Root Canal Instructions

It is not uncommon to be uncomfortable or even exhibit a dull ache immediately after receiving root-canal therapy. This should subside within a few days (or even weeks).

This occurs because of conditions, which existed before treatment was started. Experience shows that if there was pain prior to treatment there maybe a degree of pain that will continue for a few days after the procedure. Remember that pain radiates. You may feel sensations of discomfort that are not related to the treated area during the healing process. This can be created by inflammation in this area and/or due to increase in blood volume that natural occurs in the healing process.

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-ending in the tissue just outside the end of the root, where we cleaned, irrigated and placed filler and sealer material. Discomfort in this area for a few days to a couple of weeks is common.

Warm salt-water rinses for the next two days will help, and avoid chewing on this side until all 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 represents the release of pressure and bacteria which no longer can be sustained around the tooth. This should disappear within a few days.

The gums may be sore and the tooth may be tender when biting or chewing. These conditions exist because the nerves around the tooth have been inflamed because of the conditions that existed before treatment was started and due to the manipulation of the tooth during treatment.

We recommend you take something for the increased sensitivity in this area 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 ibuprofen (Nuprin, Advil, Motrin)-two to four tablets, which may be taken four times a day if needed. If you have a medical condition or gastrointestinal disorder, which precludes ibuprofen, acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin) can be a good substitute, although it does not contain anti-inflammatory properties.

Sleep with your head in an elevated position for the first few nights if you do not have any physical limitations. Avoid very hot or cold foods during the healing process.

Extraction Instructions

Numbness of your lip, tongue or palate will persist for several hours. Do not chew gum, eat, drink hot liquids or smoke until the anesthetic has worn off to prevent injury from accidentally biting or burning yourself.

Bite on the gauze for 30 minutes in order to promote blood clot formation. If bleeding continues, repeat the process with dampened gauze or gauze soaked in tea. Slight oozing may continue for a few days. If bleeding continues longer or is heavy, contact the doctor.

No vigorous rinsing, drinking through a straw, or spitting for 3 days so the blood clot will not be disturbed.

Use your discretion as to what foods can be eaten, though soft foods may be necessary for the first few days.

Do not use tobacco or drink alcohol as these will delay healing.
Swelling can be lessened by placing a cold compress on the face alternating on and off for 20 minutes during the first 72 hours. After this time, use moist heat. It is normal to experience some degree of swelling.
If you do experience swelling, you can place ice over your face for 20-30 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours. This should help to reduce pain and swelling. Do not ice after the first 36 hours.

On occasion, soreness may occur from prolonged opening of your mouth or the anesthetic injection. If this occurs, apply moist heat to the affected area and take an analgesic/anti-inflammatory medication such as Advil, Nuprin or Motrin (ask your physician) as needed.

Starting 24 hours following surgery, gently rinse your mouth with 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water three times daily.

Do not brush by the surgical site for 1 week. Do not suck on area where surgery occurred or drink through a straw during the first 48 hours. Don’t spit or rinse the surgical area on the day of the surgery.

Occasionally, teeth adjacent to the surgical area may ache. This is a normal occurrence and it should clear up in a few days.

If sutures were placed, make sure to return to have them removed. If they loosen or come out within 3 days, please inform the office.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call.

Following the immediate placement of dentures, mild to moderate pain is expected. Your dentist or oral surgeon will prescribe pain relievers. Please take them as prescribed. Your comfort is very important in the healing process.

The denture will likely cause "sore spots" to develop over the first days and weeks. Please make an appointment to have them checked and adjusted.

DO NOT remove the denture for the first 24 hours following the immediate insertion of your denture. A post-op appointment will be scheduled the day after the insertion and the dentist or assistant will remove, clean and adjust them.

Please do not remove any sutures that were placed. An appointment will usually be scheduled 7-10 days from surgery to remove them. Some sutures need not be removed as they will dissolve on their own.

On the second day, we will expect you to remove your denture, clean it with mild dish soap, not toothpaste, and soak it in water or Listerine over night in the denture cup given to you.

A periodic bite adjustment will usually be necessary to fine tune your chewing ability.

Please remember that dentures are a replacement for nothing, and are not your natural teeth. Adjusting to speech, eating, and comfort usually takes 4 weeks.

Your gums will heal and change over the first 4-6 weeks. During this time you will notice a loosening in the denture. Please use a denture adhesive or cream, purchased at the drug or grocery store, to make the denture more stable.

4-6 weeks following surgery and delivery of your immediate denture, an appointment will be scheduled with the dentist to evaluate the fit and esthetics of the denture. At that time, the patient and dentist will determine if the denture needs to be remade or if a laboratory reline should be done to enhance the fit of the denture. The details of these procedures will be discussed and scheduled at that time.