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What to expect as your tooth heals

The inside of your tooth has been thoroughly cleaned, and the irritated tissue and bacteria that made treatment necessary are gone. Some tenderness over the next few days is normal, and it's temporary.

If anything doesn't feel right, call us at (270) 904-4404.

A treatment room with the patient chair beneath a ceiling-mounted surgical microscope

What's normal in the first few days

  • The area around the tooth may feel tender for a few days. That's part of healing.
  • Your jaw may feel sore too, from holding your mouth open during treatment.
  • Both are temporary, and over-the-counter pain relievers usually ease them well. Take them exactly as the label or our team directs.
  • If we prescribe a stronger, narcotic pain medicine, it can make you drowsy, so don't drive or operate machinery after taking it.
  • For a while, the tooth may feel a little different from your other teeth.
  • If you have severe pain or pressure that lasts more than a few days, call us.
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Protect the tooth until it's restored

  • Wait to eat until the numbness wears off, so you don't bite your cheek or tongue.
  • Don't chew or bite on the treated tooth until your dentist has restored it.
  • Brush and floss as you normally would.
  • If we closed the opening in your tooth with a temporary filling, a thin layer of it may wear away between appointments. That's normal. If you think the whole filling has come out, call us.

When to call us right away

Call us at (270) 904-4404 if you notice any of these:

  • visible swelling inside or outside your mouth
  • an allergic reaction to a medicine, such as a rash, hives or itching (nausea is a side effect, not an allergic reaction)
  • the symptoms you had before treatment coming back
  • a bite that feels uneven

If a reaction to a medicine makes it hard to breathe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading toward your eye or neck, or a serious injury to the face? Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

What to do when we're closed

Your final filling or crown finishes the job

Root canal treatment is one step in returning your tooth to full use. The next is a proper final restoration from your dentist, a filling or a crown, and it matters a great deal to the tooth's long-term success.

Before you leave, our team will offer to book that appointment with your general dentist for you.

If your treatment with us takes more than one visit, wait until we've finished the root canal treatment before you go back to your dentist for the final restoration.

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Your tooth can last as long as your other teeth

With root canal treatment and a proper restoration, your tooth can last as long as your other natural teeth. Once it's restored, care for it the way you care for the rest: brush, floss, and keep up your regular checkups and cleanings.

At a future visit, your dentist or our team may x-ray the tooth to make sure it has healed.

Occasionally a treated tooth doesn't heal, or the pain continues, and now and then a tooth becomes painful months or even years after successful treatment. If that happens, call us. Repeating the root canal treatment can often save the tooth.

How endodontic retreatment works

Sources

  1. American Association of Endodontists: Post treatment care
  2. American Association of Endodontists: Pain management
  3. American Association of Endodontists: Endodontic retreatment
  4. MedlinePlus (NIH): Drug allergies
  5. MedlinePlus (NIH): Over-the-counter medicines

Call us with any question as you heal

If something doesn't feel right, or you're not sure whether it's normal, call us during office hours. Our team will help.

Request an appointment (270) 904-4404

901 Wilkinson Trace, Suite 2, Bowling Green
Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm