Post-Operative Root Canal Care

What to Expect After Treatment

Root canal treatment may require one or more appointments depending on the tooth and the condition being treated.

If local anesthetic was used, your lips, tongue, cheek, teeth, or surrounding tissues may remain numb for several hours.
Avoid chewing while numb to prevent accidentally biting your cheek, lip, or tongue.
Mild to moderate tenderness is common for several days following root canal treatment.
The treated tooth may feel sore when biting or chewing.
Some patients notice a dull ache after treatment even if the tooth was not painful beforehand.
This discomfort should gradually improve as the surrounding tissues heal.

Temporary Filling or Crown

A temporary filling or temporary crown may be placed to protect the tooth between appointments or until the final restoration is completed.

A small amount of temporary filling material may wear down or chip.
If the entire temporary filling comes out or a temporary crown comes off, contact our office.
Avoid sticky or chewy foods that could dislodge the temporary restoration.
Avoid biting extremely hard foods or objects such as ice, pens, pencils, or fingernails.
When possible, chew on the opposite side until the tooth has received its final restoration.

Pain Control & Medications

Take any prescribed or recommended medication exactly as directed.
Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be recommended when appropriate for you.
Do not exceed the recommended dosage.
Do not combine different NSAID medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, unless specifically instructed to do so.
If antibiotics were prescribed, take them exactly as directed.
Do not change the dose or discontinue a prescribed medication unless instructed by our office or another healthcare professional.
Contact our office if pain becomes severe, progressively worsens, or cannot be adequately controlled with the recommended medication.

Oral Hygiene & Rinsing

Continue brushing and flossing normally unless you were given different instructions.
Be gentle around a temporary restoration.
Warm salt-water rinses may help soothe irritated gum tissue.
To make a salt-water rinse:
- Dissolve approximately 1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
- Gently rinse and spit.
Do not aggressively rinse if the surrounding tissues are particularly tender.

Bite & Tooth Sensation

The treated tooth may initially feel slightly different from the surrounding teeth.
Mild tenderness when biting can occur following root canal treatment.
If the tooth feels noticeably high or your bite feels uneven, contact our office.
A bite adjustment may occasionally be needed.

Final Restoration & Long-Term Care

A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment often requires a permanent restoration to protect it and restore normal function.

Complete the final restoration within the timeframe recommended by your dentist.
Posterior teeth frequently require a crown or other cuspal-coverage restoration because they may be more susceptible to fracture after root canal treatment.
Some teeth, particularly certain anterior teeth, may not require a crown depending on the amount of remaining tooth structure and the clinical situation.
Avoid excessive chewing on the treated tooth until the permanent restoration has been completed.
Delaying the final restoration may increase the risk of fracture, leakage, or reinfection.
Follow-up examinations and radiographs may be recommended to evaluate healing around the root of the tooth.
The timing of follow-up imaging will depend on the individual tooth and your dentist’s recommendation.

IMPORTANT — DO NOT:

DO NOT chew while your mouth is numb.
DO NOT chew extremely hard or sticky foods on a tooth with a temporary restoration.
DO NOT bite ice, fingernails, pens, pencils, or other hard objects.
DO NOT ignore a lost or broken temporary filling or crown.
DO NOT exceed the recommended dose of pain medication.
DO NOT combine ibuprofen and naproxen unless specifically instructed.
DO NOT delay your final restoration beyond the timeframe recommended by your dentist.
DO NOT ignore significant swelling, severe pain, or a bite that feels noticeably uneven.

When to Call Our Office

Please contact our office if you experience:

This document is the property of John E. Sullivan DDS, P.C. and is intended for use within this practice only.