While you are numb
Root canal therapy can take multiple appointments to complete. Your teeth, lips, tongue and cheeks may be numb for several hours after each appointment when anesthetic has been used. Avoid chewing on the side of the treated tooth until the numbness has completely worn off.
Protect your tooth
A temporary filling or crown may be placed to protect the tooth between appointments. It's not uncommon for a small portion of your temporary filling or crown to break off or wear away.
To prevent breaking your temporary filling/crown:
- Avoid chewing sticky foods such as gum, toffee, and caramels.
- Avoid biting on hard foods or objects such as ice, fingernails, and pencils.
- If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.
If the entire filling falls out, or if the temporary crown comes off between appointments, please call us so it can be replaced.
What to expect
You may experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal therapy appointment, especially when chewing. This discomfort should subside within a few days, although it may occasionally last longer. Even if you were not experiencing any pain prior to the treatment, some degree of discomfort for a few days is not uncommon.
Comfort and medications
To control discomfort, take the recommended pain medication: two 500 mg tablets of acetaminophen (Tylenol) together with three 200 mg tablets of ibuprofen (Advil) every 8 hours as needed for pain for the next 1-2 days. Do not take these medications if your physician has advised against them or if you experience side effects. Rinsing three times a day with warm salt water may further reduce your discomfort and swelling. It's also important to continue to brush and floss normally.
If your provider prescribed antibiotics, continue taking them as directed on the prescription, even if your symptoms have resolved.
When to call us
A flare-up is an episode of acute pain with possible swelling due to a strong immune response. It occasionally occurs 1-2 days after root canal treatment. If you experience intensifying discomfort that cannot be controlled with over-the-counter pain medications or swelling develops, please call us on 708-580-0010 .
Your final crown
Usually, the last step of a tooth treatment is the placement of a crown (tooth-colored cap), unless your general dentist advises otherwise. A crown covers and protects the tooth from breaking in the future so it should be placed within 30 days after root canal treatment is completed.
Delaying crown placement may result in a fracture or even loss of the tooth.
“Thank you for trusting us with your care”- PE team