Pain After a Root Canal: What's Normal?
Pain after a root canal — what's normal? Mild soreness and tenderness when biting for 2 to 4 days is expected as inflamed tissues heal. Manage it with over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Call your endodontist for red flags like worsening pain, swelling, a gum bump, or a lost filling. Discomfort usually fades quickly. 59 seconds.
Video Transcript
Pain after a root canal — what's normal? Here's some patient education. The first few days: mild soreness is normal. Tenderness when biting usually lasts two to four days. The surrounding tissues were inflamed, and they need time to heal. Managing discomfort: keep it gentle. Manage soreness with over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and avoid chewing hard foods on the treated tooth. Be careful until your permanent restoration is placed. Your tooth is fragile while it only has a temporary filling. When to call your endodontist — watch for red flags. The red flags: severe or worsening pain after several days, visible swelling, a bump on the gum, a temporary filling coming out, or pain returning weeks or months later. Discomfort usually fades quickly. Mild soreness does not mean the treatment failed. Silicon Valley Endodontics & Microsurgery, Sunnyvale, CA.