Instructions Before Treatment
- If you have been advised by your physician to premedicate with antibiotics for any heart conditions or joint replacement, please take the prescribed dose one hour prior to your appointment. For any questions regarding antibiotic prophylaxis, please contact your physician or call our office prior to your appointment.
- In order for us to establish a proper diagnosis we ask that you please avoid taking any type of pain medication at least 4 hours prior to your appointment.
- Do not stop taking any medications prescribed by your physician. If there is a question, please contact your physician or our office prior to your appointment.
- There are no restrictions for eating on the day of your procedure.
- This procedure will be performed using local anesthesia. You may return to normal activities immediately following treatment including driving, working, etc..
- When anti-anxiety medications (i.e., Halcion, Valium, Xanax) are taken prior to treatment, we require that you have an escort to drive you to and from the appointment.
Post-Operative Pain Management
As with any medical or dental procedure, it is normal to have discomfort following endodontic treatment. This occurs because the tissues and bone around the tooth and roots become inflamed, which is part of the healing process. Most commonly there will be tenderness to biting pressure or a general soreness in the area. Pain following endodontic treatment usually diminishes within 3-5 days and should subside by one week.
Following your treatment, you will have access to us though our answering service by calling 847 446 6200. We invite you to contact us if you encounter significant pain or swelling, or for any other questions or concerns you may have.
Aftercare Instructions
Click here for Aftercare Following Endodontic (Root Canal) Treatment
Click here for Instructions Following Surgical Endodontics
Pain Medications (Analgesics)
Recent studies on pain control are indicating that taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) together with acetaminophen (Tylenol®) has more significant post-operative pain relief than taking either drug alone. Also, the ibuprofen and acetaminophen combination has significantly more pain relief than narcotic medications such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin®, Norco®, Lortab®), and oxycodone (Percocet®, Percodan®).
For mild discomfort following endodontic treatment, 400-600mg of ibuprofen (2 or 3 Advil®, Motrin®) is usually adequate (or if you are unable to take ibuprofen, 500-1000mg of acetaminophen (1 or 2 Extra Strength Tylenol®). If you are experiencing moderate to severe pain, we suggest you take 600mg of ibuprofen and 1000mg of acetaminophen at the same time. If this does not give you adequate pain relief, please contact us for advice.
Maximum daily doses for these over-the-counter medications (OTC):
| Drug Generic Name | Max Daily Dose | Brand Name |
| Ibuprofen | 3200mg | Motrin®, Advil®, Nuprin® |
| Acetaminophen | 3000mg | Tylenol®, Excedrin® |
| Naproxen Sodium | 1250mg | Aleve®, Anaprox®, Pamprin®, Midol® extended relief |
| Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) | 4000mg | Bayer®, Bufferin®, Ecotrin®, Anacin® |
It is important to note that many over the counter cold relief medications contain some of the above medications and will impact your daily maximum dose. Also note consumption of alcohol with acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin) can be harmful due to the effect on the liver. Many prescription medications can also be impacted by these over the counter medications and you should consult with your pharmacist or physician for advice prior to taking any medications.
Patient Comment Card
Click here to download our Patient Comment Card
Completed forms may be faxed to 847-446-6187, emailed to info@winnetkaendodontics.com, or printed and taken to your next appointment.