Post Operative instructions for root canal treatment

Category: Health

Root canal treatment usually take 1-2 appointments to complete. After every appointment your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for few hours due to Local anesthesia injection. Avoid any chewing on the side of the treated tooth until the numbness has completely worn off. A temporary filling is placed to protect your treated tooth between appointments. It’s common for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out, please call our office so it can be replaced.To protect the tooth and help keep your temporary in place: Avoid hot, sticky foods, hard foods and hard substances, such as ice, fingernails and pencils Chew only on the opposite side of your mouth It’s normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal therapy appointment, especially when chewing. This should go down within a few days (or even weeks). Even if you were not experiencing any discomfort prior to treatment, it is normal for you to experience some degree of discomfort for a few days after treatment Contact your dentist immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: Severe pain or pressure lasting more than a few days Visible swelling inside or outside your mouth An allergic reaction to medication (rash, hives or itching, nausea) Your bite feels uneven If temporary filling comes out completely To control discomfort, take pain medication prescribed by your dentist. If antibiotics are prescribed, complete the course as recommended by dentist, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone It’s important to continue to brush and floss normally After the completion of the root canal procedure, a permanent restoration/filling and a crown/cap is recommended. Failure to have the tooth properly restored with a permanent restoration and crown in a timely manner (generally within 15-30 days) significantly increases the possibility of failure of the root canal procedure or tooth fracture.