How To Prepare For Your Root Canal Treatment
If this is your first time undergoing a root canal treatment, you probably have many concerns that are causing you distress. These concerns are somewhat warranted, as there are many ways one might react to a root canal procedure. Here are a few things you can do to prepare for your root canal treatment to ensure it goes smoothly.
Ask About Antibiotics
Before you undergo your root canal procedure, you should ask your dentist if antibiotics are required. Oftentimes, a root canal is necessary because of the presence of rotten teeth or an infection around the teeth. Therefore, in many cases, antibiotic is used to get rid of the bacteria in the mouth that are causing the infection or tooth rot. Not only will the antibiotic help reduce the infection, but it will also help decrease any swelling in the mouth and quicken healing and recovery time. If your dentist does intend to use antibiotics, you should ensure that you aren't allergic to any of the ingredients in them. This is important, as many people have very severe allergies to various antibiotics.
Take a NSAID
As you may have guessed, you may experience a lot of pain and swelling during a root canal procedure as well as after the procedure is done. Therefore, you should consider taking a NSAID, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to reduce pain and swelling. Ideally, you should start taking the drug a few days before the treatment. You should continue to take it after the procedure is completed until the swelling and pain diminishes significantly. Consider taking the NSAID with pain medication that your dentist prescribes to you. Of course, before you decide to take the NSAID, you should consult your dentist to ensure your health or the success of the procedure won't be compromised in any way.
Eat Well Beforehand
Right before the root canal treatment (from a professional such as Baker Allan DDS), you should treat yourself to a good, filling meal. Root canal procedures can take many hours, so you don't want to have to suffer from hunger during the procedure. Also, after the root canal treatment, your mouth will temporarily feel numb, so you'll likely have a difficult time eating after the procedure. Therefore, it's best to eat well while you can.
As you can see, there are many things you can do to prepare for your root canal treatment. Just follow the tips listed above and the root canal procedure will likely be a success for you.
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