How Much Do You Need To Prepare For A Root Canal?
Posted on: 17 April 2023
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Root canals have a bad reputation in popular culture, but most of the fear and anxiety around this procedure are unearned. Modern root canals are relatively painless and easy, and a root canal on a single tooth should generally take less than an hour. However, many people may still have concerns before their first root canal, especially when it comes to preparing for the procedure.
The good news is that there's not much you need to do to get ready for your root canal. Your dentist will review the essentials with you, but you'll also want to keep these four tips in mind to help ensure you're as prepared as possible.
1. Decide If You'll Need a Ride
Your dentist can perform a root canal using local anesthesia only. A local numbs the area around the affected tooth but will not make you drowsy or cause you to lose consciousness. As a result, you can drive yourself home after the procedure. However, you can also discuss other sedation options with your dentist if you have significant anxiety about the procedure.
If you choose to use oral sedation or nitrous oxide, you cannot drive yourself home after your root canal. In these cases, plan to have a friend or family member pick you up from the dentist.
2. Plan for Medication
Your dentist may prescribe medication for you before your procedure. Dentists perform root canals to clear out infections, so prescribing an antibiotic before the procedure is common. You'll typically receive your prescription far enough in advance to complete the whole course before your root canal, so expect to receive this prescription about a week before your root canal.
3. Avoid Smoking and Alcohol
Your dentist will likely recommend avoiding alcohol and smoking immediately before and after your procedure. Smoking or drinking can affect your body in ways that may limit your ability to heal after your root canal, potentially increasing your recovery time or leading to a higher likelihood of side effects.
You should ask your dentist how long you should abstain, but you should expect to avoid these vices for at least a full day before and after your appointment.
4. Relax
A root canal doesn't need to be scary, and you'll likely have only relatively minor and easily manageable discomfort following the procedure. As with any dental procedure, you'll have an easier recovery if you can rest well the night before and show up for your appointment refreshed and relaxed. Spend some time the day before doing something you enjoy to help yourself unwind.
Ultimately, a root canal can do wonders to improve your oral health while eliminating the pain and discomfort of living with a damaged or infected tooth. Instead of worrying about your root canal, look forward to how much better you'll feel once you leave the dentist's office!
Speak to your dentist to learn more about root canal procedures.