Following Root Canal Therapy or Root Canal Retreatment:

1. The treated tooth is commonly very tender to touch, biting, tapping or chewing for a few days after treatment. Please do not chew on that side.
2. Discomfort usually subsides in a couple of days, but may last as long as a few weeks. Improvement will be gradual.
3. The treated tooth, the injection sites, as well as the soft tissues around the tooth will feel sore and tender.
4. We usually recommend a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen (aka Advil, Motrin), naproxen sodium (aka Aleve), or aspirin (aka Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin) for at least three to five days following treatment. If you cannot take any anti-inflammatory medication, then take extra-strength acetaminophen (aka Tylenol). If any of the recommended analgesics are not effective in relieving the pain, please call the office.
5. Take all prescribed medication as directed.
6. If while taking the analgesics as prescribed, you experience any swelling or after initially feeling better get significantly worse two or three days later, please call the office.
7. There is usually no necessary "waiting period" for you to see your general dentist for the final restoration. Unless otherwise indicated, have the tooth restored as soon as possible. Do not wait more than two to four weeks.
8. We perform a recall exam at about six months after the treatment to be sure that healing is progressing well and that normal function of your tooth is restored. Please come in for your recall exam. There is no charge for this visit.

Following Surgical Endodontics (Apicoectomy):

1. Do not lift or pull on lips. This may cause tearing out of the sutures.
2. Some swelling and discoloration is normal and will gradually disappear.
3. To minimize swelling, use ice pack application on the face, over the operated area. The pack should be used for twenty minutes on and then twenty minutes off - and should be continued throughout the first day only.
4. If your tooth throbs, keep your head elevated, even when lying down.
5. Refrain from any strenuous activity.
6. Starting the day after, gently rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup of warm water) after meals (at least twice daily). Continue this rinsing for one week.
7. Recall that you have a wound and sutures (aka stitches) in your mouth. Eat foods that will be nourishing but will not irritate or leave particles in the wound. Soft, non-irritating foods include cooked vegetables, yogurt, omelets, pastas, soups, mashed potatoes, broiled fish. Irritating foods include anything hard, sharp, or particulate such as crusty breads, sesame or poppy seeds, nuts, chips, raw fruits and vegetables. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids.
8. Slight bleeding, pain or swelling, during the first couple of days, is normal. At night, protect your pillow from oozing by putting a bath towel over it.
9. Brush and floss all the teeth where there are no sutures. You may slowly and gently brush the teeth with sutures, but refrain from flossing. Use only the prescribed mouthwash for the first week, then you may use your regular mouthwash.
10. For pain - ibuprofen is usually recommended. However, we tailor your analgesic regimen to your needs. Please follow the instruction of the your doctor concerning your medication(s).
11. If there is an elevated temperature, excessive bleeding, swelling or uncontrolled discomfort, please call the office.
12. There will be at least one follow-up appointment. Additional follow-up appointments may be necessary.
13. We sometimes like to perform a follow-up exam two to six months after the treatment to be sure that you have regained normal function with the tooth, and determine the presence of bone healing. There is no charge for this recall visit.