Treatment Instructions

Pre-Op Instructions:

Most of the endodontic treatments take 60-90 minutes. This procedure will be performed using local anesthesia. There are usually no restrictions after the procedure concerning driving or returning to work unless oral or conscious sedation is performed which in that case-specific instructions will be given to you at the time of your consultation. 

We ask you to continue all medications for blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid problems, and any other conditions as recommended by your physician. If there is a question, please call our office prior to your appointment.

We recommend you follow your physician or dentist’s instructions to use antibiotic premedication because of mitral valve prolapse (MVP), heart murmur, hip, knee, cardiac or other prosthesis, or if you have rheumatic heart disease, please make sure you are on the appropriate antibiotic prior to your appointment. If there is a question, please call our office for clarifications.

Please eat a full meal before your dental appointment as local anesthesia will take 2-4 hours to lose its efficacy. 

Please call us at (650)328-1860 if you have any questions.

Post-Op Instructions:

It is not uncommon for a tooth to be sensitive following a root canal treatment. This is primarily related to the existing infections and/or inflammation surrounding your tooth which could get amplified by the manipulation during the endodontic treatment. This is absolutely normal and is part of the healing process. You can expect your tooth to be sore for about 7-10 days. It will be tender if you put pressure on it, brush it, or even if you touch it. Please remember, the more your tooth hurts prior to the procedure, the more tender it will be after the procedure. 

There are a few key factors to consider:

  • Do not chew on your tooth for the first few days. In some cases, a temporary filling is placed in the access cavity where the procedure was performed. It is recommended to avoid eating hard food on that side of the mouth till a permanent filling or a crown is placed by your referring dentist.
  • Taking NSAID drugs including Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Aspirin, etc, is recommended for the first 24-36 hours to reduce the inflammation surrounding the tooth structure. The recommended dosage for Ibuprofen, Advil, and Motrin is 400-600mg every 4-6 hours and 325mg of Aspirin every 4-6 hours. If you can’t take NSAID, consider taking 650mg of Tylenol or Acetaminophen every 6 hours.  In rare cases, the combination of NSAID and Tylenol is a powerful approach to keep the pain and inflammation under control.
  •  Please continue with your normal oral hygiene as usual.

Please call us at (650)328-1860 if you have any questions or concerns.

 

After Root Canal Treatment

Endodontic treatment has now been completed. The root canal system has been permanently sealed. However, in some cases, the outer surface of your tooth is sealed with a temporary restoration. A follow-up restoration must be placed to protect your tooth against fracture and decay. Please contact your restorative dentist for an appointment. A complete report of treatment along with a copy of your x-ray will be sent to your dentist. Included in your treatment is a complimentary follow-up examination to evaluate the progress of healing in six months. We will send you a reminder to schedule such an appointment.