Post Operative Instructions

Sensitivity

Sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment. For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an Advil or Tylenol if the discomfort persists.

Restorations

• When anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any food or drinks until the numbness has completely worn off.
• It is normal to experience some cold, hot and pressure sensitivity after your appointment.
• Your gums may be sore for several days.
• Do not chew hard foods or chew directly on your new silver fillings for 24hours. You may chew right away on white fillings since they set completely on the day of the appointment.
• If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any questions or concerns, please call the office.

ROOT CANAL THERAPY

• When anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any food or drinks until the numbness has completely worn off.
• Root canal therapy may take two or more appointments to complete. A temporary filling is placed to protect the tooth between appointments. Avoid sticky foods, hard foods and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. It is common for a small portion of the temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire temporary filling falls off, please call the office to have it replaced.
• It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after root canal treatment especially when chewing. Take pain medications as recommended for discomfort.
• If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone
• To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse 3 times a day with warm salt water.
• It is important to continue to brush and floss normally on that side.
• If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any questions or concerns, please call the office.

TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

• Your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any food or drinks until the numbness has completely worn off.
• After an extraction, it is important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That is why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 2-3 hours or more. It is important to change the gauze pad every 30 minutes.
• For 24 hours after the procedure, we ask that you DO NOT smoke, spit, use a straw or rinse your mouth vigorously. These activities can dislodge the clot and slow down the healing.
• You may have pain and swelling. To minimize swelling, put an ice bag on the outside of your face ( 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off). If you have discomfort, take pain medications as recommended.
• If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
• Drink lots of fluid and eat only soft foods on the day of the extraction. You can begin eating normally as soon as it is comfortable.
• After 24 hours, rinse 3 times a day with warm salt water. Continue to do this for 4-5 days
• Call us right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days or a reaction to the meds.

SOFT TISSUE MANAGEMENT

• Your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any food or drinks until the numbness has completely worn off.
• You many have discomfort and swelling in the treated area for several days. To minimize pain and swelling, gently rinse with warm salt water 3 times a day for 4-5 days. Frequent or vigorous rinsing must be avoided.
• If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time.
• Slight bleeding is normal for a few days after treatment.
• It is very important to continue your normal homecare routine such as brushing and flossing in the non-treated area. For the first 72 hours, be very gentle with brushing the treated area.

CROWN AND BRIDGE

• Crowns and bridges take 2 or more appointments to complete. A provisional crown or bridge is placed to protect the tooth/teeth between the appointments. Avoid sticky foods, hard foods and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. On rare occasions, the provisional crown can loosen or may come off. If this happens, please call our office ASAP to have the provisional crown recemented.
• It is normal to experience some sensitivity to hot, cold or pressure for a few days after the procedure.
• It is important for resume routine homecare after the procedure. Brush normally but try to avoid flossing around the provisional crown or bridge.
• If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any questions or concerns, please call the office.