Managing discomfort

Stay ahead of it

The single most effective thing you can do is take your anti-inflammatory on schedule for the first day or two rather than waiting for pain to appear. Inflammation is easier to prevent than to chase. Follow the schedule and doses your doctor gave you, and tell us if you can’t take anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen.

What’s normal

Tenderness when biting and a dull ache are expected for a few days, sometimes up to a week or two if the tooth was very inflamed beforehand. The tissue around the root was irritated before we started and takes time to settle. Numbness from the anesthetic lasts two to four hours.

What helps

• Chew on the other side until your permanent restoration is placed
• Softer foods for the first day or two
• Rest the evening of treatment

What to avoid

• Chewing on the treated tooth until your permanent restoration is in place
• Crunchy and hard foods, on both sides of your mouth, until the treated tooth has its permanent crown or onlay. No pretzels, nuts, almonds, chips, popcorn, ice, or anything with a pit. A useful test: if you could not cut it with the side of a fork, leave it for now. If the treated tooth already has a crown, ask your doctor — this may not apply to you.
• Sticky foods, which can pull a temporary filling out
• Aspirin after surgical procedures unless your doctor said otherwise
• Skipping doses and then trying to catch up

If your bite feels off

A temporary filling that sits slightly high can cause surprising soreness because you’re hitting it first with every bite. Call us; adjusting it takes minutes and often resolves the discomfort immediately.

When to call us

Pain that gets steadily worse after the third day, swelling, a fever, or a reaction to medication all warrant a call to (206) 633-3636. Antibiotics are usually not needed after root canal treatment, but if we prescribed them, finish the course.