Post Treatment Care

After your procedure, your endodontist will send you home with instructions for pain management and how to care for your tooth while recovering from treatment and until a follow-up visit. Following guidelines for care is especially important if a temporary filling or crown is in place.

As the medication used to numb your mouth during the procedure wears off, you may feel some tenderness in the area for a few days as everything heals and some mild soreness in your jaw from keeping your mouth open for an extended period during the procedure. These temporary symptoms usually respond well to over-the-counter medication but your doctor may prescribe stronger, narcotic medication as well. It’s important to carefully follow the instructions for medications and that narcotics can make you drowsy so you should exercise caution when taking them and driving a car or operating dangerous machinery.

Though you may experience a slightly different sensation from your treated tooth than your other teeth for some time, you should contact your endodontist immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Severe pain or pressure lasting more than a few days
  • Visible swelling inside or outside your mouth
  • An allergic reaction to medication (rash, hives or itching)
  • Your bite feels uneven
  • The temporary crown or filling, if one was put in place, comes out (losing a thin layer is normal)
  • Symptoms you experienced prior to treatment return

For even more information on root canals, click to visit our Root Canals Explained page that offers a step-by-step explanation of the procedure, benefits and more.

Root Canals Explained

After a root canal, it's important to take special care of the affected tooth for a few weeks or until your tooth is fully restored by your endodontist or dentist recommends otherwise. You can brush and floss as usual, but make sure to be gentle around the treated area. Avoid chewing on hard foods or using the treated tooth for biting down heavily until you've been cleared by your endodontist or dentist.

You should not chew, drink hot or cold liquids, or smoke for the first hour. Additionally, smoking can interfere with the healing process and should be avoided.

Once your root canal and any follow-up appointments are completed, you’ll need to return to your dentist for a final crown to fully restore the tooth. It’s important to make this appointment as soon as your endodontist completes work on your tooth. A properly treated and restored tooth can last as long as your natural teeth.

Take care of your teeth by brushing, flossing, regular checkups and cleanings and be sure to return to your dentist and/or endodontist if you experience pain or swelling in the future. It’s possible for a properly treated tooth to require treatment again even years after a first procedure but often when this occurs the tooth can be saved.

Endodontists are specialists in saving teeth. Learn more about why you should see an endodontist

Why See An Endodontist