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Aftercare

After Root Canal Treatment

Mild tenderness for a few days is normal, particularly on biting. What matters most afterwards is protecting the tooth, because a treated tooth is often more brittle than it looks.

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What is normal, and what is not

Tenderness to bite for a few days
Common. Usually settles steadily.
Mild ache managed by ordinary pain relief
Expected in the first days.
Increasing pain after several days
Call us.
Swelling
Call us.
A temporary filling wearing down
Call — the tooth needs sealing.

Why a crown is often recommended after

Root canal treatment removes the nerve and, along with the decay or fracture that made it necessary, a fair amount of structure. Back teeth in particular take heavy load, and treated teeth fracture more readily. Full coverage protects against that.

A treated tooth that fractures below the gum often cannot be saved — which is why the protective restoration is not an upsell but the part that determines whether the treatment lasts.

What we can explain here — and what needs an exam

A page can inform you. It cannot examine you.

We can explain online
What normal healing feels like
Why treated teeth are more brittle
What a temporary restoration is for
Determined after an exam
Whether your tooth needs a crown or a simpler restoration
Whether healing is progressing normally
Whether retreatment or referral is needed

What to do next

Do not delay the final restoration. That gap is where most avoidable failures happen.

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Related
Root canal treatmentDental crownsDo I need a root canal?Can this tooth be saved?

General information reviewed by Mankirat Gill, DDS · August 2026. Not a substitute for an in-person examination.