Bon Voyage! How to Travel after a Root Canal

You have a big trip coming up in just a few days. You’ve been looking forward to this vacation for months, and you can’t wait to leave. But at your dental appointment, your dentist tells you that you need a root canal. Many questions pop up in your brain all at once. Will this procedure interfere with your plans? What are the risks of completing more complex dental work so close to traveling? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.

Risks of Travel after Dental Work

Flying in a plane allows you to travel far distances in a short period of time, but it also subjects your body to changes in altitude. That’s exactly what can cause discomfort or pressure. Sinus pain, headaches, or tooth pain are common symptom even for healthy individuals who haven’t received new fillings or crowns or undergone a tooth extraction recently. These procedures can exacerbate the discomfort.

People seem to have mixed experiences when it comes to flying after dental work. While some have severe tooth pain during the entire flight, others have no noticeable symptoms at all. Your experience may vary depending on your tooth sensitivity, how close to the nerve your dental work was performed, and your pain tolerance.

Scheduling Dental Work and Travel

In general, it is safe to fly after  it is recommended to wait 5 to 7 days after root canal surgery and at least 48 hours after an extraction to make sure that your dental discomfort can be kept to a minimum. Try to look ahead at your schedule and set your dental appointments a month or at least a few weeks before your trip so that you have plenty of time to recover from a complicated procedure if necessary.

Traveling Soon after Dental Work

Sometimes even the most well-laid plans can change unexpectedly. For example, a dental emergency can come up suddenly and require either a root canal or extraction. If you must travel within a couple of days of getting dental work done, you can take an ibuprofen or other similar pain reliever before your flight takes off. This drug contains an anti-inflammatory that should help to reduce pain. You can also ask the flight attendant for some ice and apply the cold compress to your face to ease discomfort. For tooth extractions, you need to make sure that you have clean gauze on the site until it has had a chance to form a blood clot. Make sure you’re also drinking enough water throughout the flight to keep your mouth moist.

When you’re onboard ready to take off, you want to do what you can to have an enjoyable trip from beginning to end. By understanding and implementing these things, you can ensure that your trip is successful and comfortable, whether you have recently had dental work or not.

About Boyles General Dentistry

Owned and operated by father and son, Boyles General Dentistry offers Odessa families outstanding dental care in one location. Dr. Franklin Boyles and Dr. Stephen Boyles have many years of experience and can perform root canal therapy and tooth extraction. If you have questions about dental work and traveling, you can contact Boyles General Dentistry by calling (432) 685-7011 or clicking here.