Aftercare Instructions for Root Canal Treatment Patients

Your Root Canal may take two or more appointments to complete. When an anesthetic is used, your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for several hours after each appointment. Try to avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off or chew on the opposite side of your restored tooth as it’s easy to accidentally bite (or burn) your tongue or lip.

We’ll place a temporary filling or crown on the treated tooth to protect it until the final restoration has been placed. Between appointments, it is common for a small portion of your temporary filling or crown to wear away or break off, which is perfectly fine. However, if the entire filling or temporary crown comes off, please call our office immediately so we can protect your tooth. To help keep your temporary filling or crown in place, try to avoid:

• Sticky foods (especially gum or caramel)
• Biting hard foods/substances (e.g. ice, fingernails, and pencils)

Though you may not have experienced any discomfort prior to treatment, it’s normal to experience after your root canal/temporary procedure. This includes soreness when chewing, experiencing a dull ache near the root canal/restoration site, and mild irritation and/or gum tenderness—all which typically subside within 7-10 days. To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended by your dentist. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.

Please call us if you experience an uneven bite, persistent pain, swelling, or have any questions or concerns.