Local Anesthesia
Many dental procedures use local anesthetic (Novocaine) to allow the treatment to be performed comfortably.  After the procedure is completed, the numb sensation could last for 30 minutes to several hours.  It is important during this time to avoid chewing solid food in order to prevent accidentally biting the lip, cheek or tongue, causing painful injury.  Children should be monitored closely by an adult during this time to be sure they are not inadvertently biting their lip or cheek
Fillings
After the numbness wears off, teeth with new fillings may be slightly achy or sensitive for a while.  If they are, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines such as Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are very helpful in increasing the comfort level.  These sensations are typically temporary and should resolve in a few days at most.  If the teeth are very uncomfortable several days after treatment, call to let the dentist know.
Root Canals
After a root canal is performed, the tooth can be expected to be tender to touch and pressure for a few days.  Over-the-counter pain medicines like Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) are helpful during this time.  Also, your dentist may have prescribed stronger pain medicine for the first day or two.  If so, be sure and follow instructions on the label.  If significant pain or swelling occurs, call to let the dentist know.
Dentures
After new partial or complete dentures are delivered, it is common for sore spots to develop in the first few days.  If you experience significant pain when biting, be sure to call and let the dentist know.  The dentures can be adjusted to relieve the pressure points that are causing the pain.  It is common to need 2 or more adjustment visits before the dentures are completely comfortable.

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