What to Expect Following Root Canal Surgery

After receiving root canal surgery, your dentist will send you home with pain management instructions and an aftercare plan.  This will explain how to look after your tooth until your follow up visit and which pain medications you should take and when.  Following these guidelines is important.

What to Expect

After leaving the dentist’s office, the numbing medicine that was used for the procedure will begin to wear off.  Your jaw may feel slightly tender in the days following the procedure, and you may experience tenderness from keeping your jaw open during the procedure.  You should be able to manage this pain with over-the-counter pain medication.  Your dentist may also prescribe some stronger narcotics which should be taken according to his advice.

Recovery Advice

After the procedure, it’s important to wait until the numbing medication has worn off before you eat anything as you may bite your cheek or tongue accidentally.  You should also try to avoid chewing or biting down with the affected tooth until it has fully healed.  You should floss and brush your teeth daily to avoid getting an infection.

When to Contact Your Dentist

Mild pain and tenderness is normal following root canal surgery, but if you experience any of the following you should contact your dentist right away:

• Your bite feels uneven
• You experience an allergic reaction to the medication
• You have visible swelling
• You have pressure or severe pain that lasts for more than a day

You should also contact your dentist if any of the symptoms you experience prior to the treatment return.

Follow Up Appointment

Your dentist will schedule a follow up appointment to ensure that the tooth has healed and that everything looks okay.  Your dentist will also fit a crown to fully restore the tooth.  If looked after carefully, this should last as long as your other teeth.

If you experience any pain after your follow up appointment, or if you experience any of the symptoms you had before the treatment, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your dentist.  Most root canal treatments are no more unpleasant than having a filling, however, and the recovery time is short.

If you think you may be in need of root canal surgery, please contact us today.  We offer the best root canal treatments in New York City and would be more than happy to help you.