After an intense root canal procedure, the only thing running across most people’s minds is to hurry back home and rest. But given the nature of the treatment, getting out on the road might not be the best idea. The pain could serve as a major distraction, causing serious trouble for yourself and others.

Perhaps that is why our patients often ask us, “Can you drive after a root canal?” to which we always answer with: yes. However, whether or not it is a good idea depends on the intensity of the procedure and the type of anesthesia used.

The Root Canal Process

Root canal therapy is a dental treatment that clears the bacteria attacking your tooth. When a dental cavity worsens, it starts to dig deeper, harming the bundle of nerves inside the tooth. However, if left untreated, this can cause the tooth to fall out. Ultimately, a root canal prevents the bacteria from damaging the tooth and its surrounding areas.

Moreover, depending on how badly affected the tooth is, your dentist will administer local anesthesia or provide a stronger dose to ensure no pain is felt during the procedure. The extraction process will start with the dentist drilling a hole inside the tooth and then carefully removing the bacteria-ridden pulp. Next, they will check all the canals inside the tooth, making sure there are no traces of leftover bacteria.

Once the main part is dealt with, the dentist will disinfect and clean the rest of the tooth before sealing it with a filling or topping it off with a crown.

Can You Drive After Root Canal?

Technically, you can drive after a root canal, but it is advised not to. Based on your pain tolerance and the amount of anesthesia administered, you might not be in the best state to drive on your own. In fact, the dentist might tell you beforehand to bring someone on the day of the surgery to assist you.

Not to mention, if you were put under general anesthesia instead of local anesthesia, you would not be able to do anything afterward. The dentist might also issue narcotics as pain relievers, which is yet another reason why you can not drive after a root canal.

Even for patients who deal with severe dental anxiety or have a strong gag reflex, driving is not an option, especially if other dental procedures are performed before the root canal.

Long Story Short

To summarize, driving after a root canal is only safe if local anesthesia is used. In any other case, it is recommended not to partake in activities that require a lot of physical effort. Plus, just because you can drive doesn’t mean you should. Even if you are in good shape post-op, you could easily get distracted by the pain while driving, putting yourself and others at risk.

Nevertheless, for more information, feel free to contact Smiles on Greatwood at (281) 937-7530. You can also visit us inside the Greatwood Professional Center at 19875 Southwest Fwy #120, Sugar Land, TX 77479.

Root canal is a pretty common procedure that helps eliminate discomfort. To do so, your endodontist removes a damaged or infected tooth pulp and cleans your canals to disinfect it. But do root canals hurt? You might be wondering if your dentist recommends root canal therapy for you. We’ll take you on a detailed explanation of what happens in a root canal procedure. This way, you can learn what happens during root canal therapy and if it hurts or not.

Root Canal Symptoms

Let’s discuss what signs show up when you need a root canal. There are certain indicators that will help your endodontist know that you require this treatment.

The root symptoms look like this:

• Constant pain, especially when chewing or biting down
• Increased sensitivity to heat and cold
• Discoloration of tooth
• Swelling in gums
• Pain upon touching the tooth
• Chips or cracks in the affected tooth
• Tooth feels loose

What Happens During Root Canal Procedure?

A specialized dentist or endodontist performs the root canal procedure. It will depend on your tooth’s condition and how long the procedure takes. Hence, it’s possible that your treatment requires more than one visit if the case is complex.

Your dentist will recommend a root canal after taking dental x-rays. This will help them identify the presence of an infection. After that, they’ll discuss what the procedure involves and discuss the important details so you can make an informed decision.

When the root canal procedure starts, you’ll probably wonder if it will hurt. The answer is: no; the root canal procedure itself will not be harmful. You can confirm this by knowing what goes on in root canal therapy. Before the procedure, your dentist will inject a local anesthetic, which helps numb the pain. Therefore, when the endodontist is working on your affected tooth, you might not even feel a twinge. After that, the dentist removes the infected tissue and cleans the site. Then, they’ll insert a synthetic material to replace the tissue after disinfecting the tooth. Lastly, they might seal your tooth using a large filling. In some cases, the dentist will place a crown to cover the weakened tooth.

Is Root Canal Painful?

No, the root canal treatment is not painful since it is performed under anesthesia. The pain before the procedure comes from the infection. During the treatment, the dental specialist gets rid of the infection after numbing the area. So, the procedure itself should not hurt. Thus, you should inform your endodontist if you start feeling discomfort.

Following the treatment, you might feel slight discomfort. However, you can consult your dentist if you feel pain after a root canal. They’ll recommend medications. Sometimes, pain can occur due to other factors; your dentist can help eliminate them.

What Should I Do?

Are you wondering if the root canals hurt? The dental specialist or endodontist will put you under local anesthesia to ensure the affected site is numb. Thus, you will not feel pain when the procedure is performed. You can immediately inform the dentist if you feel any discomfort during the treatment so they can look at it. Furthermore, you might feel slight discomfort after the procedure. But, no worries, your dentist can recommend the best medications to alleviate the discomfort.

Our Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry team is always here to help you get rid of the discomfort. Schedule an appointment with us at (281) 937-7530. You can also visit our dental clinic; just drop by 19875 Southwest Fwy #120, Sugar Land, TX 77479.

A root canal therapy is not as scary as it sounds. This article will put your mind at ease if you’re about to have root canal therapy in your next dental visit. So what does a root canal involve, and how long does a root canal take?

Treatment Basics

It is crucial to undergo root canal therapy when decay has penetrated the tooth’s root. You might be experiencing pain or sensitivity. To save you from a more expensive, lengthy, and painful tooth extraction process and replacement, your dentist will have to perform root canal therapy. The dentist will clean the decayed area. Remove the nerves and clear the infection. Next, the dentist will fill in the cavity into the hollow teeth. In some cases, the patient must have a crown installed on top of the tooth for support.

How Long Does It Require To Do A Root Canal?

In most cases, a regular and straightforward root canal requires about 2 hours. If the infected tooth is a molar, chances are it might take a little longer as the tooth is bigger, at the end of your mouth, and has more root canals.

From when you sit in the dentist’s chair, it looks like a simple filling session, but the dentist needs to be cautious and attentive while doing the procedure. He/She needs to use all their training, education, and experience to ensure the therapy is done at best possible level.

Plan Your Root Canal Therapy with Adequate Timings

The dentist might require an X-ray before the procedure. Sometimes even if you have an appointment, the dentist might be busy with another patient who has taken longer than expected. Hence, we always recommended that you plan out your therapy with adequate time in hand. Do not rush your dentist or get rushed yourself. Remember that your teeth are more important than other activities of yours.

If you’re worried about how long it takes to do a root canal, do not worry anymore. Our experienced dentists have successfully treated many patients in the past. Call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry now to get answers to your question, “How long does it take to do a root canal ?” Call us now at 281-937-7530 .