After Completion of Endodontic Treatment

We hope your visit in our office was pleasant and exceeded all expectations.  We also hope to prove that root canal therapy is dramatically better than the alternative of extraction and artificial tooth replacement.

Endodontic treatment has now been completed.  The root canal system has been permanently sealed.  However, the outer surface may be sealed with a temporary restoration.  A follow-up restoration must be placed to protect your tooth against fracture and decay.  Please telephone your restorative dentist for an appointment.  A complete report of treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist. Included in your treatment is a follow-up examination to evaluate the progress of healing if needed. This appointment will require only a few minutes and no additional fee will be charged for the first check-up visit.  Our office staff will call a day before to remind you of the appointment .

Your tooth is more prone to fracture immediately after endodontic treatment.  You should chew on the other side until your restorative dentist has placed a core build-up and a protective restoration, usually a crown.  If your tooth’s strength is seriously compromised, your endodontist or restorative dentist may place a post and core build-up inside the tooth.  Your restorative dentist will determine the appropriate restoration to best protect your tooth.

An endodontist is on call after hours.  If you need to call after hours, please have your pharmacy number available.

Are There Any Potential Problems After Treatment?

• Lower teeth and nerve injury.  There is a slight possibility that nerve injury can occur during root canal surgery to the lower posterior teeth.  Your endodontist is trained to assess this possibility prior to treatment and will advise you accordingly.  For lower posterior teeth, the root tips may be near a nerve that supplies feeling to the lip, chin and gums.  Your endodontist is trained to design your treatment to minimize the chances of damaging this nerve.  Rarely, this nerve can become irritated during the process of endodontic treatment.  In these cases, when the local anesthesia wears off, you may experience tingling, altered sensation or, in rare cases a complete lack of feeling in the affected tissues.  Should this occur, it is usually temporary and will resolve over a period of days, weeks or months.  In rare cases, these changes can be permanent and/or painful.
• Upper teeth and sinus communication.  The upper teeth are situated near your sinuses, and root canal surgery can result in a communication between your mouth and the adjacent sinus.  Should this complication occur, it will usually heal spontaneously.  We will give you special instructions if this is apparent at the time of treatment.  We prefer that you don’t blow your nose for two to three days after treatment.  If you have to sneeze, you should sneeze with an open mouth into a tissue.  You should not create any pressure in the sinus area.  If you sense a complication after treatment, please contact us.
• Post-operative infections.  Post-operative infections occasionally occur.  This usually requires just an office visit and examination.  Many times placing you on an antibiotic for one week will take care of the infection.  Occasionally, other follow-up procedures will be needed.

Opening to Sinus

Air Communication From Sinus

Sinus Communication Corrected

If you have any questions, please call our office at Sunnyvale Endodontics Phone Number 408-736-4669 / 650-954-8576