Improve Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

Improve Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

What Does A "Watch" Note Mean On My Root Canal Tooth?

by Christy Long

When your tooth is damaged because of decay or infection, a dentist can recommend a root canal treatment to help save your tooth. Root canal treatments can help you to keep your tooth, and avoid other treatment methods like permanent removal and dental implants. Also, tooth canal treatment helps you to maintain your teeth alignment, as well as prevent problems with your jaw. Your tooth doesn't require it's nerve to function normally. Therefore, a root canal won't cause a tooth to lose its functionality or damage it.

After you undergo root canal treatment, your dentist will give you some instructions to follow until the tooth heals. In addition, your doctor will give you a watch note, where you are expected to monitor certain things. Here are three key things that you are supposed to watch.

Pressure Sensitivity

This ranges from mild sensitivity to absolute pain. A patient might experience discomfort when closing/biting their teeth, after tapping the affected tooth—also known as sensitivity to tapping/percussion, or even when directing pressure to the tooth from one side through either tapping or pressing.

Generally, tooth sensitivity can be caused by inflammation on the tissues surrounding the root of your tooth, and it is mostly caused by infection of the particular tooth.

Swelling

You might experience some mild swelling, accompanied by slight tenderness after a root canal. Also, you might notice that there is formation of pus as a result of infection to the tooth. There are some scenarios in which an opening might develop to allow the pus to drain, and this helps in reducing the swelling.

Typically, the swelling resembles a gum boil, and it forms in the end or tip of the affected tooth's root. As the pus starts to drain, you might start to experience a bad odor or taste in your mouth. Moreover, the tissue surrounding the opening might become tender.

Sensitivity to Heat

This isn't an indication of failed root canal, but swelling and pain are. However, you might end up experiencing heat sensitivity after undergoing a root canal. The intensity of the heat sensitivity you might experience will increase and decrease often. However, this will all depend on the levels of infections that warranted the tooth canal removal.

The tooth's sensitivity to heat usually varies, from being intermittent, constant, and it can even disappear completely after a few weeks. However, it's important to consult a dentist in case the heat sensitivity persists after undergoing the procedure. The dentist will have to determine and evaluate for how long the sensitivity has lasted even after the procedure was performed.


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About Me

Improve Your Smile With Cosmetic Dentistry

I was very unhappy with the way that my front teeth looked. They were crooked and stained with an ugly yellow tint. I asked my dentist if there was anything that could be done to improve them. After discussing the options with my dentist, I decided to have crowns put on my front teeth. The procedure was painless and I wish that I had done it sooner. My name is Constance Graham and I am writing this blog to inform others about cosmetic dentistry. If you don’t like the way your teeth look, speak to your dentist about improving your smile. There are various cosmetic procedures that you can have done such as veneers, crowns, teeth whitening, and dental implants. I hope you use the information in this blog to learn more about cosmetic dentistry and how it can help you.