Root Canal Therapy: What to Expect During and After

Learning you need a root canal might feel like bad news. Actually, though, there’s a serious upside to this type of dental procedure. A root canal allows your dentist to save a tooth that would otherwise need to be pulled.

Still, though, you probably wish you could fast forward past your root canal appointment. We can’t time travel, but we can offer you a better way to get the care your tooth needs.

Here at LA Dentists Group in Glendale, California, our team uses specialized tools to make your root canal therapy smoother — literally. We can treat your tooth in a way that’s more comfortable, faster, and free from the loud grinding noises you might expect. 

Here’s a closer look at what you can expect when you come in for your root canal therapy. 

What happens during root canal therapy

The purpose of root canal therapy is to clear out the infected pulp inside your tooth and to remove any decay. We perform this with localized anesthetic to keep that part of your mouth completely numb. 

If you’re nervous about your root canal, we also offer sedation dentistry. With this option, we can use intravenous (IV) or oral sedation to help you relax during treatment. Alternatively, some patients choose general anesthesia, which means you sleep through the root canal therapy. 

If you’re awake during treatment, you don’t need to worry about loud grinding or a lengthy appointment. Our team uses the Dentsply WaveOne® rotary tool to complete your root canal. This makes your treatment 40% faster than with traditional tools. And because the rotary tool moves smoothly and quietly, it alleviates the uncomfortable grinding noises that often come with root canals. 

Once we’ve gently removed the infected tooth pulp and cleaned out the tooth, we seal it closed. In many cases, we then protect it with a crown.  

Recovering from a root canal

The downtime after a root canal is minimal. But we do have one recovery pointer. We recommend that you don’t eat anything for a couple of hours after your appointment because your mouth and tongue will likely still be numb. This prevents you from accidentally biting your cheek, lip, or tongue.

If your tooth needs a protective crown, we fit you with a temporary one while we prepare your permanent crown. Be careful chewing on that side. Only chew soft foods with the tooth until it’s fully restored by your permanent crown. To avoid issues, steer clear of sticky candy and overly hard foods until that permanent crown is in place. 

The treated area might feel sensitive, but you can head straight back to your daily activities.  Any discomfort should fully abate within a week. 

Root canal therapy gives you a way to save your tooth. And thanks to the latest tools, it can be a faster, more comfortable process than you might expect. To schedule a root canal using the smooth, quiet WaveOne rotary tool, call our office or book your appointment online.