Post-op Instructions

Surgical -Extractions

Be careful to avoid biting your numb tissue. Do not attempt to eat while you are numb.
Adults should monitor small children to help prevent tissue biting/trauma.
It is very important to protect the site to ensure it heals properly. Avoid using straws, spitting, vigorous swishing of fluids, and smoking. All of these activities can alter the healing process.
After 24 hours, gently start rinsing your mouth with a salt water solution (1/2 tsp table salt in 8oz of warm water) – remember to be gentle.
Most sutures will dissolve on their own. If you need suture removal, schedule an appointment.
Avoid placing tongue or fingers in the area of the extraction and avoid pulling on your cheek in this area.
It is important to eat a well- balanced diet. How ever avoid foods that break into small pieces when you chew them for example: most raw vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and popcorn. These foods will get stuck in the extraction site and slow down healing.
If you have recurrent bleeding, place a fresh gauze on the site and bite on it for 20 minutes. Usually this is enough to stop the bleeding. It is normal to have some bleeding from the site and streaks of blood in your saliva.
Most pain can be managed with the pain medication you would normally take for a headache. If more pain control is necessary, please contact the dental office. Pain medications work best when taken before the pain reaches its worst. Pain medications should be taken on a schedule and never more than the recommended dose.
If you have concerns that these recommendations are not resolving your problem please call our office and we will be happy to help you.

Restorative-Fillings

Be careful to avoid biting your numb tissue. Do not attempt to eat while you are numb.
Your bonded white composite filling is completely set and you can chew with it immediately after the freezing comes out.
If you have a bonded silver amalgam filling, it will not be completely set for 24 hours. A soft diet is recommended for the first 24 hours.
If after a few days your bite feels uneven you may need to schedule an appointment to have a bite adjustment. White composite fillings are very hard and you will not be able to “grind” in the bite yourself. Leaving the bite too high can cause your tooth to hurt and may even cause the nerve in your tooth to die.
Bite adjustments on new fillings can be completed during a short appointment.
If you were told your filling was “deep” it is possible that your tooth will be sensitive for a few days after your appointment. Often, Ibuprofen (Advil) will help to settle the pain from your tooth.
On occasion, the nerve in a tooth may die after a filling has been placed. This risk is present any time a tooth is worked on. Normally the nerve damage is related to how close the decay came to your nerve. This will present itself as a tooth ache and you will need our help in resolving the issue.
Even if your gums are tender after your appointment, it is best to keep them clean with gentle brushing and flossing. Salt water rinses (1/2 tsp table salt in 8oz of warm water) will help sooth and speed up healing.
If you have concerns that these recommendations are not resolving your problem please call our office and we will be happy to help you.

Crown and bridge

Be careful to avoid biting your numb tissue. Do not attempt to eat while you are numb.
You have had a lot of work done during your crown prep appointment. It is possible your tooth may be sensitive for a few days for this reason alone. It is possible that the buildup done for you was deep or close to the nerve and the nerve of your tooth is irritated. This should settle down in a few days. Taking an ibuprofen pain medication could help your tooth feel better sooner. You can use other pain meds if you need.
Often your gums will be tender around the tooth that has been worked on. This is from the cord we have to place to make a good impression of your crown prep. Keeping your gums clean with gentle brushing and flossing and rinsing with warm salt water (1/2 tsp regular table salt in 8oz of warm water) will help your gums recover faster.
Your temporary crown needs to stay on your prepared tooth. It helps protect the preparation and prevent sensitivity. The temporary crown also keeps your tooth in place. Your tooth will drift if the temporary crown is off. Often, we send a re cementation kit with you. If you are having trouble re cementing your temporary crown or do not have a kit please call our office as soon as possible and we will be happy to put the crown back on. If you cannot come to see us right away, keep trying the temporary crown on to be sure it fits or wear it on the tooth when you are not eating or drinking. A little Vaseline inside the temp will help it stay on in this case.
If you have concerns that these recommendations are not resolving your problem, please call our office and we will be happy to help you.

Endodontics-Root Canal

Be careful to avoid biting your numb tissue. Do not attempt to eat while you are numb.
Root canal treatment can take 1 to 2 appointments depending on the tooth and the reason for the root canal.
It is possible to experience any of the following symptoms after any one of these appointments: sensitivity to hot and or cold; sensitivity to pressure; and possibly swelling.
In most cases the quantity and quality of discomfort will subside dramatically within the first 24-48 hours. Any sensitivity to cold, hot or even breathing air "in" may take several days to several weeks to disappear completely.
Ibuprofen (Advil) usually relieves this discomfort. In some cases, pain medication and antibiotics may be prescribed.
If the pain gets worse and it feels like you have a tooth ache, please call our office and we may have you return.
A temporary filling will be used to seal the tooth between visits and before a more permanent restoration can be placed. If this temporary filling comes out it needs to be replaced. Please call our office for an appointment to replace the temporary filling. Leaving the tooth unprotected could lead to infection.
During root canal treatment, the nerve, blood, and nutrient supply to the tooth are removed. This will cause the tooth to become brittle and prone to fracturing which may result in the need to extract the tooth.
To manage a brittle tooth and avoid fracturing it, eat on the other side and avoid hard, sticky foods. In most cases a full coverage restoration (crown) will be necessary to protect your tooth after the root canal is completed.
If you have concerns that these recommendations are not resolving your problem please call our office and we will be happy to help you.