Home Care Instructions
Your tooth and surrounding gum tissue may be slightly tender for several days as a result of manipulation during treatment and the tooth’s previous condition. This tenderness is normal and no cause for alarm. Avoid chewing on the affected side until your endodontic therapy is complete and the tooth is covered with a protective restoration from your restorative dentist. You can continue your regular dental hygiene routine, and discomfort can usually be managed with ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, or acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed.
After Endodontic Surgery
Following endodontic surgery, some soreness and swelling around the tooth and gum tissue is expected. Use these steps to care for the surgical site.
Leave the area alone
Don’t lift your lip or look at the incision. Doing so can pull the stitches out.
Ice on a schedule
For the first 5 hours after surgery, apply ice 30 minutes on and 10 minutes off. After that, switch to 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the remainder of the first 24 hours.
Hold off on brushing near the incision
Don’t brush directly over the incision for the first 48 hours — use the antibacterial mouth rinse we provide instead, following its directions. Keep brushing the rest of your mouth as usual. After 48 hours, you can brush the area, brushing from gums toward the tooth to avoid lifting the tissue or pulling on stitches.
Watch what you eat
Avoid seeds, chips, pretzels, crusty bread, or anything sharp or pointy that could injure the tissue or sutures.
Fill and take your prescriptions
Have your prescriptions filled and take them exactly as directed.
Start salt water rinses after 48 hours
Warm salt water rinses can begin after 48 hours to help the tissue heal.
Stitch removal
Stitches are removed about a week after surgery, even if they’re the dissolvable type.
If you notice bleeding
Light oozing: place a moist gauze over the area and apply gentle pressure. Heavier bleeding: place a wet tea bag inside the mouth at the surgical site and press firmly against the outside of your cheek for 30 minutes, keeping your head elevated. If bleeding continues after that, call our office.
Some bruising and swelling is normal
This is a typical part of healing after surgery.
If you have any questions, please call our office.
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