Root Canal: What to Expect After Surgery

Root canals are probably one of the most dreaded dental procedures. This is because of their reputation for being highly invasive and painful. However, the pain usually stems from the infection that causes the need of the treatment, not the treatment itself. Once the surgery is over, there might be some pain and other things to consider during your recovery. That is why Dr. Duke Kim at Ballston Dental Arts informs patients of what to expect after surgery.

Pain

After you have had a root canal, it is common to have some tenderness in the area near the surgery. This stems from the healing process and typically is mild enough to simply require over the counter pain medication. Any tooth pain in Arlington VA, that is intense and long-lasting might stem from another tissue.

Caring For Your Teeth

After your surgery, you might feel like your tooth feels differently than your other teeth. This is normal, but you might need to treat it differently for a while to ensure that it heals as expected. Typically, you will need to follow a few key things to complement your recovery:

• Avoid biting with that tooth
• Brush, floss and otherwise maintain good oral hygiene
• Get a permanent crown as soon as possible

If there are other actions you need to take, your dentist will discuss them with you.

Complications

A root canal has become a routine dental surgery, but that does not mean that there are not potential complications about which you should be aware. The most common is another bacterial infection. This typically occurs because the root was not thoroughly cleaned or there was a crack that was undetected. If the crown was not placed soon enough or was defective, then it might also lead to re-contamination of the area.

Contact Us

Contact our office at (703) 291-3111 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kim to discuss your tooth pain in Arlington VA. He will review your situation to determine if this is the right procedure for you, as well as discuss further what you can expect.