A Root Canal is a procedure where the dentist removes bacteria and other tissues from the nerve of a tooth. Once the tooth is scraped, the dentist will then clean and fill the space in order to stop further decay or infection from setting in. Having a root canal performed can be a painful procedure, and one that is dreaded by most people. Below, you will find some tips to help you prepare for the procedure in the best way possible.
Eat and get Enough Rest
You need to make sure that you get plenty of rest before the day of the procedure and eat a good meal before the procedure begins. A Root Canal many times involves spending a lot of time in the dentist chair, sometimes hours, so you need to keep your strength up.
Prepare for an Anesthetic
For many people, the most painful part of the procedure is the injection the dentist gives you to numb your gums. This anesthetic is important and keeps you from feeling severe pain while the procedure is taking place. If you are extremely worried about the pain from the injection, make sure to take an over the counter pain reliever 30 minutes before the time your appointment is scheduled to begin.
After The Procedure
There are a few things that you will want to do after the procedure as well. These tips will help you to fight infection from setting in and the pain you are feeling at a minimum.
- Use ibuprofen to relieve the pain after you have the procedure done. Not only does it work to relieve the pain, it helps keep the swelling down as well.
- Make sure that you chew on the opposite side of your mouth from the tooth that you had restored. You want to be sure and not chew on the treated tooth at all, as it could crack and cause you another visit to the dentist’s office.
These are just a few tips to help you prepare for, and recover from, your root canal. You can visit the Grand Island Dental Center for more information and to set up an appointment today.
