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Beaird Family Dental

Patient guideTake-home instructions

Root Canal After-Care

A root canal removes the damaged tissue from inside a tooth, but the tooth and the surrounding tissues still need time to settle. Mild tenderness can be normal, and the tooth may need a crown or another final restoration before it is fully protected.

Cutaway of a root-canal-treated molar showing filled root canals and a sealed opening at the top.

A treated tooth with filled root canals and a sealed access opening.

While Your Mouth Is Numb

  • Wait until the numbness has worn off before chewing to avoid biting your lip, cheek or tongue.
  • Be careful with hot foods and drinks because a numb mouth may not accurately feel temperature.

Protecting the Tooth

  • Avoid chewing hard, crunchy or sticky foods on the treated tooth until your dentist has completed the final restoration.
  • If a temporary filling or crown was placed, chew on the other side when practical and do not test the temporary with hard foods.
  • Brush and floss normally, but use gentle pressure around a temporary restoration.
  • If the temporary filling or crown comes out, contact us. Do not place household glue or other non-dental material on the tooth.

Common Sensations

  • The tooth may feel tender when you bite or tap on it for several days.
  • The gum near the tooth may feel mildly sore, and your jaw may ache from keeping your mouth open.
  • These sensations should gradually improve. The tooth should not become increasingly painful.

Medication

  • If you normally take an over-the-counter pain reliever safely, you may use it as directed on the label for mild discomfort.
  • Take any medication prescribed by your dentist exactly as directed.
  • Antibiotics are not needed after every root canal. If one was prescribed, follow the instructions provided with it.

Completing the Final Restoration

Keep the appointment for your permanent filling or crown. A root-canal-treated tooth can be more vulnerable to breaking before it has been fully restored.

When to Contact Us

Please contact our office if:

  • Your bite feels high or the treated tooth touches before the other teeth.
  • Pain is severe, is becoming worse or is not gradually improving.
  • You develop swelling, fever, drainage or a persistent bad taste.
  • The temporary filling or crown feels loose or comes out.

Seek urgent care for rapidly increasing swelling or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

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Beaird Family Dental
Poplar Bluff: (573) 778-0200 · Dexter: (573) 624-8005

This guide was written and reviewed by .

Last reviewed, .

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Poplar Bluff(573) 778-0200 Dexter(573) 624-8005