Post Operative Care: Root Canals
- Root canal appointments are typically single appointment procedures, but may occasionally need a second appointment. In either case, you will have a temporary filling in the tooth. There is some compromise to chewing while you have the temporary filling. Please avoid chewing directly on the temporary filling if possible till your next appointment.
- Moderate pain, sometimes severe pain, for one or two days following root canal procedures is normal. You may experience some pressure sensitivity also. Please take all of the medications as prescribed.
- If you have been advised to make an appointment following the completion of the root canal treatment, please do so. At this appointment, the temporary filling will be removed and a more permanent restoration will be placed. The permanent restoration may be just a permanent filling or a post and core or a crown. This would be determined based on the clinical presentation of the tooth.
- As you are aware, during a root canal treatment, the nerve and the blood supply from the tooth is removed and replaced with a filling. This removes the vitality of the tooth or the tooth functions as a “dead” tooth. As a result, the tooth can get dehydrated, brittle, and will be prone to fractures. Therefore it is extremely important that you follow the treatment recommendations made by your dentist after the root canal treatment.