After Your Surgery

After your root canal treatment, it is normal to experience some tenderness in your jaw and around the treatment site for a few days. This tenderness can usually be reduced with over-the-counter pain medications. If you are prescribed narcotic medications after your procedure, it is best to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery while using them.

• After your treatment, you may continue to brush and floss normally.
• To avoid biting your cheek or tongue, do not eat anything until your numbness wears off completely.
• Do not chew using the treated tooth until it has been restored by the dentist.
• If the opening in your tooth was restored using a temporary filling, a thin layer may wear off between appointments. However, contact us if you think the entire filling has come out.
• Contact us immediately if you develop any of the following:
  • A visible swelling inside or outside of your mouth
  • An allergic reaction to medication such as a rash, hives or itching
  • A return of the original symptoms
  • An uneven bite

Taking Care of Your Tooth

Root canal treatment is only one step in returning your tooth to full function. A proper final restoration of the tooth is extremely important in ensuring long-term success.

Contact your dentist as soon as possible to arrange your next appointment. If your tooth is being treated in more than one visit by an endodontist, do not return to your dentist for the final restoration until the root canal treatment is completed.

What the Future Holds

The tooth that has had appropriate endodontic treatment followed by a proper restoration can last as long as your other natural teeth. After the tooth has been restored, you need only practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, regular checkups and cleanings.

Your dentist or endodontist may periodically x-ray the tooth to ensure that healing has occurred. Occasionally, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or pain continues. At times, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. Often when this occurs, repeating the endodontic procedure can save the tooth.

Instructions courtesy of the American Association of Endodontists.