ROOT CANAL POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS

Numbness from the procedure may take several hours to wear off. Refrain from eating while you’re still numb so you do not bite your tongue or cheeks. Soft foods (like smoothies) are great after treatment.

If you root canal treatment was completed, please contact your general dentist to schedule an appointment to permanently restore your tooth. This is very important for the long-term health of your tooth, and should be done within the next two weeks.

If your tooth was restored with a temporary filling after root canal treatment, it’s important to be very careful while eating. Refrain from hard, sticky, and crunchy foods until the tooth is permanently restored.

If you were prescribed any medications, please take them as directed.

Pain after root canal treatment varies from person to person. If you were not prescribed pain medication, you may be able to take ONE of the following over-the-counter medication schedules:

600mg Ibuprofen (Advil) + 500mg Acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 6 hours

OR

1000mg Acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 8 hours

OR

600mg Ibuprofen (Advil) every 6 hours

Ibuprofen Maximum Daily = 2400mg

Acetaminophen Max Daily = 3000mg

The medication schedule you may follow is dependent on your medical history and will be explained by one of our doctors. Be sure to ask questions if you’re unsure of what to do.

If you experience severe pain or swelling 24-48 hours after treatment, you may be having a flare up. This only happens to 3-5% of patients, but let us know if you think it is happening to you. We may need to prescribe you an antibiotic or see you at our office for another visit.