Before Treatment
Thank you for selecting our office for your endodontic treatment. We look forward to caring for you and making your experience exceptional (easy and comfortable!). Here are a few suggestions to help you prepare for your visit:
- Continue to take your normal daily medications.
- Bring a list of your medications.
- Eat a normal meal before your visit.
- Bring your referral slip and x-rays or forward them to our office before your visit.
- Please do not take medication for discomfort for at least 4 to 6 hours prior to your appointment so that an accurate diagnosis can be established.
- Please complete the online patient registration so that we may prepare for your visit.
Plan on being in our office for approximately 2 hours. Treatment is performed with local anesthesia so you can drive to and from the office unless special arrangements have been made to take sedative medications.
After Treatment
Please follow the guidelines below and contact our office with any questions:
Please wait at least one hour to eat or drink. Once you begin to eat and drink, do not chew or bite on the area treated until your permanent filling is in place.
You will need to see your regular dentist within a month or two to have a permanent filling placed. Waiting longer than a month increases the chance of fracture or decay of the tooth.
If any prescriptions were given, please have them filled promptly. If no prescriptions were given, we recommend taking 600mg Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) every 6-8 hours for the first 2 days following treatment to control inflammation and discomfort and to alleviate swelling. If you are not able to take Ibuprofen, Tylenol®, 1000mg every 6-8 hours may be used. Do not exceed the guidelines printed on the label for any medication. If you are unable to achieve adequate pain relief, please call our office.
Please keep the treated area clean by gently brushing the area. It is rare for a temporary filling to fall out, although it may become worn or compressed while in use. If the temporary falls out or feels differently after some time, please contact our office as soon as possible.
Some discomfort following the root canal is normal for several days after the treatment. In some cases, the tooth and surrounding tissue may be sore for a few weeks following the treatment.
THIS SECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
While flare-ups are rare, they occur about 5% of the time and cause significant pain. They occur with teeth that are extremely irritated and/or infected or with teeth that have a history of prior treatment. These sometimes occur randomly, even on patients that have had root canals done in the past without problems. If you have a flare-up you may experience moderate to severe pain, swelling, throbbing or general discomfort; please contact our office. You may be prescribed additional medication, such as antibiotics and pain management medication, and/or you may be asked to come to the office for further treatment. Should you experience any of these symptoms, please contact the office, even after hours.