Post Treatment Care

After your procedure, your endodontist will send you home with instructions for pain management and how to care for your tooth while recovering from treatment and until a follow-up visit. Following guidelines for care is especially important if a temporary filling or crown is in place.

As the medication used to numb your mouth during the procedure wears off, you may feel some tenderness in the area for a few days as everything heals and some mild soreness in your jaw from keeping your mouth open for an extended period during the procedure. These temporary symptoms usually respond well to over-the-counter medication but your doctor may prescribe stronger, narcotic medication as well. It’s important to carefully follow the instructions for medications and that narcotics can make you drowsy so you should exercise caution when taking them and driving a car or operating dangerous machinery.

Though you may experience a slightly different sensation from your treated tooth than your other teeth for some time, you should contact your endodontist immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Severe pain or pressure lasting more than a few days
Visible swelling inside or outside your mouth
An allergic reaction to medication (rash, hives or itching)
Your bite feels uneven
The temporary crown or filling, if one was put in place, comes out (losing a thin layer is normal)
Symptoms you experienced prior to treatment return