Uncommon Root Canal Preparation Tips

Posted on: 28 March 2017

If you have been recently informed by your dentist that you need a root canal, then you may not be thrilled about the news. This is totally normal. Root canals are by far one of the most feared dental treatments. They really are not as scary as you may think though, and there are actually some things that you should do to prepare for the treatment. Some tips are not so common or well-known. Keep reading to learn about these facts.

Wear White Or Light-Colored Clothing

When a root canal is performed, several different steps will be taken to treat your tooth. The first step involves local anesthesia so you will not feel any discomfort. Your dentist will drill a hole in your tooth afterwards so the infected pulp and pus can be released. Once the tooth is cleaned, the inside pulp chamber and the small dental roots need to be thoroughly sanitized. There are several different materials that may be used, but dentists will often use sodium hypochlorite to clean out the tooth interior. Sodium hypochlorite is an ingredient of regular household bleach. 

While dentists use syringes to make sure that fairly precise and complete irrigation and sanitation can occur, there is a chance that a small amount of the fluid may splash on your body. It is best to wear white or another light color to make sure that your clothing is not ruined in the process. 

If you have an allergy to bleach, then you should let your dentist know about this so another type of fluid irritant and sanitation fluid can be used. Citric acid or an ultrasonic type of cleaning may be completed instead. 

Do Not Wear Heavy Makeup

If you typically wear makeup, then you may wear as much as you usually do when you go to your dental appointment. However, this is probably not a good idea. The root canal process needs to be controlled, with very little chance of bacteria making its way into the pulp chamber and the dental roots of the tooth. If you wear makeup, then foundation, powder, and other types of cosmetics provide a surface that bacteria are able to cling onto. The makeup and the bacteria can then transfer to the dentist's gloved hands, and the microorganisms can then make their way into the mouth. 

Not wearing makeup is a good way to prevent bacteria transfer to the mouth. You also should stay away from things like lip-gloss and chapstick. 

Do Not Take Aspirin

Many people take aspirin as a mild blood thinner to help prevent serious issues like clotting that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. However, you may understand that taking aspirin can increase your bleeding risks, and it is best to avoid it whenever you need to undergo a dental procedure. This is something that is imperative when it comes to invasive operations, gum surgeries, and extractions.

A root canal is not considered a highly invasive procedure since it does not disrupt the soft tissues of the mouth. However, you will need to stop taking aspirin for a week or two before your root canal. There are small blood vessels that travel through the hollow dental roots and feed the tooth pulp. These vessels will be destroyed when the root canal is performed, and this can cause some bleeding problems. 

Bleeding is not the only issue that you want to avoid. You also want to keep clotting issues at bay. If there are clotting problems, then the dentist may have some trouble cleaning out the inside of the tooth. This may mean a delay in medicating and sealing the inside. 

You should know that you can take NSAID pain relievers normally before your root canal. In fact, it is often suggested to minimize discomfort.

For more information, check out websites like http://www.allaboutsmilesinc.com/.

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