Instructions Following Crown, Bridge, Inlay/Onlay
• Sensitivity and tenderness of the tooth and surrounding gums is common for the first day or two after a tooth has been prepared for a restoration. If the tenderness or sensitivity lasts longer than this, please contact our office.
• If anesthesia is used, avoid chewing, biting, and eating until the numbness wears off.
• The final restoration may be placed the same day that the tooth is prepared or may be placed during a separate appointment.
• Eat softer foods, and avoid foods that are particularly crunchy, chewy, or hard.
• Carefully clean around the restoration, brushing and flossing daily. Be gentle when flossing, taking extra care not to loosen the temporary restoration. Slowly pulling the floss out by one end can help avoid putting too much pressure on the temporary.
• If the temporary restoration becomes loose or breaks, please call us immediately.
• Avoid chewing on hard, crunchy, or sticky foods for 24 hours in order to give time for the cement to fully bond.
• Mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods is not unusual and should dissipate after a few weeks. If sensitivity lasts more than six weeks, please let the office know.
• Proper care of your restoration includes brushing your teeth after every meal and snack, and flossing at least once a day before bedtime.
• Rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash will also help to remove any additional particles that may have been missed during brushing and flossing.
Please call our office if you are in pain or have any questions regarding your treatment.
Instructions Following Fillings
• Do not eat or chew until any numbness from anesthesia has worn off.
• If you are supervising a child who has had treatment, make certain that they are not eating or chewing while numb. Please make sure they do not bite their lips or tongue as doing so can cause serious injury to their soft tissue.
• Avoid sticky, crunchy, or hard foods for 24 hours.
• Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, should not last more than a few days.
• Please call our office if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few days.
Instructions Following Denture or Partial Delivery
• Dentures and partials will often need several adjustments to fit comfortably.
• To help yourself adjust to your dentures, you can practice reading aloud for a little while each day.
• Dentures should be removed overnight or for at least 6 hours daily to give your mouth and gums time to rest.
• At night, you should remove your dentures and clean them. They should be stored in a clean container filled with denture-cleaning solution.
• Food particles can become trapped under dentures, causing inflammation or sore spots. Lightly brush the roof of your mouth, tongue, and gums after removing your dentures.
• You may have discomfort for a few days after receiving your final dentures or partials.
• Brush your teeth and the surrounding tissues after every meal and snack, and floss at least once a day before bedtime. If you have full dentures, brushing the dentures daily is very important.
• Rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash will help to remove any additional particles that may have been missed during brushing and flossing.
• Make sure to visit our office at least once a year to have your dentures or partial adjustments checked by the doctor. Wearing ill-fitting dentures or partials without proper care and adjustment can cause bone loss in the jaw area and oral disease.
• Please call our office if you are experiencing ongoing pain or discomfort or have any concerns regarding your denture or partial.
Instructions Following Scaling and Root Planing
Please follow the guidelines below and contact us with any questions.
• For the first 24 hours, you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity.
• Do not consume hot foods or beverages until the anesthesia and numbness have worn off.
• Avoid vigorous physical exercise and extremely hot or spicy foods for the first 24 hours.
• Do not consume alcoholic beverages or smoke for at least 48 hours following treatment.
• Some bleeding following a deep cleaning is normal, but please call our office if you experience excessive bleeding.
• You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as needed according to the instructions on the label or those provided by your doctor.
• A warm salt water rinse, approximately one teaspoon in an eight oz glass of water, three times a day can be helpful.
• Brush and floss gently following a deep cleaning, resuming regular brushing, and flossing when the soreness is gone.
• Follow any other instructions provided by our office during your visit.
• Please take all medications as prescribed.
While flare-ups are rare, they occur in about 5% of cases and may cause significant pain. They generally only occur with teeth that are extremely irritated and infected or with teeth with a history of prior treatment.
These sometimes occur randomly, even in patients who have had root canals done in the past without problems. If you have a flare-up, you may experience moderate to severe pain, swelling, throbbing, or general discomfort; please get in touch with our office immediately. You may be prescribed additional medication, such as antibiotics, and asked to come to the office for further treatment.
Post-Op Instructions Following Root Canal Therapy
Please follow the guidelines below and contact us with any questions.
• If you were given any prescriptions, please have them filled promptly and take them as directed. If no prescriptions were given, you may take ibuprofen medications such as Motrin or Advil (as long as you do not have any allergies to these medications) to alleviate discomfort and swelling. Alternatively, you may use Tylenol. Do not exceed the guidelines printed on the label for any medication. If you are unable to achieve adequate pain control, please call our office.
• Applying a cold compress to the face near the treatment area will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but always place a cloth between the ice and your skin. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off for 6-8 hours as needed.
• Once you resume eating and drinking, avoid chewing or biting on the treatment area until your permanent restoration is placed. The temporary filling or crown placed immediately following root canal treatment is usually a soft composite vulnerable to fracturing (cracking). For this reason, it is important to avoid chewing on hard substances such as peanuts, pretzels, hard candy, ice cubes, etc. You may experience increased sensitivity before the placement of the final restoration. You must schedule another appointment to have a crown or filling placed. Please get in touch with your restorative dentist to make an appointment at your earliest convenience. Waiting longer than a month increases the chances that the temporary will fracture or that decay will develop in the affected area.
• Please keep the treated area clean by gently brushing and flossing regularly.
• It is rare for a temporary filling to fall out, although it may divot while in use. If the temporary falls out, please get in touch with our office immediately. Suppose your temporary falls out after office hours. In that case, you may purchase some temporary filling material from a pharmacy and follow the instructions to cover the area until you can be seen in our office.
• Some discomfort is normal for 2 to 4 days following root canal therapy. The tooth and surrounding tissue may be sore for a few weeks following treatment.
• Please brush and floss as usual unless otherwise instructed by our office. Follow any other instructions provided by our office during your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed.
While flare-ups are rare, they occur in about 5% of cases and may cause significant pain. They generally only occur with teeth that are extremely irritated and infected or with teeth with a history of prior treatment.
These sometimes occur randomly, even in patients who have had root canals done in the past without problems. If you have a flare-up, you may experience moderate to severe pain, swelling, throbbing, or general discomfort; please get in touch with our office immediately. You may be prescribed additional medication, such as antibiotics, and asked to come to the office for further treatment.
Instructions for Invisalign
• Use your fingers to put your aligners in place. First, place the aligners over your front teeth, and then use your fingers to push the aligner down gently over your molars. When correctly inserted, aligners will fit down on the teeth, with no space between the top of the aligners and the top of the teeth. Aligners will fit tightly initially but should fit well at the end of the two weeks.
• Keep aligners in except when flossing, brushing, and eating. It’s also best to remove the aligners when drinking warm beverages such as coffee or tea.
• Remove the aligner by pulling it off both sides of your back teeth simultaneously, then lifting it off your front teeth. Place your aligners in the case we provided whenever they are not worn.
• Clean aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Wear each set of aligners for two weeks unless our office directs you to vary from this schedule.
• Wear aligners in the correct numerical order. (Each aligner is labeled by number and with a U or an L to designate upper or lower.)
• Keep your old aligners and bring them to your orthodontic appointments.
• Don’t place your aligners in or on a napkin or tissue. Many aligners have accidentally been thrown out this way!
• Don’t use your teeth to “bite” your aligners into place.
• If you have pets, don’t place your aligners anywhere your pets can reach them. Pets are attracted to saliva and would enjoy chewing on your Invisalign trays!
• Do not use Denture cleaner, alcohol, or bleach to clean your aligners.
• Do not use boiling water or warm water on your aligners.
• Don’t chew gum with your aligners in.
• It would be best not to smoke while wearing aligners. The smoke can stain the aligners as well as your teeth.
• If you lose the tab attached to your tooth that helps the aligner snap on, please call our office right away so that we can determine if you need to come in before your next scheduled appointment.
• If you lose one of your aligner trays, please wear the next tray if you have it. Please wear the previous tray if you do not have the next one. It is essential to use a tray to keep teeth from shifting. Call our office to let us know which tray was lost so that we can determine if a replacement tray is needed. There will be a fee if replacement trays are required.
Instructions Following Whitening
• Teeth are more susceptible to staining for the first 48 hours following bleaching treatments. For the first 48 hours after whitening, avoiding dark-colored foods or beverages that can stain your teeth is best. Any item that can stain your clothes can also stain your teeth.
• Avoid berries, cola or other dark sodas, red wine, coffee and tea, tobacco, ketchup, soy, or other dark sauces.
Instructions Following Soft Tissue Graft
• Some pain, bleeding, swelling, and seeping are normal following oral surgery. Please do not try to view the site by pulling on your lip, and do not probe the area with your tongue or fingers.
• Avoid forcefully rinsing, spitting, or drinking through a straw. Biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the wound for 30 minutes will help reduce bleeding. Some bleeding is normal for the first 24 hours. If bleeding continues, please call our office.
• Please take all medications, including mouth rinses, as prescribed.
• After 24 hours, warm salt water rinses (one-half teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) can be used 4-5 times daily after meals.
• After 24 hours, brush your teeth with a soft manual toothbrush. Be gentle with brushing the surgical areas.
• Sutures may be placed after the surgery, and most sutures dissolve independently.
• Swelling and bruising may occur and become more noticeable two to three days following surgery. Applying a cold compress to the face near the surgical site will help minimize swelling.
• If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin, but always place a cloth between the ice and your skin. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 36 hours, the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, applying moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Stay away from spicy or acidic foods. Also, avoid sharp and crunchy foods like tacos, chips, and nuts. Tobacco and alcohol should not be used. Alcohol should not be used in combination with pain medications or antibiotics.
• Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. Avoid strenuous activity for 2-3 days.
• If a surgical bandage was used, it will ideally remain in place for 24 hours. You do not need to remove it; it will come off when ready. Once it does, gently clean the wound with a cotton swab dipped in a mouth rinse.
Instructions Following Implant Surgery/Implant Treatment
• Some pain, bleeding, swelling, and seeping are normal following oral surgery. Please do not try to view the site by pulling on your lip and do not probe the area with your tongue or fingers. If you experience excessive bleeding or discomfort after 48-72 hours, please call our office immediately.
• You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen according to the instructions on the label or those provided by our office as needed.
• Swelling around the face, eyes, and surgical site is not uncommon and may become more noticeable two to three days following surgery. Applying a cold compress to the face near the implant site will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but place a cloth between the ice and your skin at all times. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 36 hours the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling.
• Avoid brushing your teeth near the surgery site but brush and floss the rest of your mouth as instructed by our office.
• For 24 hours following your surgery, do not suck on a straw, brush, rinse, spit, or smoke.
• For the first 24 hours you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity. Avoid hot and spicy foods as well as carbonated and alcoholic beverages.
• Restrict your activities on the day of your surgery. Avoid excessive work or play, and resume normal activity as advised by your doctor.
• After the first day, gently rinse with a warm salt water rinse, approximately one-half teaspoon of salt in an eight ounce glass of water, three times a day.
• During the first few days after surgery restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods such as soups, yogurt, juice, and smoothies.
• Follow any other instructions provided by the office on your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed including your prescribed antibiotics to help prevent infection.
• If you have a denture that overlaps the implant site, please minimize the use of the denture following surgery to allow the site to heal. After the first week, you should be able to gradually increase the amount of time you can wear your denture.
• It is extremely important to keep your follow up appointment(s) so that we can monitor the healing process.
• If pain and swelling are increasing after a few days, please call our office right away.
Instructions Following Wisdom Teeth (3rd Molars) Removal
• Immediately following surgery, maintain pressure on the surgical area by biting the provided gauze pad or rolling until the bleeding stops. A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following a surgical procedure. Placing the gauze pad over the area and biting firmly will help prevent excessive bleeding. Replace the gauze as necessary until the bleeding stops.
• For a few days following surgery, you may become dizzy when getting up. Sit up slowly and give yourself a minute to adjust before getting up and walking.
• Avoid vigorous activities for one week after surgery. You may go back to your regular routine as tolerated.
• Please fill any prescriptions you have been given and take them as directed. If you have been prescribed pain medication other than aspirin, Tylenol, or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), do not drive, operate heavy equipment, work around machinery or tools, or engage in any other activity that may be unsafe when groggy, as your reflexes and judgment will be affected by the medication.
• Antibiotics may be prescribed to help prevent infection. If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the medicine as directed.
• Swelling and stiffness are to be expected the first week after surgery. Swelling around the face, eyes, and surgical site is not uncommon and may become more noticeable two to three days following surgery. Applying a cold compress to the face near the extraction site will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but always place a cloth between the ice and your skin. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 24 hours, the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling.
• For 48-72 hours following your surgery, do not suck on a straw, drink from a bottle, rinse, spit, or smoke. Avoid hot and spicy foods and carbonated and alcoholic beverages.
• During the first few days after surgery, restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods such as soups, yogurt, juice, and smoothies.
• Do not rinse, spit, or brush your teeth on the day of surgery. Resume brushing the day after surgery, avoiding surgical sites with the toothbrush.
•After brushing, rinse gently with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt mixed with eight ounces of warm water). Start the salt water rinse the day after surgery and repeat three times a day for 7-10 days. This will help keep the surgical areas clean and will also help dissolve the sutures.
• If you are experiencing numbness of the lip, chin, or tongue, be aware that this is usually temporary, and regular feelings should return after a few days. Until then, please be cautious while eating and chewing to avoid accidentally biting your tongue, cheek, or lip.
• A dry socket can develop when a blood clot gets prematurely dislodged from the tooth socket’s walls. Symptoms of a dry socket include throbbing pain at the surgical site, the ear, chin, adjacent teeth, and jaw. These symptoms indicate a dry socket when they occur three to four days following surgery and do not respond to pain medication.
• Please call our office if you experience severe pain, excessive bleeding, or swelling or if you have any questions or concerns. If you are experiencing a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
Instructions Following Direct Sinus Lift
• Please refrain from blowing your nose for up to four weeks after surgery. Do not hold your nose when sneezing. Avoid flying in pressured aircraft, scuba diving, bearing down when lifting heavy objects, blowing up balloons, playing musical instruments that require a blowing action, or any other activity that increases nasal or oral pressure for at least four weeks after surgery.
• Please take all medications as prescribed, including decongestants, as necessary.
• Keeping your mouth clean after surgery is essential to reduce the risk of infection and promote rapid healing.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Eat soft foods for the first several days after surgery. Advance to a regular diet as you become more comfortable. Please avoid chewing or creating pressure on the bone graft site. Please avoid drinking alcoholic beverages or smoking during the first one to two weeks following your surgery.
• All removable appliances, including partial dentures, flippers, and full dentures, must be checked for proper fit before they can be worn.
• Swelling and bruising may occur. Applying a cold compress to the face near the surgical site will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but always place a cloth between the ice and your skin. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed.
• If you experience severe or persistent sinus or nasal congestion, please let us know.
Instructions Following Crown Lengthening
• Some pain, bleeding, swelling, and seeping are normal following oral surgery. Please do not try to view the site by pulling on your lip, and do not probe the area with your tongue or fingers.
• Avoid forcefully rinsing, spitting, or drinking through a straw. Biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the wound for 30 minutes will help reduce bleeding. Some bleeding is normal for the first 24 hours. If bleeding continues, please call our office.
• Please take all medications, including mouth rinses, as prescribed.
• After 24 hours, brushing and oral hygiene procedures should be done as usual in all untreated areas. Please limit your oral hygiene to brushing using a soft manual toothbrush in the treated areas. Avoid dental flossing in treated areas during the first week following surgery. No undiluted mouthwash, salt water, or peroxide rinses should be used during the first week following surgery.
• Swelling and bruising may occur and become more noticeable two to three days following surgery. Applying a cold compress to the face near the surgical site will help minimize swelling.
• If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin, but always place a cloth between the ice and your skin. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 36 hours, the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, applying moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Stay away from spicy or acidic foods. Also, avoid sharp and crunchy foods like tacos, chips, and nuts. Tobacco and alcohol should not be used. Alcohol should not be used in combination with pain medications or antibiotics.
• Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. Avoid strenuous activity for 2-3 days.
• If a surgical bandage was used, it will ideally remain in place for 24 hours. You do not need to remove it; it will come off when ready. Once it does, gently clean the wound with a cotton swab dipped in a mouth rinse.
Instructions Following Osseous Surgery (aka Pocket Depth Reduction)
• Some pain, bleeding, swelling, and seeping are normal following oral surgery. Please do not try to view the site by pulling on your lip, and do not probe the area with your tongue or fingers.
• Avoid forcefully rinsing, spitting, or drinking through a straw. Biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the wound for 30 minutes will help reduce bleeding. Some bleeding is normal for the first 24 hours. If bleeding continues, please call our office.
• Please take all medications, including mouth rinses, as prescribed.
• After 24 hours, warm salt water rinses (one-half teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) can be used 4-5 times a day after meals.
• After 24 hours, brush your teeth with a soft manual toothbrush. Be gentle with brushing the surgical areas.
• Sutures may be placed after the surgery, and most sutures dissolve independently.
• Swelling and bruising may occur. Applying a cold compress to the face near the surgical site will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but always place a cloth between the ice and your skin. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 36 hours, the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, applying moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling. Alternate the warm pack on and off in 15-minute intervals as needed.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Stay away from spicy or acidic foods. Also, avoid sharp and crunchy foods like tacos, chips, and nuts. Tobacco and alcohol should not be used. Alcohol should not be used in combination with pain medications or antibiotics.
• Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery.
