Refrain from eating at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off.
The initial healing period usually takes one to two weeks, and you'll likely experience some swelling for the first forty-eight hours.
Avoid chewing for two hours following surgery, or until the numbness has completely worn off.
Some discomfort after the extraction is normal.
Be sure to take any antibiotic medication prescribed for you as it will help the area to heal. An analgesic may also be recommended for your comfort and can be taken as directed.
To avoid nausea, do not take pain medication on an empty stomach.
You can also decrease pain and swelling by applying an ice pack twenty minutes on, twenty minutes off for the first six hours following the tooth extraction(s).
A blood clot will form on the extraction site, and this clot is vital to the healing process. To keep the clot intact, avoid touching the extraction site with your tongue or fingers, do not drink liquids through a straw, and do not spit or swish vigorously.
Blowing your nose or sneezing violently can also dislodge the blood clot and impair healing, so if you have an upper respiratory infection or suffer from allergies, be sure to have the appropriate sinus medication on hand.
Do not rinse your mouth the day of the surgery. Smoking, or allowing food particles to pack into the tooth's socket, should be avoided, as both will significantly affect the healing process.
Twenty-four hours following the procedure, you can rinse gently with mouthwash or a warm saltwater solution. (Dissolve one teaspoon of salt with one cup of warm water. Gently swish the solution around the affected area, and spit carefully.) You should do this two to three times each day for the week following the extraction.
Relax as much as possible and avoid all strenuous activities for the first twenty-four hours following surgery.
Once the numbness has worn off, you should eat, as nourishment is important to the healing process. Limit your diet to soft foods like yogurt, soft soups, ice cream, or soft-cooked eggs for the first forty-eight hours, and drink at least eight large glasses of water or fruit juice each day.
Keep your head elevated with pillows to control bleeding. We will give you a supply of gauze sponges to place over the bleeding area.
Change the pad as necessary, and use them until the bleeding stops completely. You can also bite gently but firmly on a moist tea bag for twenty minutes. Be sure to call our office if bleeding persists or increases.
The space left by the tooth will feel a bit strange to you at first. Eventually, new bone and gum tissue will grow into the gap left by the extraction.
Refrain from eating at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off.
Sensitivity:
Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a time following treatment. For the first few days avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off due to the procedure.
If your gums are tender, rinse with warm salt water, dissolving 1/2 teaspoon of salt in an 8 oz. glass of warm water. An analgesic such as Tylenol or Advil will help to increase your comfort.
The New Filling:
After the placement of your new restoration, it may take a few days to get used to it. If your bite feels unbalanced, please be sure to call our office for an appointment for a simple adjustment.
Home Care:
Although the treatment that was performed is quite durable, the underlying tooth is still vulnerable to decay, especially at the interface between the tooth and filling. It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. Daily home care and regulating your intake of sugar-containing foods will increase the longevity of your new restoration.
Refrain from eating at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off.
Temporary:
A temporary is a crown or bridge that is placed on the prepared teeth while the final restoration is being made. The temporary serves a very important purpose. It protects the exposed dentin so it is not sensitive, prevents food and bacteria from collecting on the prepared teeth, and prevents the tooth from shifting or moving, which can make seating of the final restoration more difficult.
The temporary is placed with lightweight cement that is designed to come off easily so avoid chewing sticky foods such as gum, caramels, etc.
Use your toothbrush to clean the temporary as you normally do your other teeth. However, when flossing, it is best to pull the floss through the contact rather than lift up on the temporary so you don't accidentally loosen the temporary. If your temporary comes off between appointments, slip it back on and call our office so that we can recement it for you. A little denture adhesive placed inside the crown can help to hold it in place in the interim.
Sensitivity:
Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a time following treatment. For the first few days avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off due to the procedure.
If your gums are tender, rinse with warm salt water, dissolving 1/2 teaspoon of salt in an 8 oz. glass of warm water. An analgesic such as Tylenol or Advil will help to increase your comfort.
Final Crown or Bridge:
After the final cementation of your restoration, it may take a few days to get used to the new crown or bridge. If your bite feels unbalanced, please be sure to call our office for an appointment for a simple adjustment.
Home Care:
Although crowns and bridges are often the most durable of all restorations, the underlying tooth is still vulnerable to decay, especially at the interface between the tooth and crown. It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. Daily home care and regulating your intake of sugar-containing foods will increase the longevity of your new restorations.
Refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possible injury to your lips and cheeks. This time interval will also allow the temporary filling to set to a reasonable hardness. We expect your tooth to be sore to chewing and biting pressure so you should avoid very hard or chewy foods. This should gradually decrease within 7-10 days after treatment.
Be sure to take any antibiotic medication prescribed for you as it will help the area to heal. An analgesic may also be recommended for your comfort and can be taken as directed.
If you have any of the following signs or symptoms please call our office as these complications do not occur routinely:
A reaction to the prescribed medication
Increasing tenderness or swelling in the area surrounding the tooth
The temporary filling dislodges from the tooth
The tooth fractures
A crown or other final restoration should be placed within a short time interval after root canal therapy is completed unless we have advised you otherwise. To print these post operative instructions, please click on the printer button at the bottom of this page and then click Print.
Scaling and root planing therapy is a procedure that involves removing bacterial plaque and tartar from the root surface below the gumline with instruments and ultrasonics. It may also require removal of diseased tissue within the pocket with a laser. The goal of this treatment is to allow reattachment of the gums to the clean root surface and to shrink the periodontal pockets to levels that can be maintained by daily flossing and brushing. The following guidelines have been prepared for you in order to maximize healing and minimize any discomfort.
Refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off.
Things to Avoid for the first 24 hours:
Vigorous physical exercise, but you may return to work.
Drinking through a straw or sucking motions.
Do not smoke. It's better to refrain for 48 hours.
Drinking alcoholic beverages will retard the healing process.
Foods that are extreme in temperature or spicy.
Avoid using any strong mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
Things to Do:
You may take a non-aspirin analgesic to relieve any tenderness or discomfort, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Eat a well balanced soft diet for today. You may chew on the opposite side of the treated area until it is comfortable to chew normally.
Rinse with a warm salt water rinse, a teaspoon in an 8 oz. glass of water, 3 times a day.
Brush your teeth very lightly in the treated area the first night. Then begin flossing lightly as well the next day, gradually increasing to normal force by the week's end.
After flossing and brushing, rinse with chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex), if it was prescribed, for at least 60 seconds. Do this at least twice daily. Chloraseptic and Cepastat are recommended mouthwashes.
Several days after treatment your gums should begin to appear pinker, less swollen, and will bleed less when you floss. These are signs of healing and improving periodontal health. If you have any questions or problems, please call our office.
Refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off.
Diet: Do not eat for about 3 hours following the surgery. Then, a soft or liquid diet, including warm soup or instant breakfast, is advised for the next 2-3 days. Avoid alcohol, carbonated drinks, and hard, brittle foods such as tortilla chips that can injure the surgical site. Drinking plenty of fluids and eating a well balanced diet is important to your recovery.
Medications: Moderate discomfort may begin as the anesthesia wears off. A non-aspirin analgesic may be recommended to relieve any tenderness or discomfort, and may be taken within the first hour after surgery. It is important to take the prescribed antibiotic as it will aid in the healing process. If you have a reaction to a medication such as nausea, or skin rash, stop taking it immediately and call our office.
Bleeding Control: Slight bleeding or oozing after the surgery is normal and may occur at intervals for the first 24-48 hours. Forceful rinsing or excessive spitting can disrupt clotting, so do not rinse for at least 4 hours. If bleeding does persist:
Apply a moistened gauze pad, or tea bag, with moderate pressure to the bleeding site for 20 minutes. Repeat, if necessary.
Stay calm and quiet; lie down with the head elevated on 2-3 pillows.
If the bleeding persists do not hesitate to call our office.
Swelling: Slight swelling is a common response in the healing process. To minimize excessive swelling, place an ice bag or a cold, moist compress over the involved site for 10-20 minute intervals. Repeat this several times as needed over the next 48 hours. If the swelling increases or discomfort develops, again, call our office.
Oral Hygiene: It is extremely important to keep your teeth and gums clean following surgery. Not only will this will help to achieve a better result, but the tissues will heal faster. Brush your teeth very lightly the first night. Then begin flossing the next day, allowing the floss to very gently touch the gums of the surgical area. Do not force the floss vigorously between the tooth and the gums as this will prevent the new attachment from developing normally. Also, refrain from using any irrigation devices such as the Water Pik. After brushing and flossing, apply chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex), if prescribed, with a cotton swab first by dabbing the area lightly, and then gently swishing a capful in the mouth for 30 seconds. Avoid using any strong mouthwashes that contain alcohol. Chloraseptic and Cepastat are good ones to use.
No Smoking: Do not smoke for at least 48 hours. Smoking can seriously delay the healing process.
If you have any questions or problems, please call our office.
