Root Canal Therapy

Prior to Treatment- It’s not uncommon to have some degree of tenderness following treatment, so we recommend that you take 400mg of Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) one hour prior to arriving for treatment; this will help alleviate discomfort once the local anesthetic wears off. If you are unable totolerate Ibuprofen, or have a medical condition that contraindicates it’s use, we recommend taking an extra strength (500 or 650mg) acetaminophen one hour prior to treatment.

Tenderness following treatment- Your tooth may be tender following treatment,this is very normal, and depends on many factors, including; the amount of tenderness prior to treatment, the amount/ type of local anesthesia needed, and variations in pain perception. Unless contraindicated by your medical history, we routinely prescribe a Medrol (Methylprednisone) Dosepak to help manage  tenderness, and recommend you start the medication before the local anesthetic wears off. To prevent gastrointestinal upset we recommend that you avoid taking ibuprofen while taking the Medrol.

Pain Medication– In addition to Medrol, we will also provide you with a prescription for a narcotic pain medication (Hydrocodone) in the event stronger pain relief is desired. If you have a past history of substance abuse, we would recommend that you would use over-the-counter pain control medications such as Ibuprofen or Acetominophen.

Antibiotics- Depending on the circumstances, we may also prescribe an antibiotic to help with healing.