Face 
Dentistry Finishing your root canal appointment can feel like the end of the process.
But there are still a few things you need to know.
Your mouth may remain numb for a while. Your tooth may feel different. You may need another restoration. And if you’ve seen a Specialist Endodontist rather than your usual dentist, you may be wondering who looks after the tooth next.
Here’s what to expect.
The local anaesthetic used during treatment may continue to numb your mouth after you leave the practice.
You may therefore notice altered sensation in your:
depending on which tooth has been treated.
Be careful while sensation is returning and follow the eating and drinking advice given by your clinician.
Some tenderness can occur following root canal treatment.
The NHS advises that the area around the tooth may feel sore or swollen and that this should improve.
The amount people experience varies.
Your clinician will give you aftercare advice appropriate to your treatment.
If you’re worried about your symptoms, contact the practice.
Follow the advice you’re given at your appointment.
In particular, be cautious while your mouth remains numb because it is easier to accidentally bite your cheek, lip or tongue.
There may also be specific advice about the tooth itself if you have a temporary restoration or are waiting for further restorative treatment.
Good oral hygiene remains important.
Unless your clinician has given you different instructions because of the treatment you’ve received, continue cleaning your teeth appropriately.
Take care around an area that feels tender and follow any specific instructions you have been given.
Root canal treatment deals with the inside of the tooth.
The outside still needs to be restored so that the tooth can function appropriately.
The restoration required depends on factors including:
Depending on your circumstances, the tooth may require a filling, onlay, crown or another appropriate restoration.
The NHS notes that a crown may be needed after root canal treatment in some cases.
No.
The appropriate restoration depends on the individual tooth.
Your dentist or endodontist should explain what is recommended and why.
That depends on the treatment plan.
If your own dentist referred you to Dr Alex Brett, Specialist Endodontist, you may return to your dentist for the restorative part of your treatment.
If you’re an Evolve patient, the appropriate clinician at Evolve may manage that stage.
The important thing is that you know who is responsible for the next step before the endodontic part of your treatment is considered complete.
You may.
Your clinician will tell you whether the tooth needs review and when.
Follow-up may help assess how the tooth and surrounding tissues are progressing after treatment.
Keep any recommended review appointments even if the tooth feels completely normal.
There isn’t a meaningful single number we can promise for an individual tooth.
Its future depends on much more than the root canal treatment alone.
Factors include:
No root canal treatment comes with a guarantee that the tooth will remain indefinitely.
Follow the specific advice your clinician gives you.
If the tooth has a temporary restoration or is waiting for its final restoration, you may be advised to take particular care with it.
Once treatment and restoration are complete, your dentist can advise you about normal function.
Rather than relying on an internet checklist to decide whether something is “normal”, contact us if you’re concerned.
In particular, if symptoms are significant, worsening or different from what you were told to expect, it is sensible to seek advice.
If Alex has treated you and you normally attend another dentist, we’ll explain who to contact for different aspects of your care.
A previously root-treated tooth can sometimes develop a new or persistent problem.
This doesn’t automatically mean it needs to be extracted.
It does mean the tooth should be assessed.
Possible options may include retreatment or another approach depending on the cause and condition of the tooth.
Read: My root canal hasn’t worked – can my tooth still be treated?
Experiences vary. Some tenderness can occur after treatment and should generally improve. Contact your clinician if you’re concerned about the severity or progression of your symptoms.
Many people return to normal activities, but individual circumstances and treatment vary. Ask your clinician if you’re unsure.
Follow the advice you’ve been given, particularly while your mouth remains numb. Take care with hot drinks until normal sensation has returned.
Your clinician can advise you based on the treatment you’ve received and how you’re feeling afterwards.
Contact the dental practice for advice rather than waiting until your next appointment without telling anyone.
Read: What happens during root canal treatment?
Or download:
Your guide to root canal treatment – what it means, what to expect and understanding your options
If you have a concern about specialist treatment provided by Alex, contact the Evolve team.
For general independent guidance, see the NHS information about root canal treatment.
Electric or manual toothbrush - which is better?
It`s one of those dental questions where almost everyone has an opinion.
But does buying an electric toothbrush automatically mean you`re doing a better job?
Richard tackles the question.
Whichever toothbrush you use, how you brush matters enormously - so don`t panic if there`s nothing rechargeable sitting beside your bathroom sink.
Now we`re curious...
Clear aligners or fixed braces - which is better?
Which is better - clear aligners or fixed braces?
Neither.
At least, not until we know more about you.
The right orthodontic treatment depends on your teeth, what you`d like to change, your lifestyle and a number of clinical considerations.
For some people, clear aligners can be a great option. For others, fixed braces may be more appropriate.
So rather than starting with:
“Which braces do you want?”
We`d much rather start with:
“What would you like to change about your smile?”
Swipe through to understand some of the differences.
💚 £338 raised for Macmillan Cancer Support! 💚
We had such a lovely time at our Macmillan Coffee Morning last week. ☕🍰
A huge thank you to everyone who popped into the practice, enjoyed a slice of cake, had a chat and made a donation. It was wonderful to see so many of our patients, friends and members of the local community getting involved, and we were genuinely touched by everyone’s generosity.
Together, you helped us raise an amazing £169.
And we’re delighted to share that Carol has very generously matched every pound raised, bringing our final total to…
🥁 £338 for Macmillan Cancer Support! 💚
Thank you to our brilliant team for baking, organising and keeping the cake table well stocked, and to every single person who helped make the day such an enjoyable one.
Days like this remind us just how lovely the community around Evolve really is. 💚
#MacmillanCoffeeMorning #MacmillanCancerSupport #Portishead #EvolveDentistry #PortisheadCommunity
Being shortlisted for Team of the Year means a lot to us, but not because of the trophy.
It’s because dentistry is never the work of one person.
It’s the nurse who notices you’re nervous before you’ve said a word. The reception team member who remembers the conversation you had last time. The clinician who takes time to explain something again. The person behind the scenes making sure your visit runs smoothly.
Those small things happen every day at Evolve, and they only happen because people care about the experience we create together.
So being a finalist gives us a lovely excuse to say something we probably don’t say often enough: we’re incredibly proud of this team.
#PrivateDentistryAwards #TeamOfTheYear #DentalTeam #EvolveDentistry
You might notice a familiar face missing from Evolve for a little while… 💚
Carol is heading to Zambia with SmileStar, a dental charity providing free dental care to communities with limited access to treatment.
In this video, Carol shares a little more about where she’s going, what she’ll be doing while she’s there and why she wanted to be part of the trip.
It’s going to be a very different couple of weeks away from the practice, and we’re incredibly proud to see Carol giving her time and skills to support SmileStar’s work.
We’ll be sharing a little more from her trip when we can, but for now, we’ll let Carol tell you all about it in her own words. 💚
Safe travels, Carol. We can’t wait to hear all about it when you’re home!
#EvolveDentistry #SmileStar #Zambia #Dentistry #Portishead
🍰 Come and join us today! 💚
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning is in full swing at Evolve Dentistry, and we’d love to see you!
We’ve got plenty of delicious homemade cakes waiting for you, so pop in, say hello, grab a slice (or two!) and help us raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
We’ll be serving cakes right through until 5pm today, so there’s still plenty of time to come down.
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cakes until 5pm
💚 Everyone is welcome
Come hungry! 😋
#MacmillanCoffeeMorning #MacmillanCancerSupport #Portishead #PortisheadCommunity #EvolveDentistry
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