• Immediate Care & Chewing: The root canal system has been permanently sealed, but the outer surface of your tooth may currently be sealed with a temporary restoration. If this temporary material breaks or wears away, please do not be alarmed—the root canal system underneath remains fully sealed. Because your tooth is more prone to fracture immediately after treatment, please chew on the other side of your mouth until a permanent, protective restoration (usually a crown) has been placed.
• Next Steps with Your Restorative Dentist: A follow-up restoration is essential to protect your tooth from fracture and decay. Please call your restorative dentist to schedule an appointment for this final step. Depending on the tooth's strength, they (or our office) may place a post and core build-up inside the tooth. A complete report of your endodontic treatment will be sent directly to your dentist.

Questions? If you have any questions or concerns during your recovery, please call our office at 502-742-2168.

• Activity & Diet: Avoid strenuous activity for the remainder of the day; routine, non-strenuous activities are fine. Maintain an adequate diet with proper solid and fluid intake for the first 3 days. Please avoid or minimize smoking and alcohol for 3 days, as they delay the wound healing process.
• Caring for the Surgical Site: Avoid manipulating your facial tissues as much as possible. Do not raise your lip or pull back your cheeks to inspect the surgical site, as this may dislodge your sutures (stitches).
• Swelling & Bleeding: Some minor oozing, slight swelling, and facial bruising are normal and temporary. Maximum swelling usually occurs 48 hours after surgery. Apply an ice bag with firm pressure to the face directly over the site (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) for the first 6–8 hours. Do not use ice after 8 hours. You may apply frequent moist heat to the face starting on the third day after surgery.
• Pain Management: The surgical site will be tender and sore. Please follow your prescribed analgesic regimen (e.g., 400mg Motrin every 4 hours, OR 600mg Motrin every 6 hours, OR 800mg Motrin every 8 hours). Additional prescription medication may be required as well.
• Oral Hygiene: Careful brushing promotes healing. Brush only your teeth and make every effort to avoid the gums. After 24 hours, you may begin rinsing with Peridex (if prescribed) or a mild saltwater solution (½ tsp. of table salt in ½ glass of warm water).
• Sutures & Follow-Up: Your sutures will dissolve on their own, or they may be removed by your doctor at your one-week follow-up visit. Please return to the office for your appointed recall visits to ensure proper healing and monitor your progress.
  Potential Complications & Special Precautions
• Signs of Infection: Post-surgical infections occasionally occur. Watch for increased pain, swelling, tenderness, fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, or an objectionable odor or taste. This usually requires a brief office visit and can often be resolved with a one-week course of antibiotics.
• Lower Teeth (Nerve Irritation): Surgery on lower posterior teeth carries a slight risk of nerve irritation, which can cause temporary tingling, altered sensation, or numbness in the lip, chin, or gums. We design your surgery to minimize this risk. If this occurs, it usually resolves over days, weeks, or months, though in rare cases it can be permanent.
• Upper Teeth (Sinus Precautions): Because upper teeth are near your sinuses, a communication between your mouth and sinus can occasionally occur. This usually heals spontaneously. If we notice this during surgery, we will give you specific instructions. Do not blow your nose for 2 to 3 days. If you must sneeze, do so with your mouth open into a tissue to avoid creating pressure in the sinus area.

Questions or Emergencies? If any complications arise or these conditions exist, please call our office at 502-742-2168. If you feel your symptoms warrant a physician and you are unable to reach us, go to the closest emergency room immediately.

Pre-Sedation Instructions

• Your Prescription: You have been given a prescription to fill prior to your appointment. Please note: You cannot take this medication if you could be pregnant.
  ◦ The Morning Of: Take one Halcion tablet (0.25mg) 1 hour before your appointment on an empty stomach. Upon arrival, we will monitor you and evaluate your level of sedation, administering additional medication if necessary.
• Diet & Restrictions: * Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before your procedure.
  ◦ No grapefruit juice or caffeine (coffee, tea, caffeinated soft drinks, etc.) for 12 hours prior, as caffeine limits your level of sedation.
  ◦ No alcohol or narcotics: We cannot safely sedate you if you have consumed alcohol, narcotics of any type (including Vicodin/Hydrocodone), or any street/recreational drugs.
• Smoking Guidelines: Nicotine levels in your blood affect your sedation experience. If you smoke:
  ◦ Less than ½ pack a day: Refrain for 12 hours.
  ◦ ½ to 1 full pack a day: Refrain for 8 hours.
  ◦ 1 to 1 ½ packs a day: Refrain for 4 hours.
  ◦ More than 1 ½ packs a day: Smoke right before coming to the office.
• Clothing: Wear lightweight, comfortable clothing (preferably with short sleeves) and comfortable shoes and socks.
• Your Driver / Escort: It is absolutely essential that a designated escort drives you to and from your appointment. We cannot proceed with your appointment if you drive yourself. Your driver will need specific instructions, so please have them speak with our dental team before dropping you off. They are welcome to remain in the office during your visit.

Post-Sedation Instructions (For Patient & Companion)

• Supervision & Safety: A responsible person must remain with the patient until they have fully recovered from the sedation. The patient may seem alert when leaving the office, but this can be misleading—do not leave the patient alone.
  ◦ Always hold the patient's arm when walking.
  ◦ The patient should not go up or down stairs unattended; let them stay on the ground floor until fully recovered.
  ◦ The patient must not carry, sleep next to, or be alone with young children for at least 24 hours after the last medication dosage.
• Driving & Machinery: The patient cannot drive or operate any hazardous devices or heavy equipment for 24 hours after taking sedation medication.
•  Diet & Hydration: Having nutrition after sedation is important. The patient should drink plenty of fluids and begin eating appropriate foods as soon as possible.
  ◦Avoid hot foods and drinks until the numbness completely wears off.
  ◦ Avoid anything sticky or excessively chewy until a final restoration is completed by the restorative dentist.
• Pain Management: Following most surgical procedures, there may or may not be pain. In most cases, we recommend a highly effective, non-narcotic regimen consisting of Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) taken together. If a narcotic has been prescribed instead, follow the directions carefully. If you have questions about these medications interacting with your current prescriptions, please call our office or your pharmacist.

Questions or Difficulties? If you have any questions, or if any complications arise, please do not hesitate to call us at 502-742-2168. If you feel your symptoms warrant a physician and you are unable to reach us, go to the closest emergency room immediately.

Downloadable forms:
Sedation consent form
Surgical consent form
Endodontic Treatment consent form