Table of contents:
- When is root canal treatment needed?
- Will root canal treatment hurt?
- What should be prepared before undergoing root canal treatment?
- 1. Consult your doctor about your pain medication
- 2. Don't smoke or drink alcohol
- 3. Inadequate your food intake
- 4. Wear casual clothes
Dental or root canal treatment root canal treatment is a minor surgical procedure performed when the infection causing the decay has killed the tooth. This method of improving the condition of the teeth is also known as endodontics.
During root canal treatment, the dentist will remove the infected pulp and nerve fibers from the center of the tooth and fill the pulp cavity. This procedure can prevent infection in the pulp from spreading to the other teeth.
The goal of dental treatment is to "preserve" a tooth that is decaying, not to bring it back to life. Root canal treatment is done because you want it or the doctor advises you to keep the dead teeth that can still be saved.
Because then, you can still use your old tooth structure as usual. Without the need for the process of pulling out the rotten teeth and then attaching them to the dentures.
When is root canal treatment needed?
To find out whether the dental pulp and nerve fibers have been infected with bacteria or not, the doctor will carry out a diagnosis with X-rays or X rays. Quoted from the National Health Service, early symptoms of pulp and nerve fiber infection include:
- Pain when consuming hot or cold food and drinks
- Pain when biting and chewing
- Loose teeth
Bacterial infections of the teeth that are not detected as early as possible can cause new problems. One of them is dead teeth or rotten teeth which sometimes do not show any symptoms.
If left untreated, it can develop and spread to other dental tissues and cause symptoms, such as:
- Swollen gums around the infected tooth area
- Tooth abscess (pocket of pus)
- Swelling of the face
- The discoloration of the teeth becomes darker
If you feel the signs and symptoms above, it is important to consult immediately and get proper treatment from a doctor. One of them is root canal treatment.
Will root canal treatment hurt?
Many people immediately shudder at the thought of the pain of root canal treatment. In fact, the pain that arises actually comes from the infection of the rotten tooth, not from the procedure performed.
The root canal procedure itself is painless. Root canal treatment is actually done to relieve the pain. The doctor will first give you a local anesthetic or anesthetic to numb the area around the damaged tooth.
Furthermore, the dentist will clean the bacteria and infections contained in the teeth and root canals, clean them, to fill the teeth to prevent further infections. The side effects that you experience may just be discomfort in the mouth and swelling in the area around the teeth which will heal on its own.
Even though it doesn't cause pain, that doesn't mean you can just come without careful preparation. The reason is the process root canal treatment This is generally done in 1-2 visits to the dentist and takes a relatively long time.
So you need to prepare in advance so that root canal treatment can be a trauma-free and less scary experience to a dentist.
What should be prepared before undergoing root canal treatment?
Here are some things you should prepare before doing root canal or dental treatment root canal treatment.
1. Consult your doctor about your pain medication
If your tooth is infected, any treatment can cause a sore and uncomfortable feeling in the mouth. Antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor to treat dental infections and help reduce pain.
Taking antibiotics can also shorten your recovery time later. Medicines prescribed by a doctor must be taken at the right time and dose regularly, unless instructed otherwise.
Tell them about any other medications you are currently using, whether they are prescription or nonprescription. In general, don't take aspirin for 10 days before treatment.
Do not also take painkillers (painkiller) right before your scheduled root canal treatment to help reduce the pain. This is important because your doctor may need you to show them exactly where your toothache is.
If the pain is so overwhelming to you that you need sedation, it is okay to take a non-narcotic analgesic medication, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen a few hours before and after treatment. Consult your doctor for further information.
2. Don't smoke or drink alcohol
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages at least 24 hours before the scheduled root canal treatment and 48 hours after. Also avoid smoking 24 hours before and 72 hours after doing this treatment at the dentist.
Smoking and drinking alcohol can slow down healing time and potentially lead to complications. In addition, the drunken sensation that you may still have can make you more uncomfortable during the procedure.
If possible, also reduce the intensity of smoking and drinking alcohol after you perform root tooth treatment. This is to avoid future dental health problems.
3. Inadequate your food intake
There are no specific dietary restrictions before your scheduled treatment, unless your doctor has advised you to be sedated intravenously. If so, ask your doctor further about what you can and should not eat before and after root canal treatment.
If you're just under local anesthesia, it's okay to have a large meal as usual before your schedule or at least a filling snack to prop your stomach through a fairly lengthy process.
If your mouth is numbed under local anesthesia during this procedure, you may not be able to eat for several hours until the numbness goes away.
You will also need to eat soft foods and soups for the first few days of recovery. Avoid hard, chewy, and / or sticky foods after returning from the dentist. As much as possible avoid chewing on the side of the mouth where the root canal was extracted.
4. Wear casual clothes
Before going to the doctor, be sure to wear loose, comfortable, and casual clothes. This procedure may take a while so you want to be as comfortable as possible and feel at home for long sitting in the patient's chair.
As much as possible wear white or light colored clothing as some doctors may use sodium hypochlorite (bleach) as an irrigation agent. Also avoid using make-up thick during this procedure.
After returning from the doctor after undergoing root canal treatment, get plenty of rest and avoid strenuous physical activity. Position your head higher than your heart when lying down.
Then do dental care according to the doctor's recommendation, for example brushing your teeth properly and routinely, using a type of toothbrush with fine bristles, fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and use mouthwash.
