What Happens After a Root Canal?

ANY DISCOMFORT in a treated tooth should be far milder than the pre-root canal tooth, so over-the-counter medication is usually enough. It’s also a good idea to swish warm salt water a few times a day until the tenderness is gone, and avoid chewing with the tooth.

Taking Care of a Temporary Restoration

Be careful with any temporary restorations. They’re only designed to last a few weeks, so don’t brush too hard around them and take care not to snag any floss on them. Just like with post-treatment tenderness, try to avoid chewing with a temporary restoration. The cement holding it in place might not be able to handle the strain.

Symptoms to Watch for in Recovery

Root canals have a very high success rate compared to other types of surgery, but complications still happen in rare cases, and it’s important to address those quickly. Contact us right away for any of these symptoms in the weeks after root canal treatment:

• Temperature sensitivity in the treated tooth
• Pain from chewing
• The temporary restoration came loose
• The initial post-treatment discomfort doesn’t fade after the first week

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.