Thank you for trusting The Grove Dental with your Root Canal Therapy. This treatment is designed to remove infection or inflammation from inside the tooth and help preserve your natural tooth.

It is normal for the treated tooth and surrounding area to feel a little different for a few days. Please follow the instructions below to keep the tooth protected while it settles.

The local anaesthetic may take a few hours to wear off. Until you have full feeling back:

1. Avoid chewing, as you may accidentally bite your lip, cheek or tongue.
2. Avoid very hot food and drinks.
3. Drink carefully and take extra care around the treated area.

Mild tenderness when biting or touching the tooth can be normal for the first few days, particularly if the tooth was painful or infected before treatment. Your jaw may also feel a little tired or sore from keeping your mouth open during the appointment.

These symptoms should gradually improve. The treated tooth may feel slightly different from the teeth around it for a short time while the surrounding tissues heal.

Once the numbness has completely worn off, you can eat and drink. Until your dentist confirms the tooth has received its final restoration:

1. Chew on the other side of your mouth where possible.

2. Avoid hard, crunchy or sticky foods that could crack the tooth or dislodge a temporary filling or crown.

3. Do not use the treated tooth to bite heavily.

A tooth that has had Root Canal Therapy can be more vulnerable to fracture before it is fully restored. If you need a permanent filling or crown, please attend this appointment as recommended rather than delaying it.

Unless your dentist has given you different instructions:

1. Continue brushing twice a day.
2. Floss or clean between your teeth as usual, taking care around the treated tooth.
3. Keep the area clean, but avoid repeatedly pressing or testing the tooth with your tongue or fingers.

If a temporary filling or crown was placed, it is there to protect the tooth between appointments. A thin surface layer may wear or chip slightly, which can be normal. Please contact us if:

• The temporary filling or crown comes out.
• Part of the tooth breaks.
• Your bite feels high, uneven or uncomfortable.
• You are unsure whether the temporary restoration is intact.

Take any medication prescribed or recommended by your clinician exactly as directed. If antibiotics were prescribed, follow the directions provided and contact us if you have any concerns or experience a reaction.

If you are considering over-the-counter pain relief, follow the label and check with your dentist, doctor or pharmacist if you have a medical condition, take other medicines, are pregnant or are unsure what is suitable for you.

Please call us promptly if you experience:

• Severe pain or pressure, pain that is worsening, or pain that lasts more than a few days.
• Visible swelling inside or outside your mouth.
• Fever, pus or a persistent bad taste.
• The return of the symptoms you had before treatment.
• An uneven bite that is not settling.
• A temporary filling or crown that has come out.
• A rash, hives, itching or another possible reaction to medication.

If swelling is making it difficult to breathe, speak or swallow, call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department.

If you have any questions or concerns following your treatment, please contact The Grove Dental on (02) 8817 2879. Our team is here to help.