919-479-5800
3823 Guess Road, Suite PRoot canal therapy is a last attempt to save a tooth, and not all teeth can be maintained even after root canal treatment. Therapy can take one or two appointments, depending on each case. A temporary filling is placed to protect the tooth between appointments. When your root canal in Durham, North Carolina, is complete, the canals inside the dental roots will be cleaned, irrigated, medicated and permanently sealed.
What to expect after your treatment:
- It is not uncommon for a tooth to be uncomfortable or even exhibit a dull ache immediately after receiving root-canal therapy. This is created by inflammation and swelling that naturally occurs in the healing process. This should subside within a few days or weeks.
- Your tooth will be sensitive to biting pressure and may even appear to feel loose. This feeling is a result of the sensitivity of nerve endings in the tissue just outside the end of the root, where we cleaned, irrigated and placed filler and sealer material. Bruising and discomfort may occur in this area for a few days to a couple of weeks. Warm saltwater rinses for the next two days will help. Avoid chewing on the side of the treated tooth until the tenderness is gone.
- Occasionally, a small bubble or “pimple” will appear on the gum tissue within a few days after completion of a root canal. This is the release of pressure and bacteria which the tooth no longer sustains. This should disappear within a few days.
- The gums may be sore, and the tooth may be tender when biting or chewing. This occurs because the nerves around the tooth become inflamed. Inflammation may be caused by conditions that existed before treatment or because of the manipulation of the tooth during treatment.
- Between appointments, it is common for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. Usually this does not pose a problem. If the entire filling falls out, or if a temporary crown comes off, call us at 919-479-5800 so that it can be replaced. To protect the tooth and 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.
What to do:
- While your mouth is numb, please do not chew or attempt to eat on the side of your mouth that has been worked on.
- To reduce swelling, rinse three times a day with warm saltwater. (Mix a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse, swish and spit.)
- Sleep with your head in an elevated position for the first few nights, if possible.
- Please take any prescribed medication as directed by our dentists. If you are given antibiotics, please take the full course of medication until finished. If you were given a prescription for pain, it is meant to help you with more serious discomfort only for a couple of days.
- Whenever possible, try to chew on the opposite side from the tooth we have just treated until you have a crown in place. Please avoid crunchy or hard foods which could cause the tooth without a crown to fracture.
- We recommend you take something for pain relief within one hour of leaving our office, to get the medication into your blood system before the anesthesia we administered begins to subside. Generally, only one dose is needed. We recommend taking 600 mg (three tablets) of ibuprofen, alternating with 1000mg of Tylenol® for the next three to four days to help control the sensitivity in this area. Aspirin and aspirin-containing products are NOT advisable, as they tend to increase bleeding from the area that was treated.
Remember that delaying a final restoration (crown) may result in fractures or even the possible loss of the tooth! Please call Willowdaile Cosmetic and Family at 919-479-5800 with any questions or concerns you might have. Dr. Simran Kaur and Dr. Matthew Garcia are always here to help!
