Home Care Instructions for Endodontic Visit

You have just received treatment known as endodontic or root canal treatment.  Any unnecessary old filling material as well as decay, if present, was removed.  The pulp tissue was removed and a medication was sealed within your tooth.  PLEASE DO NOT eat any hard food substances (ice, popcorn kernels, hard candy, etc.) on that side of your mouth until further notice or you may fracture the tooth.  After endodontic treatment is completed in most cases a crown will be required until you can use it normally again.  As always you should brush and floss your teeth as usual. When the numbness wears off, one of the following events may occur:

  1. Most frequently the tooth will be completely comfortable as soon as the anesthetic wears off.  This occurs about 95% of the time.
  2. If your tooth was painful to pressure (chewing) when the treatment began, this sensation may linger or intensify for a few days before subsiding, not unlike a healing wound elsewhere on your body.  The only treatment necessary during this period is prescription medication.  If you need a refill of what has been prescribed, please call.
  3. Occasionally, the work accomplished on your tooth may create pain which you did not have when your treatment begain.  This may even begin a day or two later.  Again, although not pleasant this is normal and usually handled by prescription medication. If the tooth becomes severely pressure sensitive, an injection and additional prescription of an anti-inflamatory drug usually offers dramatic relief.  If you feel you need such an injection or prescription please call us.
  4. Sometimes, the area around your tooth may begin to swell after treatment.  This means an infection is present and it is imperative that you begin taking an antibiotic. Please call us so we may get you in for another evaluation and prescribe the appropriate medication.
  5. If you were swollen and or infected when we began your treatment, the swelling may take several days to subside.  This is normal so have patience and take your medication faithfully.  If the swelling persists or worsens please inform us immediately.

Many patients confuse pain and infection.  A painful or pressure sensitive tooth is NOT necessarily infected.  However, if your tooth showed evidence of an infection we would have already given you a prescription for an antibiotic.  As stated above, sometimes clinical signs of an infection do not become evident until your visit.  If you should develop swelling or start running a fever, please call so we may prescribe an antibiotic.  If you have any questions regarding these instructions or any phase of your treatment, please call me.