening conditions or loss of teeth.
- Tooth sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is a symptom of cavities and root canal infection.
The tooth pulp contains blood vessels and nerves that are sensitive to stimuli. The pulp infection can cause the teeth to become sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, air currents, and even chewing.
- Tooth discoloration
An infected pulp can lead to the breakdown of the blood tissues that can damage the roots. This will affect the blood supply to the teeth, giving it a grayish-like appearance.
How is the Root Canal Procedure Done?
Our dentist in Oxnard, CA, will open your gums and remove any infected tissue or bone. After this, they will clean out all the pulp inside your tooth and fill it with a material to promote healing.
The doctor might also place a crown to protect it from breaking down again in the future.
How Long Does Root Canal Surgery Recovery Take?
Tooth canal recovery varies at an individual level, and it is affected by the body’s ability to recover. Some people can resume work a day after the procedure, while others take a few days to get back to their routine. Your dental practices and how you care for your gum after the procedure will affect the healing time.
What Can You Do After Root Canal Treatment?
The first thing you should do is visit your dentist for a follow-up appointment. This appointment can be made in two weeks, but it depends on what your dentist recommends.
Resume brushing your teeth 24 hours after the procedure, but use a soft toothbrush and mouthwash. You may experience bleeding, swelling, and pain after the procedure, so use a gauze pad and ice pack to ease the discomfort.
Do not consume foods with high acidity levels to avoid irritating the gums or causing soreness.
Smoking and chewing tobacco are also not advisable after root canal therapy because they irritate the nerve endings.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Dentistry by Sea Bridge for more information on root canal treatment recovery.