Endodontic treatment has now been completed. The root canal system has been permanently sealed. However, the outer surface is sealed with a temporary restoration or ‘filling‘. A follow-up restoration/filling must be placed to protect your tooth against fracture, leakage, and decay. Please contact your general dentist right away for an appointment. Your general dentist will receive a report from the Township Endodontic Centre which summarises the treatment provided and recommendations for the future. We encourage patients to return in six months for a follow-up examination. This allows us to evaluate the progress of healing and ensure all is well. This appointment will require only a few minutes and a summary report will also be sent to your dentist. Please sooner if you have any concerns about the progress of healing for the treated tooth.

To reduce potential post-appointment pain you should chew on the other side until your dentist has placed a permanent core build-up and a protective restoration, usually a crown. If your tooth’s strength is seriously compromised, your endodontist or dentist may place a post and core build-up inside the tooth. Together with you, your dentist and endodontist will determine the appropriate restoration to best protect your tooth.

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 teeth at the back of the lower jaw (i.e. mandible). 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 surgery to minimise the chances of damaging this nerve. Rarely, this nerve can become irritated during the process of surgery. In these cases, when the local anaesthesia 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 surgery. We prefer that you don’t blow your nose for two to three days after surgery. 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 surgery, 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.

If you have any questions, please call our office:            604.371.4505