The root canal system inside your tooth has been thoroughly cleaned. The infected tissue and bacteria that caused you to need root canal treatment have been removed.

It is normal to feel some tenderness in the area over the next several days as your body undergoes the natural healing process. You may also feel some tenderness in your jaw from keeping it open for an extended period of time. These symptoms are temporary and usually respond very well to over-the-counter pain medications.  It is important for you to follow the instructions on how to take these medications.  Remember that narcotic medications, if prescribed, may make you drowsy and caution should be exercised in operating dangerous machinery or driving a car after taking them.

Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your root canal treatment has been completed.  

Do not eat or drink anything for a minimum of one hour, or until your numbness wears off.  The temporary filling is soft and needs time to harden or it may come out.

Do not eat anything hard or chewy on the treated tooth until it has permanently been restored by your general dentist.  (No nuts, granola, chewy cuts of meat, sticky candies – like skittles, etc.)

Be sure to brush and floss your teeth as you normally do, being cautious with the treated area, unless instructed otherwise by the dentist.

Contact our office promptly if you develop:

                * Visible swelling

                * Excessive pain that lasts more than 4 days

                * An allergic reaction to medication, including rash, hives or itching (Nausea is not an allergic reaction)

                * The temporary comes out

                * A return of original symptoms, or

                * Your bite feels uneven.

Root canal treatment is only one step in returning your tooth to full function.  A proper final restoration of the tooth is extremely important to ensuring long-term success.

Contact your general dentist to arrange your next appointment for the permanent restoration, normally a crown, within 30 days from the completion of your root canal.  If your tooth is being treated in more than one visit by the endodontist, you will need to wait to return to your general dentist for the final restoration until the root canal is fully completed.

Delaying the placement of a final restoration could result in the temporary leaking, which would contaminate the canals with bacteria and possibly result in failure of the root canal.  Root canal teeth are also more prone to cracking and breaking, so getting a permanent restoration in a timely manner is imperative.   If the tooth were to become contaminated or break, it ultimately may result in loss of the tooth.