Endodontics

Post-Op Instructions

After Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy often takes two or more appointments to complete. A temporary filling or crown is placed to protect the tooth between appointments. After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.

Between appointments it is 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 a temporary crown comes off, call us so that 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 medicine as recommended. To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water (a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit).

If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as prescribed, even after all symptoms and signs of infection are gone. To protect the tooth and keep your temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum), hard foods, and if possible chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. It's important to continue to brush and floss normally.

Usually 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. If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent swelling or pain, or you have any other question or concerns, please call our office.

Post Reinforcement for Weakened Teeth

Root canal therapy requires the removal of a significant amount of the internal portion of a tooth to gain access to the root canals and remove infected materials. If the tooth has had previous restorations (fillings), or has a supported fixed bridge, it may need internal reinforcement to ensure that the root and the crown portions of the tooth are connected together adequately. Various types of posts are used to connect the root and the crown. A post is cemented in the tooth root, and a core, or replacement of the missing portion of the crown is placed on the top of the post.

We plan to place a post in your tooth. The root end of the tooth will remain filled with the root canal filling. The post will be cemented with a strong epoxy-like material that bonds the post and the tooth together.

The "post and core" provided for you allows optimum potential for this tooth to continue to serve in your mouth for many years.

After Crown and Bridge Appointments

Crowns and bridges usually take two or three appointments to complete. On the first appointment the teeth are prepared. Temporary crowns and bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made. After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.

On rare occasions temporary crowns come off. Call us if this happens, and keep the temporary so we can re-cement is. It is very important for the proper fit of your final restoration that temporaries stay in place.

It's normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after each appointment. Your gums may be sore for several days. Rinse three times a day with warm salt water (a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit). Use medication only as directed.

To help keep your temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. It's important to continue to brush normally, but floss very carefully and remove the floss from the side to prevent removal of the temporary crown.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office.

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