- 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.
- Your tooth may be sore or tender to pressure. This condition is not unusual and may last for several days to a few months. Also, soreness may occur from prolonged opening of your mouth, the anesthetic injection or the rubber dam clamp. If these conditions occur, apply moist heat to the affected area and take an analgesic/anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen or similar products (if medically able to do so). The dentist may prescribe a narcotic analgesic to use as needed.
- If an antibiotic was prescribed, please follow the daily dosing regimen and length of use instructions precisely. This is essential to resolve any infection.
- A temporary filling has been placed on the tooth over the root canal. This will seal the tooth for several weeks until a permanent restoration is fabricated. Do not chew hard or crunchy foods because your tooth may fracture and be irreversibly damaged.
- A crown (cap) along with a retentive post is most often needed to restore a tooth following root canal therapy because of the lack of solid and strong tooth structure remaining. Failure to follow through with the recommended final restoration (crown, onlay, etc.) may result in fracture of the tooth and the need for extraction.
- If you have any swelling, intolerable pain or unusual condition, please call the office promptly.
Genesis Dental Center