After root canal therapy
For anyone who has had root canal treatment started or completed today.
Call us if…
- Pain is severe or getting worse rather than easing after three days.
- The tooth or the gum swells.
- The temporary filling comes out.
- You cannot bite on that side at all after several days.
- You develop a fever.
Cherry Ave: (562) 422-683810th St: (562) 438-2500
Facial swelling with fever, difficulty swallowing or trouble breathing needs the emergency room straight away.
The first few days
- The tooth is often tender to bite on for two to four days. The ligament around the root was inflamed and is settling.
- Chew on the other side until it stops being tender.
- Take pain relief as we directed, rather than waiting for the discomfort to build.
- If the tooth still has a temporary filling in the access hole, avoid anything sticky on that side.
Protecting the tooth
- A back tooth that has had a root canal needs a crown. Without one it will crack, often within a year, and then it usually cannot be saved.
- Please keep the appointment for it, even though the tooth now feels fine. Feeling fine is exactly the point at which people cancel.
- Until the crown is on, avoid hard food on that tooth entirely.