After Completion of Endodontic Treatment

Now that your root canal has been completed, the inflammed or infected tissue that was inside your tooth is gone. It is normal to feel some tenderness in the area over the next several days. This soreness is due to inflammation around the root of the tooth and inflammation in the jaw muscles or joint from being open for an extended period of time. Your tooth should feel better each day. These symptoms are temporary and are usually controlled with over-the-counter medication. Our recommendation is an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen. A good anti-inflammatory dose would be 600mg - 800mg ibuprofen every 6 hours for a healthy adult. If you are unable to take ibuprofen, please contact us for an alternative pain medication. Remember that narcotic medications, if prescribed, may make you drowsy, and caution should be taken in operating machinery or driving. Narcotic pain medication can also upset your stomach. It is best to take these medications with food.

If your tooth continues to cause pain or you experience any swelling, please contact the office at (480) 807-8022.

Guidelines for Post-Treatment Care

• Do not eat until the numbness has worn off. This will prevent you from biting your cheek or tongue.
  If you have a temporary filling, do not chew or bite on the tooth until it has been restored by your dentist.
  
• Brush and floss your teeth as you normally would.
  
• If you have a temporary filling, it is not unusual for a thin layer or small piece to break off between appointments. If you feel that the entire filling has come out, then please contact us.
  
• Please contact us if you experience any severe pain or swelling.
  
• A complete report of treatment will be sent to your general dentist. Included in your treatment is a follow-up examination to evaluate the progress of healing. This appointment will require only a few minutes and no additional fee will be charged for the check-up visit. Your follow-up appointment will be scheduled between 6 and 12 months following your root canal.