POST OP INSTRUCTIONS
(Scroll down below to find the appropriate post op instruction for your procedure)
Extraction and Implant Post Op Instructions
Day 1: Continue biting on the gauze for 30-60 minutes following your procedure. Do NOT spit,
rinse, suck (using a straw), smoke, drink carbonated or alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours.
The goal is to keep blood clot in the socket to prevent bleeding and a painful complication known as DRY SOCKET
Day 2: You will most likely experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Minor pain, swelling, bruising, limitation in opening or closing your mouth, pain in jaw
or ear, sore throat. It is important to listen to your body and take it easy.
No heavy lifting, spitting, sucking, alcohol or smoking.
Oral hygiene: Brush gently. A gentle lukewarm salt water rinse can be used to freshen
your mouth. But again, do not spit; just let the fluid passively empty. The corners of
your mouth may become cracked and dry – moisturize frequently. If you had an implant placed and a healing cap was placed, keep the cap clean and shiny by gently brushing the cap from food an debris.
Discomfort: Over-the-counter- pain medication (Ibuprofen, Aleve, and Tylenol) may be
taken as directed on the bottle to relieve discomfort.
Swelling: Apply cold compresses to affected area at 10 minute intervals for the first 24
hours to minimize swelling. Any swelling that occurs usually begins to diminish within
72 hours; call the office if there is no change.
Bleeding: Some oozing of blood is normal for the first 12-24 hours. Put a hand towel on
your pillow as some drooling can occur when you are numb. If you experience excessive
bleeding, apply firm pressure with 1-2 folded gauze pads or damp tea bag on the
affected area for 30-60 minutes and keep your head elevated. Call the office if the
bleeding does not subside.
Diet: Drink plenty of fluids.
Avoid carbonated and alcoholic beverages.
A soft diet will be easiest: yogurt, milkshakes (no straw), soups, fish, pasta.
Nothing too spicy is recommended.
It is normal to have a little tenderness while chewing and difficulty opening wide.
Stitches: If you have received sutures, avoid playing with them.Sutures fall out within 7-10 days.
Prescriptions: If you have been prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed until they
are all gone, even if symptoms dissipate. Some antibiotics can interfere with the
effectiveness of birth control pills or other medications. If pain medication or a mouth
rinse is prescribed take as directed.
In case of any unusual disturbances, questions or any post surgical problems, please call the
office.
Root Canal Post Op Instructions
Root canal therapy can take 1-2 appointments to complete. After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any chewing on the side of the treated tooth until the numbness has completely worn off.
A temporary filling or crown is placed by your dentist to protect the tooth between appointments.
Between appointments, it's common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling or crownto wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out, or if a temporary crown comes off, please call our office so it can be replaced.
To protect the tooth and help keep your temporary in place:
·Avoid chewing sticky foods (especially gum).
·Avoid biting hard foods and hard substances, such as ice, fingernails and pencils.
·If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.
It's normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal therapy appointment, especially when chewing. It is not uncommon for a tooth to be uncomfortable or even exhibit a dull ache immediately after receiving root canal therapy. This should subside within a few days (or even weeks). Even if you were not experiencing any discomfort prior to treatment, it is normal for you to experience some degree of discomfort for a few days after. The tenderness is normal and is no cause for alarm.
To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended by your dentist. If antibiotics are
prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
If you were not prescribed a pain medication by us but are experiencing pain after your appointment, we recommend taking over the counter pain medication. We recommend ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil or naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox). Should you experience discomfort that cannot be controlled with pain medications or should swelling develop, please call our office.
To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water; dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, then rinse, swish, and spit. It's important to continue to brush and floss normally.
Usually, the last step after root canal treatment is the placement of a crown on the tooth. A crown covers and protects the tooth from breaking in the future. Unless otherwise noted by the dentist, it is critical to have a crown placed on your root canal therapy treated tooth as soon as possible.
Delay in obtaining final restoration (crown) may result in fracture and/or possible loss of the tooth.
If your bite feels uneven, you have persistent pain, or you have any other questions or concerns, please call our dental office.
Crown/Bridge Post Op Instructions
FIRST APPOINTMENT - CROWN PREPARATION
You may experience some soreness from the injection sites - we recommend taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen before the numbness wears away.
Following the first appointment you will receive a temporary crown that is placed and cemented to the prepared tooth. Because temporary cement washes out rapidly, you may experience some sensitivity to cold and hot which is normal. Try to brush the area gently and when you floss, pull the floss out from the side rather than upward. The rapid upward motion may dislodge the temporary crown.
If a temporary crown becomes loose or falls out, clean the temporary cement from the inside the crown, then apply vaseline or place Fixodent (denture glue - can be bought at Target or CVS) inside the crown and place it back on the tooth. Immediately call and we will get you scheduled to come back to the office to get the crown either re-cemented or remade.
SECOND APPOINTMENT - FINAL CEMENTATION OF CROWN
Please do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after your new crown is cemented. Do not eat hard or sticky foods for 24 hours while the cement completely sets.
Your new crown may feel tight or as if it is pushing against the teeth next to it for several hours. This
discomfort will go away within a day or two.
Sensitivity, especially to hot and cold is common after a crown is cemented. This may be the result of a chemical reaction between the final cement and the tooth. The sensitivity usually subsides within a week or ten days. Usually the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth will be. You should make an adjustment appointment if the sensitivity persists or increases.
The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different texture than the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this small difference, but you will become accustomed to this in a few days. Please follow prescribed oral hygiene instructions-45 degree angle brushing twice a day and flossing once a day to avoid getting a cavity or gum disease around your new crown.
Flossing is especially important in preserving the health of your crown or bridge. A correctly fabricated crown or bridge should function as comfortably as your own tooth.