Post Op Instructions Page
Root Canal Therapy
Extraction of a Tooth or Teeth
Scaling or Root Planing
1) Root Canal Therapy
After Treatment
- It is not uncommon for your tooth to feel uncomfortable or have a dull ache immediately after root-canal therapy. Expect this discomfort to subside within a few days.
- Your tooth may feel sensitive when biting and or even feel loose. This sensitivity comes from the nerve-endings near the root of your tooth, where we cleaned, irrigated and placed filler and sealer material. This sensitivity will be short lived.
- You may feel a depression or rough area on the top of your back tooth or the back of your front tooth where the access to the nerve was made. There is a soft temporary material in that area, which may wear away to some degree before your next visit for the crown.
- Occasionally, a small “bubble” or “pimple” will appear on the gum tissue within a few days of having root canal therapy. This should disappear within a few days.
- We recommend you take something for pain relief within one hour of leaving our office. We recommend Advil or Motrin (600 mg). If you cannot take these medicines, please talk to Dr. Rodman for some alternatives. Tylenol is a substitute, although it does not contain anti-inflammatory properties. Aspirin and aspirin-containing products are not advisable as they tend to increase bleeding from the area that was treated.
- Whenever possible, try to chew on the opposite side from the tooth we have just treated, until you have a final restoration placed. Until this time, your tooth is weakened and could fracture (requiring its removal).
- Please avoid chewing gym, caramels or other sticky soft candy. These can dislodge your temporary filling or cause tooth fracture.
- Please call us if you're experiencing symptoms more intense or longer duration than those described above or if you have any questions.
2) Extraction of a tooth or teeth
After Treatment
- Take your prescribed pain medication as soon as possible, before the anesthetic begins to wear off. Take this medicine with food, if possible, to prevent stomach upset.
- Today eat soft foods only. It is very important to maintain good nutrition for proper healing.
- Do not spit, do not suck through a straw, and do not rinse vigorously today. Doing any of these may dislodge the blood clot and cause a dry socket. You can rinse gently with warm salt water (place 1 tsp. of salt to 8 oz of water) starting the day after surgery.
- No smoking for at least 24 hours after surgery. Smoking is a leading cause of dry socket after oral surgery.
- No alcohol for at least 24 hours following surgery or at any time while taking prescribed medication.
- Bite on a wet gauze for 15-20 minutes. Change the gauze as needed if bleeding continues. If bleeding continues excessively for over 2-3 hours, bite on a warm water-soaked tea bag placed over the extraction site. If bleeding still continues, call Dr. Rodman immediately.
- Do not drive, operate machinery or do anything requiring judgment or coordination while taking prescription pain medicine.
- Take all of the antibiotic prescription as directed unless you develop an allergic reaction (skin rash or difficulty breathing are examples). If this happens stop taking the medicine and contact Dr. Rodman.
- Occasionally a small bony fragment may work up through the gum tissue during healing. Do not be alarmed, this is not unusual. If it becomes irritated or painful contact our office.
- After more extensive surgery (such as multiple extractions or impacted wisdom teeth) swelling usually occurs. To help reduce the swelling place an ice pack over the area where the surgery was performed for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off. Do this over the first several hours following surgery.
3) Scaling and Root Planning
After Treatment
- It is normal for your gums to feel tender. We strongly recommend rinsing twice daily for two days with warm (not hot) salt water to speed-up healing and reduce tenderness. Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in a glass of 8oz (1 cup) warm water. Take 2-3 200mg tablets of ibuprophen (motrin) every 4 hours as needed for discomfort and anti-inflammatory effect.
- It is normal for your teeth to be sensitive to cold and hot foods or liquids after deep cleaning. Should this become problematic, try using a tooth paste for sensitive teeth. If your sensitivity continues, please call our office.
- For 2 days after your deep cleaning avoid any small hard foods that might get caught under the gum tissue. Examples include popcorn, nuts, and seeds (poppy seeds, strawberry jam, etc.). It is unlikely, yet it is possible to develop a gum abscess if these foods are caught under the tissue (when the gums heal they tighten, which traps these foods).
- It is very important to continue thorough homecare: brushing & flossing to remove plaque. Leaving plaque on the teeth will slow healing and greatly minimize the benefits of treatment.
- If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us.
