After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid hot drinks and any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off so as not to accidentally burn or bite your tongue or lips.

Root canal therapy often requires two or more appointments. Between appointments, it’s common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out, or it a temporary crown comes off, please call the office so it can be replaced.

It’s normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment, especially when chewing. 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.

To further reduce pain and swelling, please rinse your mouth with warm salt water 3 times a day (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit).

To protect the tooth and help you keep your temporary in place:

     · Avoid chewing sticky foods (especially bubble gum).

     · Avoid hard foods and hard substances such as ice, fingernails and pencils.

     · If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.

It’s important to continue to brush and floss normal. The last step after root canal treatment is the placement of a crown on the tooth. A crown covers and protects the tooth from breaking in the future. A small percentage of teeth do not respond well to root canal therapy and may eventually need an extraction.

If your bite feels uneven, or you have persistent pain, or you have any other questions and/or concerns, please feel free to contact us.