Home Care Instructions
Root Canal Therapy
Your tooth and surrounding gum tissue may be sensitive for several days as a result of manipulation during treatment and the previous condition of your tooth. This tenderness is part of the normal healing process and is no cause for alarm. Any discomfort is typically treated by taking over the counter medications such as ibuprofen (e.g. Advil or Motrin) and/or acetaminophen (Tylenol). We typically recommend 600 mg ibuprofen taken with 500 mg acetaminophen. Should you experience discomfort that cannot be controlled by these medications, or should swelling develop, please contact our office immediately.
Endodontic therapy is most often completed by placement of a temporary filling inside your tooth. It is important and critical that you return to your dentist as soon as possible for placement of a permanent filling or crown to seal the tooth from the bacteria in saliva. Do not chew food with the treated tooth until your permanent filling or crown has been placed. This will prevent the tooth from cracking before it is restored.
Endodontic Surgery
The following list details instructions that will help your healing progress an uneventfully as possible.
- Smoking significantly impairs healing following oral surgery. Try to limit smoking as much as possible during the healing phase
- Swelling is a normal response to a surgical procedure. Typically, it worsens up to 72 hours following surgery then progressively decreases. To minimize swelling and bruising, place an ice pack over the treated area in cycles of 20 minutes on then 20 minutes off for the rest of the day. Do not place ice on the area after the first day.
- Do not lift up or stretch your lip to view the surgical area as this may pull open the sutures and affect the reattachment of your gums
- Eat a soft diet and drink plenty of fluids for the first 48 hours
- Take your normal medications at their regular times and take any medications that were given to you as prescribed
- For discomfort, take 600 mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours. If you cannot take ibuprofen, use Tylenol or a prescription pain medication if it was given to you
- Starting the day after your surgery, rinse your mouth with warm salt water 3-4 times per day until your sutures are removed. If a prescription mouthwash was given to you, use it as directed.
- Starting the day after surgery, brush and floss your teeth normally, avoiding only the surgical site until your sutures have been removed.
- Avoid strenuous activity for the first 48 hours following surgery
- If you develop a fever or have severe pain following your surgery or if you have any questions, please contact our office.