Root canals are a dental procedure that are necessary when there is an infection in the pulp of the tooth.
If you’ve never had a root canal done before, you might be wondering: Can you drive after a root canal?
In this article, we will explore some important information about root canal treatment, including whether you can drive after a root canal procedure.
Keep reading to find out more.
Can You Drive After A Root Canal?
If you weren’t sedated for your root canal treatment or only had nitrous oxide, in the majority of circumstances, you will be able to drive yourself home following the procedure.
That being said, patients who have conscious oral sedation will require someone to drive them to and from their appointment for their safety.
It’s also important to note that if for any reason you don’t feel up to driving yourself home after your procedure, then you should get someone to come pick you up.
While it’s unlikely, you know yourself best, and if you think you will feel faint following the procedure or unwell for any reason, it’s best to avoid driving so that you are as safe as possible.
How Long Does A Root Canal Procedure Take?
The exact timings for your appointment will differ depending on your dental practice.
You also need to take into account that the treatment, the severity of infection, and your specific needs can also cause the timings of your appointment to change.
However, generally speaking, it can take anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes to complete a root canal procedure.
When you book your appointment, your dentist will likely book an appointment with time to spare, to ensure that they are able to complete the procedure without the need to rush through the process.
How Long Does Recovery Take Following A Root Canal?
While root canal can feel like a daunting procedure to go through for many people, the recovery is often faster than people tend to expect.
The majority of patients are able to return to work following the procedure, as the symptoms post procedure are typically mild.
While you might feel a little discomfort, this can usually be relieved with over the counter pain medication.
Generally speaking, you can expect some swelling and tenderness near the treatment area. However, this generally doesn’t last for longer than a few days.
So, if you’re worried that you’re going to have to take time off of work for a recovery period, this isn’t the case in the majority of cases.
Do I Need To Rest After Getting Root Canal?
Although you typically won’t need to book time off work to recover from your root canal, it’s essential that you get enough rest and sleep following the procedure to aid your recovery.
You’re likely to feel a little sore for the following days after your appointment.
Although this can be managed with pain medication, sleep is really important to get you back to feeling 100% again.
If you’re a regular gym goer, it’s a good idea to wait a few days before you begin to exercise again.
This will aid your recovery process significantly, and allow your body the time it needs to heal.
If you’re anxious to get back in the gym, be sure to consult with your dentist before starting again.
This is important, as you want to follow their advice for recovery and make sure that you’re not pushing yourself too hard following the procedure.
The most important thing to remember is to listen to your body.
While this is easier said than done when you normally lead a busy life, the quicker you’re back to normal health, the quicker you can get back to your normal routine.
After all, you don’t want to delay the recovery process by being too hasty!
So, have patience, listen to your body, and you’ll soon be back to your exercising routine.
Can You Eat Food After Your Root Canal?
It is generally recommended that you don’t eat for a few hours after your root canal procedure.
This comes down to the fact that the treated area will still be numb during this time due to the local anaesthetic injections that were placed in your gum for the procedure.
It’s typically recommended that you don’t eat whilst your mouth is still numb, as this can cause an injury to the soft tissue that is easily avoidable if you wait for your mouth to return to normal.
As a result, it’s always an idea to find meals that require minimal chewing, but still provide your body with the nutrition that it needs to get back to normal.
A good way of ensuring that you’re getting enough wholefoods in during this time is to drink smoothies with fresh fruit and vegetables.
In addition to this, you can try making a homemade soup with a variety of different vegetables to get your five a day in without much effort.
You can prepare the soups that you eat a few days in advance, and store them either in the refrigerator or the freezer so that they are ready to go as soon as you’re back from your procedure.
After all, no one wants to cook when they’re feeling under the weather, and this will help you avoid the temptation of ordering take out!
In Summary
In the majority of circumstances, it’s fine to drive after a root canal provided that you weren’t sedated or you only had nitrous oxide.
I hope this article has given you a better idea of whether or not you’ll be okay to drive yourself home after a root canal.
Remember that your safety and the safety of other drivers should be your priority, so if for any reason you feel like you’re not up to driving after the procedure, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Good luck getting your root canal procedure done.
He has combined both of these skills to create his first company, Isopharm Limited, which became one of the top learning platforms within the dental industry.
With over 120,000 active users, he has been able to educate others in order to provide better dental care around the world.
With his expertise and work in the field, Andrew has been able to help many dental care professionals succeed in treating their patients.
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