Home care instructions from Noa Dental. Questions any time: (661) 857-7662.
If you have severe swelling, uncontrolled bleeding, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For anything else, call us at (661) 857-7662.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTION AFTER - ROOT CANAL
EATING: Please do not chew or attempt to eat on the side of your mouth that has been worked on while this area is still numb. Whenever possible, try to chew on the opposite side from the treated tooth until you have a crown placed. Until that time, your tooth is still weak and could fracture. Please avoid crunchy or hard foods which could cause the tooth without a crown to fracture.
PAIN MEDS: It is recommended that you take something for pain-relief within one hour of leaving our office. It is best to get the medication into your blood stream before the anesthesia begins to subside. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is very effective. Take 400 mg (2 tablets) up to 3 times a day (at least 6 hours apart) as needed for the next 3–4 days, no more than 1,200 mg a day unless Dr. Kim tells you, to help control the sensitivity in this area. If you have a medical condition or gastrointestinal disorder which precludes ibuprofen, acetaminophen (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. If a doctor told you to take a daily aspirin or a blood thinner, keep taking it — do not stop it unless your physician tells you to.
DISCOMFORTS: If you are experiencing discomfort, you can put an ice pack over the treated area for 30 minutes when you first get home to minimize swelling.
GUM DISCOMFORT: Following the procedure, your gum may feel tender. The injection site may also feel sore. Rinsing your mouth 2-3 times per day with ½ teaspoon of salt in 8 oz (1 cup) of warm water can help to alleviate discomfort. Taking Tylenol or Advil work well to alleviate the tenderness.
SMOKING: Please avoid smoking for 24-48 hours, it can delay healing of the tissue.
EXERCISE: Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
FOLLOW-UP VISIT: A putty-like material is placed in your tooth after completion of your root canal treatment. If left too long it can allow bacteria to re-enter your treated tooth leading to further treatment. It is recommended that you return to this office no later than 3–4 weeks after root canal treatment to have your tooth prepared for a crown and build-up. Delay in obtaining your final restoration (a crown unless otherwise discussed) may result in fracture and/or possible loss of the tooth.
PERSISTENT/ SEVERE SENSITIVITY TO HOT/COLD/THROBBING PAIN: Please give us a call at 661-857-7662 for a further evaluation.
CALL US: Call us if you have swelling, fever, pain that gets worse after 2–3 days, or numbness that does not go away.