In this month’s blog the team at KentEndo look at what will happen following your root canal treatment.

Immediately following treatment

Root canal treatment requires one to two appointments to complete. After each appointment involving an anaesthetic, your lips, teeth, and tongue may remain numb for several hours. Refrain from eating or drinking until the numbness has fully subsided.

It is normal to experience some mild discomfort for a few days after a root canal treatment appointment. To control any discomfort, take over the counter pain killers as recommended.

To protect the tooth and help keep your temporary filling in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially chewing gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew more on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to continue to brush and clean the area normally.

If you feel that your discomfort is increasing or you notice swelling of the area, please contact KentEndo for further advice.

Get a crown!

Please ensure that you arrange a follow-up appointment with your dentist to have a crown placed on the tooth. After root canal treatment the tooth will become brittle and more prone to breakage and chips. Failure to seal the tooth permanently could jeopardise the success of your root canal treatment and end up costing you a lot more money in the long term.

By following our recommended instructions and attending for regular routine dental appointments a root filled tooth should continue to function very well for many years.

Success rates of root canal treatments

Root canal treatment is a very successful treatment (with a clinical success rate of 93%). The more of your own tooth structure present (and therefore the smaller the filling), the longer the tooth will last. Redoing a root filling (that was not done successfully the first time) has a success rate of about 50-60%.

At KentEndo you can be safe in the knowledge that you will always receive the highest possible level of care, in a relaxed and calm environment, ensuring that you can keep your teeth as healthy as possible for as long as possible. If you would like more information or have any questions do not hesitate to ring the surgery on 01622 225555.