What Are The Post-Treatment Instructions?
Your root canal has either been started and/or completed. Your tooth may be sore for a few days and could continue for a few weeks, but will subside daily and should feel back to normal by the fourth week. If this is not the case, please contact our office.
A temporary filling has been placed and your tooth is very susceptible to fracture. As soon as your root canal has been completed, please schedule an appointment with your general dentist to have a filling or crown placed.
Some basic guidelines to follow:
* You may take up to 800mg of Ibuprofen every 6-8 hours if needed for discomfort.
* Warm salt water rinses (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water) may also help.
* Please do not chew on the treated tooth; it could cause the tooth to fracture.
* Do not eat anything that is hard (such as corn nuts) or chewy (such as caramel).
Soft foods will also provide less discomfort during chewing if discomfort is present.
* In some rare cases when infection is present, you might have swelling.
If this occurs please call the office.
* If you have or are given a prescription for an antibiotic, please finish as directed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our office. If it is an emergency and our office is closed, you may reach Dr. Mullally or Dr. Dzingle on their cell; their number will be given on the answering machine. If you would like to leave a message at the office, please do so and we will return your call the following business day.
Will I Need To Return For Additional Visits?
Once endodontic therapy is completed we may request that your tooth be examined periodically. If needed, it will allow us to ensure the tooth has healed or is healing properly.
What Is A Re-treatment?
Occasionally a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment fails to heal or pain continues despite therapy. Although rare, sometimes a tooth initially responds to root canal therapy but becomes painful or diseased months or years later. When either of these situations occur, the tooth often can be maintained with a second endodontic treatment, called retreatment.
