Table of Content:

What should you do after receiving root canal treatment?

root-canal-orange-county
Almost all root canal treated teeth will require a permanent restoration, typically a crown, to ensure its long-term success

Root canal treatment is a procedure that removes your tooth nerve and saves your tooth. When you receive a root canal, your dentist removes the tooth’s entire nerve. This eliminates pain and infection while at the same time allowing you to keep your bad tooth. Here are some basic instructions you should follow after receiving a root canal treatment:

Modify your diet

Do not eat anything until your numbness has fully worn off. This way, you won’t have to worry about accidentally biting your cheek or tongue. Also, be careful with chewing or biting on the treated tooth for the first few days, especially with hard food items. Root canal treated teeth are usually very tender for 2 to 3 days and you should be very careful with them.

Take it easy

Take good care of your root canal treated tooth for the next few days. Often times, your dentist puts a temporary filling or temporary crown in your. It’s not unusual for this temporary filling to fall off before your next appointment. Should this happen, you can contact your dentist to have the temporary restoration replaced. If you can’t see your dentist right away, you can try using a temporary filling sold at your local pharmacy to seal the tooth. If you’re not in pain, then it’s typically okay to wait until your next appointment. You could stay without the temporary filling for a few days, but be sure to see your dentist in the next few weeks.

Take your medications

Dentists typically recommend some type of painkillers to take after your root canal appointment. If you have an infection, you will also be prescribed an antibiotic. Take your medication over the next several days to eliminate pain and infection. Try taking Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) 400 to 800 mg every 6 to 8 hours. If you can’t take non-steroidal medications like Ibuprofen, then take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 500 mg every 6 to 8 hours. Be sure to take your medication as prescribed by your dentist.

When should you contact your dentist if you’re having pain after root canal treatment?

It’s not unusual to experience some level of pain and discomfort after your root canal treatment. The pain usually goes away within 2 to 3 days after treatment. However, it may linger on for a week or even longer. Contact your dentist or endodontist should you develop any of the following symptoms,:

  • An allergic reaction to medication, including rash, hives or itching (nausea is not an allergic reaction)
  • Excruciating pain that can not be managed with your medications
  • If your bite feels very uneven or uncomfortable to the point that you can’t chew on the tooth

What else do I need to do after finishing my root canal treatment?

don’t forget, getting a root canal treatment is only the first step in returning your tooth back to its original form. Root canal treated teeth require a proper final restoration, typically a crown, to ensure long-term success. We recommend that you have your tooth restored within a few weeks after completing your root canal therapy. If you wait much longer, there’s the possibility that your tooth fractures and you lose the tooth, despite having completed the root canal itself. Your dentist will discuss the need for a filling or crown and schedule you accordingly. Continue being careful chewing and brushing on your tooth until the permanent restoration has been placed on it.