Post Operative Instructions

Please review these important instructions carefully to understand how to care for your treated tooth between appointments and after the completion of your root canal treatment. Following the guidance provided can help you protect the temporary filling, manage expected tenderness, take medications correctly, complete your final restoration on time, and know when to contact our office with questions or concerns.

Post Operative Instructions

Please review these important instructions carefully to understand how to care for your treated tooth between appointments and after the completion of your root canal treatment. Following the guidance provided can help you protect the temporary filling, manage expected tenderness, take medications correctly, complete your final restoration on time, and know when to contact our office with questions or concerns.

Please Review Your Instructions Carefully

One of the following was explained to you following your treatment at our office. Please call if you have any doubts of which instructions pertain to your case.

Post Treatment Care

Between Visits

Please follow the instructions that apply to your treatment until your next appointment.

01

Temporary Filling and Eating Instructions

If the root canal treatment on your tooth is not complete then it is essential for you to return to our office for the next visit. As the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling on the top, do not eat anything for the first hour following the procedure and then eat soft foods only for the rest of the day.

It is advisable to chew on the opposite side until treatment is completed. Avoid sticky or hard foods that require hard chewing until your dentist place a permanent restoration.

Even if you were not experiencing any discomfort prior to treatment, it is normal for you to experience some degree of discomfort for a few days. This tenderness is normal and is no cause for alarm.

02

Pain or Swelling

If you are experiencing symptoms more intense or of longer duration than those described above or post operative swelling or if the previous swelling to the treatment worsens, in all of the situations please immediately call our office at:

(281) 969-3515
03

Antibiotic Instructions

If antibiotics have been prescribed to you, please complete the whole course of it.

If you are feeling dizziness, nausea and/or gastrointestinal issues then immediately stop taking antibiotics and call our office immediately.

(281) 969-3515
04

Pain Medication

For Pain Medications, please follow the recommendations in the “After the completion of Root canal treatment” written below.

05

Temporary Filling Replacement

If your temporary filling comes out, please call the office to schedule an appointment to replace it.

Recovery Instructions

After the Completion of Root Canal Treatment

After your root canal treatment is completed, it is normal for the tooth and surrounding gum tissue to feel slightly tender for several days.

The tissues that surround and support the tooth within the bone referred to as periodontal ligament may get inflamed. Repetitive strain to these ligaments through clenching of the teeth, bite problems, or trauma can cause pain and inflammation in these tissues. The most common sign is tenderness.

Please make sure that the tooth is not hitting high, touching first when you bite. Avoid biting on that area by chewing on the other side.

Eat a soft diet, soups, pasta, rice, mashed beans and potatoes.

The mild to moderate soreness or a dull ache sensitivity should gradually improve over the next few days. This is expected and not a cause for concern.

!

Antibiotic Reminder

If antibiotics have been prescribed to you, please complete the whole course of it.

If you are feeling dizziness, nausea and/or gastrointestinal issues after taking antibiotics then call our office immediately.

(281) 969-3515

For Pain Medication, What to Do

We recommend you to take something for pain relief before the anesthesia which we administered begins to subside. Generally, we recommend a combination of:

Medication One

Ibuprofen

Advil or Motrin, 400mg, which is 2 tablets of 200mg.

AND
Medication Two

Acetaminophen

Tylenol, 1000mg extra strength.

Take this combination every 6 to 8 hours over the next 24 to 48 hours. If you have a medical condition or gastrointestinal disorder and cannot take ibuprofen, Advil or Motrin, then acetaminophen, Tylenol, is a substitute, 1000mg extra strength every 6 to 8 hours over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Medication Safety Notice

Please make sure the antibiotics and pain medications will not interact or contraindicate other medications you may be taking by discussing them with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not combine these with other pain medications.

Protect Your Tooth

Complete Your Final Restoration

01

Avoid Chewing on the Treated Tooth

Please avoid chewing or biting on the treated tooth until your dentist has completed the final restoration, if one is needed.

If a temporary filling was placed, you should have a permanent filling completed by your general dentist within 3 weeks.

In some cases, a crown or bridge may be recommended to properly protect the tooth against fracture and decay.

02

Schedule With Your General Dentist

Please call your general dentist to schedule your appointment with them as soon as possible.

You must get the final restoration, new crown, or evaluation of the existing crown within 3 weeks or sooner from your general dentist to protect the tooth.

Failure to have the tooth properly restored significantly increases the possibility of re-infection, fracture and/or decay. This step is very important and should be done in timely manner.

Your dentist will be informed that your treatment has now been completed and a final report will be sent to your general dentist.

Please Call Our Office Immediately If

Call our office if any of the following situations occur after your treatment.

Symptoms Become More Intense

You are experiencing symptoms more intense or of longer duration than those described above.

You Experience Swelling

You encounter post-operative swelling in addition to pain.

You Have Questions

You have any questions at all.

Call (281) 969-3515

Hours

Monday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm

Wednesday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm

Thursday. 8:00 am- 5:00 pm

Friday. 8:00 am- 5:00 pm

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed

5316 Sienna Parkway, Suite 150, Missouri City, TX, 77459, United States

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