Root Canal Aftercare Tips

Root Canal Aftercare Tips

 

Root canals are not as complex or painful as the procedure’s reputation would indicate, but they do require some temporary changes to your home dental care to ensure complete healing. Immediately following a root canal you may have some minor pain and swelling, which you can easily manage with over-the-counter medication and rest. The procedure itself should not be painful at all, and you will probably experience less pain as you heal than you had when the tooth was infected.

Take one day to rest

It is best to take it easy for the rest of the day following your procedure, especially if you were sedated for the root canal with oral medication or an IV. You may feel drowsy and have some slight soreness or tooth sensitivity, so extra rest will help you get back to your normal routine within a day.

Use anti-inflammatory medication

Before you have your root canal, you should make sure that you have ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen at home. These are all available over-the-counter, and they should be sufficient to control pain and swelling resulting from your root canal. Any of the medications listed will work, so you can choose the one you prefer and use it as directed. If you still have pain or experience severe discomfort in spite of using medication, you should call the dentist right away.

Avoid chewing on the treated tooth

After a root canal, you may need a crown to preserve the structure of the tooth. The permanent crown will not be applied until the root canal has fully healed, and you should avoid putting pressure on the treated tooth until this point.

If you need a root canal to restore the health of your smile, you can trust Dr. John Carson for the most comfortable and accurate treatment possible. You can see the advanced technology used for our patient care by visiting our website, or make an appointment for your restorative care at (520) 514-7203.