Congratulations on electing to save your tooth! Endodontic treatment (root canal) involves cleaning out the interior space of the root of the tooth. Following this debris removal and disinfecting, the interior space is then filled with a special filling material to help preserve the root of the tooth for years to come. While we cannot guarantee a positive result for every patient, successful endodontic therapy has become routine in modern dentistry.
Multiple Visits: Modern endodontic treatment is often completed in a single visit. However, depending upon your individual situation, multiple visits may be required. The fee charged for the endodontic treatment is based upon the procedure, not upon the number of visits required.
Completion of Treatment: Typically, after the first visit you will feel considerably better, assuming the tooth was painful to start with. However, it is absolutely essential that you return and have the treatment completed. Absence of pain does not mean that the problem has been solved. Failure to complete the process can result in pain, tooth loss, and serious infection. It is important that once treatment is started, it is completed.
Temporary Fillings: Following endo treatment and between treatment visits, the access opening that was created in your tooth is filled with a soft temporary filling. A soft material is used so that it can easily be removed at your next appointment. Do not be concerned if some of this material wears off during use.
Pain: You may experience some mild to moderate discomfort for a day or two following endodontic treatment. The pain should be no more than what an over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol or Motrin can eliminate. If the pain is significant or persists, please call the office and let us know so that we may assist you.
Swelling: Swelling is an indication of infection. If you were swollen at the time the endo was started, the swelling may take a couple of days to begin to resolve. If you did not have swelling before treatment began, we would not expect you to experience swelling. If you have persistent swelling, swelling that gets worse, or swelling where you did not have it before treatment, please call the office.
Antibiotics: Antibiotics are not routinely given for endodontic treatment. If your dentist has prescribed an antibiotic, it is because he/she has determined that you need one. Please follow the instructions carefully and take ALL of the medication in the prescribed manner. Failure to do so will diminish the medication’s ability to help you.
Restoring the Tooth: Following completion of the endodontic treatment, it is essential that the tooth itself be fixed. The endo has preserved the root of the tooth, but unless the rest of the tooth is restored, it will decay, fracture, and eventually be lost. Time is important. The sooner the tooth is restored following endodontic treatment, the better your chances of saving the tooth. The typical restoration for an endodontically treated
tooth is a crown.