Treatment Instructions

Call

413-562-3900

to schedule an appointment in our

Westfield,

MA

office

today!

Thank you for selecting our office for your endodontic treatment.

We look forward to caring for you and making your experience exceptional (easy and comfortable)! Root canal therapy in our office is much like a routine dental procedure with your general dentist.

Endodontic Post-Care Instructions

After Microsurgery Treatment

After Internal Bleaching

Before Treatment

Here are a few suggestions to help you prepare for your visit:

Continue to take your normal daily medications.
Eat a normal meal before your visit.
Bring your referral slip and x-rays or forward them to our office before your visit.
Bring a list of your medications.
Please do not take medication for discomfort for at least 4 to 6 hours prior to your appointment so that an accurate diagnosis can be established.
Many people enjoy listening to music during treatment. Please feel free to bring your headphones and iPod.

Plan on being in our office for approximately 2 hours. Treatment is performed with local anesthesia so you can drive to and from the office unless special arrangements have been made to take sedative medications.

Endodontic Post-Care Instructions

Thank you for selecting our office for your root canal therapy. We congratulate you on your decision to care for yourself and save your tooth. Please follow the post-care guidelines below and contact our office with any questions:

Please wait at least one hour before eating or drinking. If you have been informed that a temporary filling was placed, refrain from chewing or biting on the treated area until your permanent filling or crown is in place. This is crucial to avoid the risk of fracturing (cracking) the tooth, especially when exposed to hard substances like nuts, pretzels, hard candy, or ice cubes.
If you were advised to follow up with your regular dentist for further treatment, please schedule an appointment within a month to have the permanent filling or crown placed. Waiting longer than a month increases the risk of tooth fracture or decay.
If prescriptions were provided, kindly have them filled promptly. In the absence of prescriptions, we recommend taking 600mg Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) every 6-8 hours for the first 3 days following treatment to reduce inflammation and ensure your comfort. If Ibuprofen is not suitable, Tylenol® 1000mg every 6-8 hours may be used. Adhere strictly to the dosage guidelines printed on the label for any medication.
Maintain cleanliness in the treated area by gently brushing and flossing regularly. Although it is rare for a temporary filling to fall out, be attentive to any changes. If it becomes dislodged or feels different over time, please contact your regular dentist promptly.
It is normal to experience some discomfort following a root canal. In certain cases, the tooth and surrounding tissue may be tender for a few weeks to months after treatment, correlating with the pre-treatment discomfort level. Patients often describe the tooth as feeling 'different.' A gradual decrease in discomfort indicates the expected healing process.
Every endodontic treatment is unique, even for the same patient. If you encounter moderate to severe discomfort or swelling that persists despite following the instructions, contact our office immediately. Additional medications, such as antibiotics and pain management medication, may be prescribed, or you may be asked to visit the office. Should you experience any of these symptoms, please contact the office, even after hours.

Some discomfort following the root canal is normal for several days after the treatment. In some cases, the tooth and surrounding tissue may be sore for a few weeks following the treatment.

This Section is Very Important, Please Read Carefully

While flare-ups are rare, they occur about 5% of the time and cause significant pain. They occur with teeth that are extremely irritated and/or infected or with teeth that have a history of prior treatment. These sometimes occur randomly, even on patients that have had root canals done in the past without problems. If you experience moderate to severe pain, swelling, throbbing or general discomfort; please contact our office. You may be prescribed additional medication, such as antibiotics and pain management medication, and/or you may be asked to come to the office for further treatment. Should you experience any of these symptoms, please contact the office, even after hours.

After Microsurgery Treatment

Do not lift or pull lip to examine surgical area because repeated irritations may delay healing.
Slight swelling and skin discoloration is normal. In order to minimize swelling, apply an ice pack over the surgical area with gentle pressure, 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off, for a period of 3-4 hours and not to exceed 6 hours.
Adequate food and fluid intake following surgery is most important. Soft cold foods are best, such as ice cream, Jello, pudding, yogurt. Crusty, hard, very warm foods and carbonated beverages should be avoided. If eating is difficult, a diet supplement (eg. Sego, Nutrament, Slender) is recommended.
A soft toothbrush may be carefully used in the areas of the mouth involved in the surgical procedure. DO NOT use an electric toothbrush. DO NOT floss.
Avoid rinsing until evening. Thereafter, gently rinse with warm salt water after each meal. Rinse twice daily with prescription Peridex beginning the morning after surgery. Continue this procedure until your check-up visit at our office.
Sleep with the head slightly elevated the first night following surgery.
Do not smoke for the first 24 hours following surgery.
Any unusual symptoms such as excessive bleeding, swelling, or elevated temperature should be reported immediately. Our telephone is answered day and night.
Slight oozing or bleeding is normal for the first 24 hours. If bleeding persists, please call.
If a gauze dressing has been applied, gently discard 30 minutes after leaving office.
Mild discomfort following surgery is normal. If you have been given a prescription, take as directed.
Please call the morning after surgery to report your progress.

Medications Following Surgery

Ibuprofen – take 2-3 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed
Tylenol (or acetaminophen type medication) - you have been given 2 tablets in the office. Take
2 additional tablets every 4-5 hours until bedtime
Peridex- Starting the morning after day of surgery, rinse twice daily as directed.

NOTE: ALCOHOL INTAKE IS NOT ADVISED WHILE TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS.

After Internal Bleaching

Please wait at least 1 hour to eat or drink. Once you begin to eat and drink, do not bite on the area treated.
Internal bleaching has been initatied to achieve a more satisfactory color match of your tooth. Although the goal of internal bleaching is to achieve the best match possible, the treated tooth may not match your other teeth exactly. Depending on the severity of discoloration, it may take more than one session to reach the desired level of color change.
It is not unusual for a tooth to initially become slightly brighter than the surrounding teeth. If you notice that you are satisfied with the shade of your tooth or that it begins to appear brighter than the adjacent teeth prior to your next scheduled visit, please call the office and we will schedule you to be seen for an earlier appointment.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please call our office.