You have just made a significant investment in your oral health by undergoing root canal therapy. At Pershing Family Dental, we understand that hearing you need a root canal can be stressful, but this procedure is one of the best ways to save a natural tooth and eliminate infection. Now that the treatment is complete, the next phase begins: your recovery at home.
The long-term success of your root canal depends heavily on how you care for your tooth in the coming days and weeks. It’s completely normal to have questions about what to do next. This guide is designed to walk you through the recovery process with clear, easy-to-follow instructions, ensuring you heal comfortably and without complications.
Immediately After Your Appointment
Root canal therapy can take one or two appointments. After each visit where an anesthetic was used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours. This sensation is normal but requires caution.
While the area is numb, it is very easy to bite your lip, cheek, or tongue without realizing it. To prevent this, it is crucial that you avoid any chewing on the treated side of your mouth until the numbness has completely worn off. Until you have full feeling back, it’s best to stick to liquids or soft foods that don’t require chewing.
Protecting Your Temporary Restoration
To safeguard your tooth between appointments, your dentist has placed a temporary filling or crown. This restoration serves as a protective barrier, but it is not as durable as the final crown will be. Therefore, it needs a little extra care.
It is common for a small piece of your temporary filling to wear away or even chip. This is not usually a cause for concern. However, if the entire filling falls out or the temporary crown comes completely off, please call our office so we can replace it. A missing temporary can expose the tooth to bacteria and food debris.
To help keep your temporary restoration in place:
- Avoid Sticky Foods: Chewy foods, especially gum, can grab onto the temporary filling and pull it out.
- Steer Clear of Hard Foods: Do not bite down on hard substances like ice, nuts, or hard candies. Also, be mindful of habits like chewing on pens or your fingernails.
- Chew on the Opposite Side: Whenever possible, chew only on the side of your mouth opposite the treated tooth to minimize stress on the temporary restoration.
Managing Post-Treatment Discomfort
Experiencing some discomfort for several days after a root canal is normal, particularly when you chew. It is not uncommon for the tooth to feel tender or have a dull ache right after treatment. This occurs because the surrounding tissues are healing from the infection and the procedure itself.
Even if your tooth was not painful before the appointment, it is normal to feel some degree of discomfort for a few days afterward. This tenderness is expected and is not a sign of a problem. The discomfort should gradually subside within a few days, though for some, it may linger for a week or more.
To control any discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. If we did not prescribe a specific pain reliever, over-the-counter medications are very effective. We recommend ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) for dental pain. If you experience discomfort that cannot be managed with these medications, or if you develop swelling, please call our office.
Oral Hygiene and Home Care
Continuing your oral hygiene routine is essential for a smooth recovery.
- Medications: If you were prescribed antibiotics, continue to take them for the entire duration indicated on the bottle. It is vital to finish the full course, even if all your symptoms of infection are gone.
- Warm Salt Water Rinses: To help reduce pain and swelling, you can rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, then gently swish the solution before spitting it out.
- Brushing and Flossing: It is important to continue to brush and floss your teeth normally. Just be gentle around the treated area to avoid irritating the tender gums.
The Most Important Final Step: The Crown
A root canal saves the tooth from infection, but the procedure can leave the tooth structure more brittle. Therefore, the final step after root canal treatment is usually the placement of a permanent crown. This is not an optional add-on; it is a critical part of ensuring the tooth’s long-term survival.
A crown acts like a helmet, covering the entire tooth and protecting it from breaking under the forces of chewing. Unless your dentist has noted otherwise, it is critical to have a crown placed on your root-canal-treated tooth as soon as possible. Delaying this final restoration can lead to a fracture, which might result in the loss of the tooth we all worked so hard to save.
When to Call Pershing Family Dental
Your health and comfort are our top priorities. While some tenderness is part of the healing process, we want you to call our office if you experience any of the following:
- Persistent pain that is not controlled by over-the-counter pain medication.
- Visible swelling inside or outside your mouth.
- An allergic reaction to medication (e.g., rash, hives, or itching).
- Your bite feels uneven after the numbness has worn off.
- The entire temporary filling or crown falls out.
By following these simple instructions, you are taking an active role in your recovery. We are proud to be your partners in achieving a healthy, lasting smile.