A stainless-steel ring and wooden wedge may have been placed around and in between your tooth (teeth) to properly shape your filling. This may have injured the gums. It is important that you brush the site firmly while things are healing. The gums will be tender and sensitive with brushing, naturally people will tend to avoid brushing because of the discomfort. Your gums will heal quicker if brushing habits are sufficient. Lack of brushing will result in red and inflamed gums. This gum pain can transfer into tooth pain. It’s important not to avoid brushing the site.

After your filling is complete, your bite is checked with thin blue bite paper or wax that discloses where there are bite interferences. These areas are adjusted so that the tooth (or teeth) function in healthy harmony with the rest of your bite. Occasionally, due to the sensation of dental freezing, biting down properly is shown to sometimes be difficult. Your bite will be adjusted, however once the freezing has dissipated you may feel that your bite is high or there is sensitivity when chewing, an appointment needs to be made for further adjustment. Otherwise biting in an unhealthy position for too long can result in damage or fracture of the tooth.

There is a strong recommendation to have your tooth crowned (capped) generally 6-8 weeks after the root canal is complete. Once the nerve is removed from the tooth it becomes brittle and weak, the tooth is more at risk of breaking. To protect your investment of the root canal, it important to cover the tooth with a crown.