Post-Operative Instructions

If you were having pain to hot and cold prior to your root canal, that pain should be gone once the root canal is complete. Aching, throbbing or radiating pain is normal after the root canal is complete and should be expected for 4-7 days. Pain to biting and chewing is also normal and should be expected for up to 14 days. If you were told your tooth has a crack in it, it may always be painful to biting and chewing certain food. This is normal for a cracked tooth. There is a temporary filling in your tooth. Please call your general dentist today and schedule an appointment to have the tooth restored permanently as soon as possible (within a few weeks).

It is not necessary to wait a certain amount of time to have the tooth restored. Most teeth that have been endodontically treated require a crown (cap) to be placed on the tooth to protect the tooth from fracturing.

Failure to get the crown can result in the loss of the tooth. Protect your investment in the root canal by having the tooth restored as soon as possible. If your tooth is one of the few that does not require a crown, your general dentist will replace the temporary filling with a permanent filling. Do not chew on your tooth until it is permanently restored by your general dentist, and avoid foods that are hard, crunchy or sticky.

To reduce the amount and duration of pain after your root canal, please follow these instructions:

1. Take Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) before the numbness wears off. Ibuprofen is the preferred medication because it reduces inflammation around the tooth, and relieves pain. Although the nerve has been removed from the inside of your tooth, there are nerves and blood vessels in the tissues surrounding your tooth that remain intact. Most often, inflammation in these nerves and blood vessels is the source of pain after the root canal. Take 600 mg (Three over- the-counter tablets that are 200 mg each) every 6 hours for the first three days whether you are having pain or not.

2. If you continue to have discomfort after taking 600 mg of ibuprofen, take an additional 200 mg ibuprofen (total of 800 mg every six hours). Three hours after your last ibuprofen dosage, take 1-2 Extra Strength Tylenol (500 mg acetaminophen). Continue to alternate ibuprofen and Tylenol as needed for up to three days. If you are still having a lot of pain after following these instructions, call our office. Although it is rare to have severe discomfort after a root canal procedure, it is normal. In some cases, we may prescribe additional medications to help control this temporary discomfort.

3. If you are not able to take Ibuprofen, take 1-2 tablets of acetaminophen 500 mg (Extra Strength Tylenol) before the numbness wears off. Continue to take this every 6 hours for 2-3 days. It is normal for a patient that can only take Tylenol to have moderate discomfort following the root canal procedure for several days.

4. In most cases, antibiotics are not necessary, but if you develop swelling, please call our office. If your endodontist has prescribed you antibiotics, take the entire prescription until it is gone, even if your tooth feels fine. Most antibiotics can cause an upset stomach and/or diarrhea. If diarrhea occurs, discontinue the antibiotic and call the office.

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Frequently Asked Questions

My tooth still hurts after the root canal. Is this normal?

Yes. This is normal. Every tooth is different, and every patient is different. Some patients will have no pain following the procedure, and some patients will have a lot of pain following the procedure. It can take 4-5 days to notice any improvement in symptoms. Your tooth may even feel worse after the procedure for a few days before starting to improve. If you are having aching or throbbing pain, this usually will start to improve after 4-5 days. If you are having pain to biting and chewing, this will usually improve after 10-14 days.

Is it normal to feel like I have a hole in my tooth?

Yes. We made a hole in your tooth to access the root canal system. We placed a temporary filling, and we leave it lower than the rest of your tooth on purpose. It may feel to your tongue like the filling has fallen out, but it is rare for the filling to fall out if you have followed our post- operative instructions.

Is it normal to have swelling in my face or in the gum tissue around my tooth?

Yes, this is also normal. If you have a lot of swelling, please call our office. We may need to prescribe additional medication to help reduce the swelling.

How long will I be numb after the root canal?

Usually, patients will start to regain feeling in the area about 2-3 hours after the root canal procedure. However, it is normal to be numb for up to eight hours afterward.

Do I need a crown after the root canal?

It depends on which tooth was treated and if the tooth already has a crown. Most teeth will need a crown unless the tooth already has a crown. If your tooth has a crown on it, most of the time it will not need a new one. Your general dentist will advise you on the proper restoration for the tooth when you return to their office after the root canal.

How long should I wait before seeing my general dentist?

There is no waiting period before seeing your general dentist. You should call their office for an appointment right away.

Can I brush and floss?

Yes! Please brush and floss your teeth. Be gentle in the area where the temporary filling was placed.

Is it normal for my tooth to hurt when I press on it?

Yes, this is normal. Your tooth has a small ligament that attaches it to your jaw bone. This ligament will become inflamed after the root canal procedure. When you press on your tooth, you are pressing it up against this ligament, which will cause pain. The more you press the tooth against the ligament, the longer that ligament will remain inflamed.

I was told my tooth has a crack in it, is it normal to still have pain when I press on it or bite on certain foods?

Yes, this is normal for a cracked tooth. You should be able to eat most foods comfortably, but chewing on certain things in certain directions will result in pain in a cracked tooth, and this is normal.

My tooth still hurts after the root canal. Is this normal?

Yes. This is normal. Every tooth is different, and every patient is different. Some patients will have no pain following the procedure, and some patients will have a lot of pain following the procedure. It can take 4-5 days to notice any improvement in symptoms. Your tooth may even feel worse after the procedure for a few days before starting to improve. If you are having aching or throbbing pain, this usually will start to improve after 4-5 days. If you are having pain to biting and chewing, this will usually improve after 10-14 days.

Is it normal to feel like I have a hole in my tooth?

Yes. We made a hole in your tooth to access the root canal system. We placed a temporary filling, and we leave it lower than the rest of your tooth on purpose. It may feel to your tongue like the filling has fallen out, but it is rare for the filling to fall out if you have followed our post- operative instructions.

Is it normal to have swelling in my face or in the gum tissue around my tooth?

Yes, this is also normal. If you have a lot of swelling, please call our office. We may need to prescribe additional medication to help reduce the swelling.

How long will I be numb after the root canal?

Usually, patients will start to regain feeling in the area about 2-3 hours after the root canal procedure. However, it is normal to be numb for up to eight hours afterward.

Do I need a crown after the root canal?

It depends on which tooth was treated and if the tooth already has a crown. Most teeth will need a crown unless the tooth already has a crown. If your tooth has a crown on it, most of the time it will not need a new one. Your general dentist will advise you on the proper restoration for the tooth when you return to their office after the root canal.

How long should I wait before seeing my general dentist?

There is no waiting period before seeing your general dentist. You should call their office for an appointment right away.

Can I brush and floss?

Yes! Please brush and floss your teeth. Be gentle in the area where the temporary filling was placed.

Is it normal for my tooth to hurt when I press on it?

Yes, this is normal. Your tooth has a small ligament that attaches it to your jaw bone. This ligament will become inflamed after the root canal procedure. When you press on your tooth, you are pressing it up against this ligament, which will cause pain. The more you press the tooth against the ligament, the longer that ligament will remain inflamed.

I was told my tooth has a crack in it, is it normal to still have pain when I press on it or bite on certain foods?

Yes, this is normal for a cracked tooth. You should be able to eat most foods comfortably, but chewing on certain things in certain directions will result in pain in a cracked tooth, and this is normal.

My tooth still hurts after the root canal. Is this normal?

Yes. This is normal. Every tooth is different, and every patient is different. Some patients will have no pain following the procedure, and some patients will have a lot of pain following the procedure. It can take 4-5 days to notice any improvement in symptoms. Your tooth may even feel worse after the procedure for a few days before starting to improve. If you are having aching or throbbing pain, this usually will start to improve after 4-5 days. If you are having pain to biting and chewing, this will usually improve after 10-14 days.

Is it normal to feel like I have a hole in my tooth?

Yes. We made a hole in your tooth to access the root canal system. We placed a temporary filling, and we leave it lower than the rest of your tooth on purpose. It may feel to your tongue like the filling has fallen out, but it is rare for the filling to fall out if you have followed our post- operative instructions.

Is it normal to have swelling in my face or in the gum tissue around my tooth?

Yes, this is also normal. If you have a lot of swelling, please call our office. We may need to prescribe additional medication to help reduce the swelling.

How long will I be numb after the root canal?

Usually, patients will start to regain feeling in the area about 2-3 hours after the root canal procedure. However, it is normal to be numb for up to eight hours afterward.

Do I need a crown after the root canal?

It depends on which tooth was treated and if the tooth already has a crown. Most teeth will need a crown unless the tooth already has a crown. If your tooth has a crown on it, most of the time it will not need a new one. Your general dentist will advise you on the proper restoration for the tooth when you return to their office after the root canal.

How long should I wait before seeing my general dentist?

There is no waiting period before seeing your general dentist. You should call their office for an appointment right away.

Can I brush and floss?

Yes! Please brush and floss your teeth. Be gentle in the area where the temporary filling was placed.

Is it normal for my tooth to hurt when I press on it?

Yes, this is normal. Your tooth has a small ligament that attaches it to your jaw bone. This ligament will become inflamed after the root canal procedure. When you press on your tooth, you are pressing it up against this ligament, which will cause pain. The more you press the tooth against the ligament, the longer that ligament will remain inflamed.

I was told my tooth has a crack in it, is it normal to still have pain when I press on it or bite on certain foods?

Yes, this is normal for a cracked tooth. You should be able to eat most foods comfortably, but chewing on certain things in certain directions will result in pain in a cracked tooth, and this is normal.

My tooth still hurts after the root canal. Is this normal?

Yes. This is normal. Every tooth is different, and every patient is different. Some patients will have no pain following the procedure, and some patients will have a lot of pain following the procedure. It can take 4-5 days to notice any improvement in symptoms. Your tooth may even feel worse after the procedure for a few days before starting to improve. If you are having aching or throbbing pain, this usually will start to improve after 4-5 days. If you are having pain to biting and chewing, this will usually improve after 10-14 days.

Is it normal to feel like I have a hole in my tooth?

Yes. We made a hole in your tooth to access the root canal system. We placed a temporary filling, and we leave it lower than the rest of your tooth on purpose. It may feel to your tongue like the filling has fallen out, but it is rare for the filling to fall out if you have followed our post- operative instructions.

Is it normal to have swelling in my face or in the gum tissue around my tooth?

Yes, this is also normal. If you have a lot of swelling, please call our office. We may need to prescribe additional medication to help reduce the swelling.

How long will I be numb after the root canal?

Usually, patients will start to regain feeling in the area about 2-3 hours after the root canal procedure. However, it is normal to be numb for up to eight hours afterward.

Do I need a crown after the root canal?

It depends on which tooth was treated and if the tooth already has a crown. Most teeth will need a crown unless the tooth already has a crown. If your tooth has a crown on it, most of the time it will not need a new one. Your general dentist will advise you on the proper restoration for the tooth when you return to their office after the root canal.

How long should I wait before seeing my general dentist?

There is no waiting period before seeing your general dentist. You should call their office for an appointment right away.

Can I brush and floss?

Yes! Please brush and floss your teeth. Be gentle in the area where the temporary filling was placed.

Is it normal for my tooth to hurt when I press on it?

Yes, this is normal. Your tooth has a small ligament that attaches it to your jaw bone. This ligament will become inflamed after the root canal procedure. When you press on your tooth, you are pressing it up against this ligament, which will cause pain. The more you press the tooth against the ligament, the longer that ligament will remain inflamed.

I was told my tooth has a crack in it, is it normal to still have pain when I press on it or bite on certain foods?

Yes, this is normal for a cracked tooth. You should be able to eat most foods comfortably, but chewing on certain things in certain directions will result in pain in a cracked tooth, and this is normal.

If you have additional questions following your root canal, please call our office. If you are calling after office hours, you can leave a message and someone will call you back. If you are calling after 8 p.m., you may not get a call back until the following morning. When you leave a message, please clearly state your name, phone number and the reason for the call. If you are requesting a call back, please have the phone number of your pharmacy ready in case we feel it is necessary to prescribe additional medications.