Post Operative Instructions

 

Teeth Cleaning (Deep Cleaning)

  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.

  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.

Fillings

  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 (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue).

  3. Do not bite hard or chew on silver Amalgam fillings for 24 hours.

  4. You may experience cold and heat sensitivity and some soreness on your gum, this usually subsides in few days.

  5. Call our office if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few days after the fillings, or if you have any questions.

Crown and Bridge (also Inlays and Onlays)

  1. Crown and bridges usually take 2 or 3 appointments to complete. On the first appointment the tooth/teeth are prepared and impressions are taken and a temporary crown is placed on your tooth/teeth.

  2. You may experience sensitivity, gum soreness and slight discomfort on the tooth / teeth, it should subside after the placement of permanent crown.

  3. Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing on your teeth until the numbness has worn off.

  4. Temporary crown is usually made of plastic based material or soft metal. It could break if too much pressure is placed on it. The crown also may 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 to move. If it comes off it should be replaced. To avoid losing your temporary, avoid chewing on sticky and hard food (chewing gum, ice). Try to chew on the opposite side of the treatment as much as possible.

  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. But if the bite feels uneven or you feel discomfort on chewing on the tooth after 2-3 days call our office. Delaying the necessary adjustments may damage the tooth permanently.

  6. Continue your normal brushing but be careful while flossing around the temporaries (remove the floss gently from the side).

  7. Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.

Extraction

  1. Pressure should be placed on the gauze pad that has been placed on the extraction site for one hour. If the bleeding continues new gauze should be placed and pressed on for another 45 minutes.
  2. If you are supervising children who have had extraction done, make sure they don t bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue).
  3. Avoid eating or drinking anything hot on the day of your extraction. Also, do not rinse your mouth, 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 resume your brushing and flossing the day after, gently.
  4. You may experience some pain, bruising around your lips and/or some swelling, especially after extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Ice bag application and medication prescribed for you will help to minimize your discomfort.
  5. Please take all the medication you have received based on the instructions given to you.
  6. During the first 2-3 days after the surgery a diet of soft food and liquids is recommended (soup, yogurt, milk shake and juice).
  7. For more complex Surgical Procedures including Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction, Implant Surgical Procedures, etc; you will receive an ice wrap which should be worn for the rest of the day and until you go to bed on the day of surgery only (10 minutes on and 5 minutes off). Individual instructions for various surgical treatments will have some unique directions which will be supplied to you at the time of your treatment.
  8. 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.