Post operative instructions are given to patients following a specific procedure completed in office. The instructions listed here are for reference only. Please be sure to follow any modified instructions that are given to you chairside based on the progress of your care. If you have any questions regarding your post operative instructions, please call the office directly.
Please select the procedure you received to see a summary of post-op instructions. Call us if you have any questions:
1. Following an extraction, your dentist will review all instructions verbally and provide written instructions for reference. Your dentist will make any needed modifications to the instructions based on the procedure and expected outcomes.
2. Apply pressure to the wound site with the gauze provided for 1 hour. When placing the gauze, fold it over twice to make a smaller square shape. The thicker folded gauze will allow for better pressure to be applied to the wound site. Add 1–2 drops of water to one side of the gauze. Wetting the gauze will prevent it from sticking to the wound and possibly pulling the clot off during removal. Place the wet side of the folded gauze on the wound site. Bite down to hold it in place and gently apply pressure with your teeth. Your bleeding will gradually stop, but if it continues, place a new gauze and apply pressure for another 45 minutes. If you are supervising children who have had an extraction, monitor them closely so they do not bite their numb lips or tongue, which can cause serious injury and pain once the anesthesia wears off.
3. Avoid eating or drinking anything hot on the day of your extraction. Do not rinse your mouth, use a straw, spit, drink carbonated beverages, or brush your teeth on the day of surgery. You can gently resume brushing and flossing the following day.
4. You may experience some pain, bruising around your lips, and/or swelling—especially after the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Ice bag application and the prescribed medication will help minimize your discomfort.
5. Please take all of the medication you have received according to the provided instructions.
6. During the first 2–3 days after surgery, a diet of soft food and liquids is recommended (e.g., soup, yogurt, milkshakes, and juice). Avoid foods that can get packed into the socket easily, such as strawberry seeds, bananas, or chips.
7. Call our office if you experience excessive bleeding, severe pain or swelling, or if you have any questions or concerns. In case of serious emergencies, call 911.
1. Do not eat on your new filling for one hour and until your numbness is gone.
2. If you are supervising children who had fillings done, make sure they don’t bite on their numb lips or tongue. This can cause serious injury to their soft tissue and be very painful once the anesthesia wears off.
3. You may experience cold and heat sensitivity and some gum soreness; this usually subsides within a few days.
4. Once the anesthesia is gone, if you feel that your bite is uneven, call our office to schedule a bite adjustment follow-up. Sometimes patients are not able to close properly during the final bite check with the dentist, which may result in an uneven bite. We want to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, as an uneven bite can cause other complications if not corrected. This is a common issue following restorative dental work and is typically resolved with a quick adjustment that usually doesn't require anesthesia.
5. Call our office if you experience pain or discomfort lasting more than a few days after your fillings, or if you have any questions.
1. Crowns and bridges usually take 2 or 3 appointments to complete. On the first appointment, the tooth/teeth are prepared, impressions are taken, and a temporary crown is placed on your tooth/teeth. You may experience sensitivity, gum soreness, and slight discomfort on the tooth/teeth; it should subside after the placement of the permanent crown(s).
2. Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing on your teeth until the numbness has worn off.
3. A temporary crown is usually made of plastic-based material or soft metal. It can break if too much pressure is placed on it. The crown may also come off; if it does, save the crown and call our office. The temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth and prevent other teeth from moving. If it comes off, it should be replaced as soon as possible. To avoid losing your temporary, do not chew on sticky or hard food (like chewing gum or ice). Try to chew on the opposite side of the temporary as much as possible until your final restorations can be permanently cemented.
4. Continue your normal brushing, but be careful while flossing around the temporaries (remove the floss gently from the side). If it is difficult to get the floss between the temporary and surrounding teeth, refrain from flossing until you receive your permanent crown.
5. After the permanent restoration is placed, you may feel slight pressure for a few days. Also, the bite may feel different for a day or two. If after 2–3 days the bite still feels uneven or if you feel discomfort when chewing on the tooth, call our office to schedule a bite adjustment follow-up. Sometimes patients are not able to close properly during the final bite check, which may result in an uneven bite. We want to resolve this issue quickly, as an uneven bite can lead to further complications. A bite adjustment is usually a quick appointment and typically does not require anesthesia.
6. Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.
1. Every root canal is different because each tooth treated has its own set of circumstances. Many root canal treated teeth feel immediate relief from pain, while others may experience moderate pain and sensitivity to pressure. Also, you may feel gum soreness for a few days after your treatment. The healing process may take several days, but the pain and discomfort should subside gradually.
2. Take any medication that was prescribed for you according to instructions.
3. Usually, a temporary filling has been placed on your tooth; do not bite on the tooth for one hour and while you are numb. Also, until the permanent restoration is placed, be very gentle with the tooth. Try to chew with the opposite side.
4. Continue your brushing and flossing.
5. Follow up with the placement of your permanent restoration as you have been advised. Any unnecessary delay in placement of final restoration may damage the tooth permanently.
6. Call our office if you are in severe pain or experience swelling, or if you have any questions.
1. You may experience some cold and heat sensitivity (especially after deep cleaning).
2. If you have received anesthesia, do not eat anything until the numbness has worn off. Be careful not to bite your lip or tongue.
3. Continue your regular brushing and flossing.
4. Some bleeding for a day or two after cleaning is normal, but if you experience any excessive bleeding, call our office.
5. Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.
6. Some deep cleanings require more frequent follow-ups to help in resolving the disease process and monitoring for additional infections on the gums and teeth. Follow your dentist’s recommendation on when to make your next appointment based on your specific needs.
7. In some cases, there will be a prescription given for Rx-grade mouthwash. Please follow the instructions given for use.
1. You may experience some pressure and discomfort on your teeth.
2. Be gentle with braces and avoid chewing hard and/or sticky food.
3. Brushing and flossing around braces is sometimes challenging and time consuming, but very important.
4. Call our office if you have any questions.
1. You may experience some pain, swelling, and bleeding after the surgery.
2. Take all medication that was prescribed for you according to instructions.
3. Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing until the numbness has worn off.
4. Keep your next appointment on time for removal of sutures and follow up checks.
5. DO NOT raise your lips with your fingers to inspect the treated area.
6. DO NOT brush teeth near the surgical site. Brush teeth in the rest of your mouth.
7. There is often a temporary loss of feeling in the operated area and the tooth may feel loose.
8. Do not smoke, spit, or use a straw on the day of the surgery (avoid smoking for a few days after the surgery).
9. Should any difficulties occur, do not hesitate to call our office anytime. In case of serious emergencies call 911.
1. You may experience some discomfort and bleeding the day of the surgery.
2. Take all medication that was prescribed for you according to instructions.
3. Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing until the numbness has worn off.
4. Keep your next appointment on time for removal of sutures and follow up checks.
5. DO NOT raise your lips with your fingers to inspect the treated area.
6. DO NOT brush teeth near the surgical site. Brush teeth in the rest of your mouth.
7. There is often a temporary loss of feeling in the operated area and the tooth may feel loose.
8. Do not smoke, spit, or use a straw on the day of the surgery (avoid smoking for a few days after the surgery).
9. Should any difficulties occur, do not hesitate to call our office anytime. In case of serious emergencies call 911.
1. You will experience some discomfort with any new denture for a few days. All new dentures need several adjustments to completely and comfortably fit your mouth.
2. You should take the dentures out every night and keep them in a clean container filled with water or denture cleaning solution. Your gums need to rest and be without the dentures every day for a period of time.
3. Clean dentures thoroughly with a brush and water before putting them back in your mouth.
4. It may be difficult to talk normally with the new dentures for a few days. One way to practice is to read a book or newspaper out loud for a period of time every day. Your tongue and muscles will get used to the new dentures and you will talk normally very soon.
5. Call our office if you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or if you have any questions.
1. After an apicoectomy, you may experience some pain, swelling, and bruising around the surgical area. This is normal and should improve within a few days.
2. Take all medication prescribed to you according to the instructions to help manage pain and prevent infection.
3. Avoid chewing on the side of the surgery until numbness has completely worn off and the area has healed sufficiently.
4. Do not disturb the surgical site with your tongue or fingers. Avoid vigorous rinsing or spitting for at least 24 hours to allow proper healing.
5. Maintain gentle oral hygiene, avoiding brushing near the surgical site until your dentist advises it is safe to do so.
6. Use ice packs on the outside of your face intermittently for the first 24-48 hours to reduce swelling.
7. Follow up with your dentist as scheduled to monitor healing and for any necessary suture removal.
8. Call our office if you experience excessive bleeding, severe pain, fever, or any other concerns. In case of serious emergencies, call 911 immediately.
1. Following a bone graft, your dentist will review all instructions verbally and provide written instructions for reference. Your dentist will make any needed modifications to the instructions based on the procedure and expected outcomes.
2. Apply pressure to the wound site with the gauze provided for 1 hour. When placing the gauze, fold over 2 times to make a smaller square shape. The thicker folded gauze will allow for better pressure to be applied to the wound site. Add 1-2 drops of water to one side of the gauze. Wetting the gauze will prevent the gauze from sticking to the wound site and possibly pulling the clot off during removal. Place the wet side of the folded gauze to the wound site. Bite down to hold in place and gently apply pressure with the teeth. Your bleeding will gradually stop, but if the bleeding continues a new gauze should be placed and pressure applied for another 45 minutes.
3. Avoid eating or drinking anything hot on the day of your bone graft. Also, do not rinse your mouth and do not use a straw for drinking. Do not spit and do not drink carbonated beverages. Do not brush on the day of the surgery; you can gently resume your brushing and flossing the day after.
4. You may experience some pain, bruising around your lips, and/or some swelling. Ice bag application and medication prescribed for you will help to minimize your discomfort.
5. Please take all of the medication you have received based on the provided instructions.
6. During the first 2-3 days after surgery a diet of soft food and liquids is recommended (soup, yogurt, milkshakes and juice). Please avoid things that will get packed or stuck in the socket easily, such as strawberry seeds, bananas, chips.
7. Call our office if you experience excessive bleeding, severe pain or swelling, or if you have any questions or concerns. In case of serious emergencies call 911.