Root Canal Treatment – Stage 1 - Aftercare

Today we cleaned out your tooth’s infected nerve and filled it with antibacterial medicine.

If we used a local anaesthetic, it could take between an hour to several hours to wear off. While your mouth is numb, be very careful not to accidentally bite or burn your cheeks, lips or tongue.
Root canal therapy often takes two or three appointments to complete. At your final appointment, we’ll clean out the medicine and fill in the root to prevent re-infection.
It is normal to feel some tenderness for a few days after your treatment as part of your body’s natural healing process. You can take pain relief for any discomfort. Paracetamol and ibuprofen usually work well.
It is best to avoid eating hard foods because a temporary filling has been placed in your affected tooth. This filling is a lot weaker than a normal filling, so needs to be treated carefully. If the temporary filling comes out, simply give us a call or email us and we will book you in and get it fixed.
You could experience soreness, even significant soreness, for a week or two after a root canal. If the pain is not getting better after one week, it’s a good idea to come back in for an examination.

Sometimes in the course of cleaning out the inside of the root, bacteria work their way out of the tooth root and into the bone and gum.
Sometimes the cleaning instrument itself can be inserted past the tip of the root, irritating the surrounding tissue.
The problem may be as simple as a temporary filling that is too ‘high’, putting too much pressure on the tooth when you chew.
It can also be a sign that there’s a problem with the root canal itself or other problems with the tooth (such as a root fracture).
If you need any more information or have any questions, please don t hesitate to call or email us.