Dental Post-Op Instructions

General Guidelines for all procedures:

Do not chew on hard, sticky, or chewy foods for a least 24 hours. Never chew on ice. Avoid aggressive chewing and sticky foods such as “hard tack” candies that can loosen or damage a restoration.

Carefully follow all guidelines provided by the doctor and their staff and most importantly practice good oral hygiene. Additional instructions following various types of treatment are listed below. Please click on the below topics for detailed instructions. In the event of an emergency, please call our office. If you are experiencing a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.

Post-Operative Instructions Following Crown and Bridge

Crowns and Bridges may take one to three visits to complete. The dentist will inform you of your treatment options and the time needed to complete the procedure(s). You may have some sensitivity following treatment with tenderness around the gum and tooth for a day or two. 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 has worn off. If you have a temporary restoration placed, eat softer foods and avoid foods that are particularly crunchy, chewy, or hard. If the temporary restorations become loose or break, please call us immediately.

Carefully clean around the restoration, brushing, and flossing daily. When flossing, take extra care not to loosen the temporary restoration by removing the floss too roughly. You can slowly thread the floss out by one end if necessary to avoid too much pressure on the temporary.

Once your final restoration has been placed, 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, although this happens infrequently. Ongoing care for 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.

Post-Operative Instructions Following Fillings

Do not eat or chew until any numbness from anesthesia has worn off. If you are supervising a child who 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 it 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, shouldn’t last more than a few days. Please call our office if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few days.

Post-Operative Instructions Following Denture or Partial Delivery

You may have discomfort for a few days after receiving your final dentures or partials. Dentures and partials will often need several adjustments in order to fit comfortably. To help adjust to your dentures you can practice reading aloud for a little while each day. At night you should remove your dentures and clean them. They should be stored in a clean container filled with denture-cleaning solution. Dentures should be removed for at least 6 hours a day to give your mouth and gums time to rest. Food particles can become trapped under dentures causing inflammation or sore spots. Brush the roof of your mouth, and your tongue, and lightly brush your gums after removing your dentures.

Ongoing care for your restoration includes brushing your teeth and surrounding tissues after every meal and snack and flossing at least once a day before bedtime unless you have full dentures, in which case brushing them is very important. Rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash will also help to remove any additional particles that may have been missed during brushing and flossing.

You should visit our office at least once a year to have your dentures or partial adjusted and checked by the doctor. Wearing ill-fitting dentures or partials without proper care and adjustment can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease. Please call our office at the first signs of any symptoms or if you are experiencing ongoing pain or discomfort.

Post-Operative Instructions Following Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing therapy include removing tartar and bacterial plaque from the root surface below the gum line. This helps reduce inflammation and infection and improves the depth of periodontal pockets, therefore allowing more efficient flossing and brushing.

For the first 24 hours, you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity. Do not eat, drink, chew, or consume hot foods or beverages until the numbness has worn off following the anesthetic. Avoid vigorous physical exercise as well as foods that are extremely hot or spicy for the first 24 hours. Do not consume alcoholic beverages or smoke for at least 48 hours. Some bleeding following a deep cleaning is normal, but if you experience excessive bleeding please call our office.

You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen according to the instructions on the label or those provided by your doctor as needed. A warm salt water rinse, approximately one teaspoon in an eight-ounce glass of water, three times a day can be helpful. Brush and floss gently following a deep cleaning, resuming normal brushing and flossing when the soreness is gone.

Follow any other instructions provided by our office on your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed.

Post Operative Instructions for Dental Extractions

Immediately following surgery, keep the gauze pad placed over the surgical area with pressure applied by biting down 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 may control excessive bleeding. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon. Repeat as necessary within a one-hour period following surgery.

If you have been prescribed pain medication besides 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. Do not take more than 800mg every 4-6 hours. Medication should not be taken on an empty stomach. If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the medicine as directed. Antibiotics may be prescribed to help prevent infection.

Swelling around the face, eyes and surgical site is not uncommon. This swelling may not appear until the day following the surgery and may become more noticeable two to three days following surgery. You can help to minimize the swelling by applying a cold compress on the face near the extraction site alternating on for 20 minutes and then off for 20 minutes. After 36 hours the ice 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.

For 24 hours following your surgery, do not suck on a straw, brush, 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. Restrict your activities on the day of your surgery, avoid excessive work or play and resume normal activity the following day as tolerated.

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.

If any sutures were required, they would dissolve on their own in 7-10 days. It will not be necessary to return to the office for the sutures to be removed.

Children should be supervised after having an extraction to make sure they do not bite their tongue or lips as it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue.

Please call our office if you experience severe pain, excessive bleeding, or swelling, or if you have any questions or concerns. In the event of an emergency, please call our office. If you are experiencing a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.

Post-Operative Instructions Following Implant Surgery/Implant Treatment

Some pain, bleeding, swelling, and seeping is normal following oral surgery. A cold compress placed on the face near the extraction site for 5 to 10 minutes every half hour on the day of your surgery can be helpful. This will help reduce pain and swelling. Do not miss your follow-up appointment(s) with your dentist and do not probe the area with your tongue or fingers.

Please do not touch your lips to see or feel the area treated. Avoid brushing your teeth near the surgery site but brush and floss the rest of your mouth as instructed by the office. You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen according to the instructions on the label or those provided by your doctor as needed. A warm salt water rinse, approximately ½ teaspoon in an eight-ounce glass of water, three times a day can be helpful.

For the first 24 hours, you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity. Do not eat, drink, chew, or consume foods and beverages that are extremely hot or spicy until the numbness has worn off following the anesthetic. Avoid vigorous physical exercise for the first 24 hours and do not consume alcoholic beverages or smoke for at least 48 hours. Do not brush, rinse or spit. Do not use a straw for drinking. During the first few days after surgery, a diet of liquids and soft foods such as soups, yogurt, juice, and smoothies is recommended. If you experience excessive bleeding or discomfort after 48-72 hours, please call our office immediately.

Follow any other instructions provided by the office on your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed including antibiotics to help prevent infection.

Post-Operative Instructions Following Root Canal Therapy

Thank you for selecting us for your root canal therapy. Please follow the guidelines below and contact us with any questions.

For the next 30 minutes, do not eat or drink anything. You have a temporary filling that takes about 1/2 hour to harden. Please do not feel around your tooth with your tongue.
If any prescriptions were given, please have them filled promptly. If no prescriptions were given and you are not allergic, you may use any ibuprofen type of medication such as Motrin or Advil, 3 tablets (600mg) every 6-8 hours as needed for discomfort and alleviation of swelling. Alternatively, you may use Tylenol, 1000mg every 6-8 hours as needed. 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.
You may find using an ice pack in the affected area helpful. Please do not apply ice directly to the skin; have a cloth between the ice and the skin at all times. You may apply the ice for up to 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the next 6-8 hours as needed.
Once you begin to eat and drink, avoid chewing or biting on the area worked on until your permanent restoration is in place. The area may be more sensitive due to swelling. The temporary in-place is a soft composite that is vulnerable to fracturing (cracking) with hard substances such as peanuts, pretzels, hard candy, ice cubes, etc. You will need to see a restorative dentist within a month to have a permanent crown placed. Please contact your restorative dentist to make an appointment at your earliest convenience. Waiting longer than a month increases the chances that the temporary will fracture and/or decay will develop, in which case, you are at fault and will be responsible for all costs to have it redone.
Please keep the area worked clean by gently brushing the area 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 contact your general dentist as soon as possible. If your temporary falls out after office hours you may purchase some temporary filling material from most pharmacies and follow the included instructions.
Some discomfort following the root canal is normal for 2 to 4 days after the treatment. In some cases, the tooth and surrounding tissue may be sore for a few weeks following the treatment.
Normal brushing and flossing are okay unless otherwise specified by your doctor. Follow any other instructions provided by the office on your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed.

THIS SECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY

While flare-ups are rare, they occur in about 5% of the cases and cause significant pain. They occur with teeth that are extremely irritated and/or infected or with teeth that have a history of prior treatment. These sometimes occur randomly, even on patients that 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 contact our office.

You may be prescribed additional medication such as antibiotics and/or you may be asked to come to the office for further treatment. Should you experience any of these symptoms, please contact the office, even after hours.

Cerec Same Day Crowns Post-Op

You may have some sensitivity following same-day CEREC Crown procedures. There might be some tenderness or throbbing around the gum and tooth for a day or two. All this is part of the normal healing process. If the tenderness or sensitivity lasts longer than this please contact our office. You might notice the bite doesn’t feel right or is sensitive when chewing. This usually happens when work was done on a tooth located in the lower jaw. The local anesthesia could have temporarily changed the bite pattern you were in to see us. Please call our office to schedule a bite adjustment if this is the case. Avoid chewing, biting, and eating until the numbness has worn off.

Carefully clean around the new crown, brushing and flossing daily. When flossing, take extra care not to loosen the temporary restoration by removing the floss too roughly. You can slowly thread the floss out by one end if necessary to avoid too much pressure on the temporary.

The same-day CEREC crown is ready for chewing on hard, crunchy, or sticky foods right away. 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, although this happens infrequently. Ongoing care for your CEREC crown 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.

Hygiene Recare Visit/Preventative Care – Oral Hygiene instructions

To achieve optimal dental health please visit the dentist and hygienist at least every 6 months for routine dental checkups and cleanings.

Brushing- Brush at least 2 times a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush or electric toothbrush. Position the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle towards the gum line and brush in a circular motion. Replace your toothbrush every 3 months.

Flossing- Floss at least 1 time a day. Guide the floss in between each tooth and when the floss reaches the gum line, use a “C” shape to clean both sides of the tooth. There are also other options for interdental use such as Waterpik®, Proxabrush®, and Stim-U-Dents.

Mouth rinse- Use an ADA-accepted mouth rinse in addition to your daily homecare as needed.

Fluoride post-op instructions:

Fluoride will remain on teeth for 4-6 hours after application. Avoid hot liquids or anything hard or sticky for today. Refrain from brushing for 4-6 hours after application.

Post-Op Bridges

Bridges may take two to three visits to complete. The dentist will inform you of your treatment options and the time needed to complete the procedure(s). You may have some sensitivity following treatment with tenderness around the gum and tooth for a day or two. If the tenderness or sensitivity lasts longer than this please contact our office. If anesthesia is used, avoid chewing, biting, or eating until the numbness has worn off. Now that you have a temporary bridge placed please eat softer foods and avoid foods that are particularly crunchy, chewy, or hard. If the temporary bridge becomes loose or breaks, please call us immediately.

Carefully clean around the temporary bridge, brushing and flossing daily. When flossing, take extra care not to loosen the temporary bridge by removing the floss too roughly. Use a floss threader with floss to slide it underneath the bridge so you can floss on either side of the bridge where it is connected. You can slowly thread the floss out by one end if necessary to avoid too much pressure on the temporary.

Once your permanent bridge has been placed, 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, although this happens infrequently. If the bite doesn’t feel right or sensitivity occurs when you bite down on the bridge we might have to adjust your bite. Please call our office as soon as you notice that to come in for a bite adjustment. Ongoing care for 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 discomfort or have any questions regarding your treatment.

Post-Op Extractions Instructions

CONTROLLING BLEEDING

To help control bleeding, bite firmly on the gauze placed by the dentist. This constant pressure helps to form a blood clot in the tooth socket. Do not disturb the tooth socket by touching the surgical area as this may cause prolonged bleeding and/or infection. Do not rinse, spit or use a straw for at least 24 hours after surgery. You may have stitches that will dissolve within an average of a week. If there is more than just oozing after arriving at home, continue to use the gauze by placing new clean gauze in the tooth socket for 20 minutes. The gauze must contact the gum tissue so that pressure is applied where bleeding occurs. If you have a lot of bleeding, bite on the gauze or a moistened tea bag wrapped in gauze. The tannic acid in the tea aids in forming a blood clot. Bite on the gauze or the tea bag until the bleeding stops. Do not drink through a straw for 3 days after surgery; it can dislodge the blood clot. Do not drink Alcohol for 48 hours after surgery. PLEASE DO NOT SMOKE FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS, since this is very detrimental to healing and may cause a dry socket (extreme pain), infection, or failure of the surgery. Opening and closing your mouth to exercise your jaw is important; this will help with some of the discomforts after surgery.

MINIMIZING DISCOMFORT

To lessen pain, take prescribed medication as directed. Do not drive while taking any pain medication, as you may feel drowsy. Eating a meal before taking medications is important to avoid feeling nauseous. Unfortunately, most oral surgery is accompanied by some degree of discomfort. If you take your medications before the anesthetic has worn off, you should be able to better manage the discomfort.

EATING WHILE HEALING

Eating right will help you heal faster after your tooth extraction. Eat regular meals as soon as you can, after surgery. As you heal, try these tips: Start with soft foods and liquids at first; such as oatmeal, mashed potatoes, bananas, soup, yogurt, eggs, applesauce, and custards. Also, drink liquids high in nutrients such as vegetable and fruit juice or high protein drinks. Do not eat nuts, berries, seeds, popcorn, or anything crunchy for two weeks following surgery.

REDUCING SWELLING

To reduce swelling, put an ice pack on the cheek near the extraction site. You can make an ice pack by putting ice in a plastic bag and wrapping it in a damp washcloth. The swelling goes up for 72 hours before it starts to go down. You may see bruising on your face. This is normal and will go away on its own.

MAINTAINING YOUR ORAL HEALTH AFTER SURGERY

Wait until the next morning to brush your teeth and gently rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day with 1⁄2 a teaspoon of salt mixed with an 8oz glass of warm water. Do not use over-the-counter mouthwash. It contains alcohol that will kill all the bacteria in your mouth. The bacteria remaining over the extraction area/blood socket is imperative to ensure a healthy recovery.

GETTING ENOUGH REST

Limit activities for the first 24 hours after surgery. When lying down, keep your head elevated using 2 to 3 pillows. Refrain from strenuous exercise for the next 5 days. Over-exertion can slow down the healing process, which could also cause excessive bleeding, or eruption of a stitch.

NAUSEA

Nausea may be caused by not getting enough food in your stomach before taking the pain medication. You can limit nausea by making sure to take your pain medication with a substantial amount of soft food and a large glass of water.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER SURGERY

The removal of impacted wisdom teeth is quite different from the extraction of erupted teeth; your other teeth will possibly ache. This we refer to as sympathetic pain and it is a temporary condition. If the corners of your mouth are sore or cracked, use Polysporin for comfort. The socket (hole) where the tooth was removed will gradually fill with tissue. Extraction wounds usually heal quickly and without complications if these simple precautions are taken. However, these wounds should not be neglected and they should be given certain attention.

Sometimes the after-effects of oral surgery are quite minimal, so not all of the instructions may apply. However, when in doubt follow these guidelines or call us with any concerns. We are here for you during all circumstances.

Please call our office at (717) 633-5874 should you have any questions or concerns and you will receive further instructions to contact the doctor on call.

Post-Op White Fillings

You might notice that the bite doesn’t feel right or is sensitive when chewing. This usually happens when work has been done on a tooth located in the lower jaw. The local anesthesia could have temporarily changed your bite pattern when you were in to see us. Please call our office to schedule a bite adjustment if this is the case.

Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, is normal and shouldn’t last more than a few days. Please call our office if you experience pain or discomfort that lasts longer.

Scaling and Root Planing Post-Op Instructions

For the first 24 hours, you may experience some hot and cold sensitivity. Do not eat, drink, chew, or consume hot foods or beverages until the numbness has worn off following the anesthetic. Refrain from tobacco use or smoking for 24 hours. Avoid foods such as popcorn or potato chips for the rest of the day. Some bleeding following a deep cleaning is normal, but if you experience excessive bleeding please call our office.

You can take Advil or Tylenol according to the instructions on the label or those provided by your doctor as needed. A warm salt water rinse, approximately one teaspoon in an eight-ounce glass of water, three times a day can be helpful.

In combination with your deeper cleaning, you will need the proper tools to maintain your dental health. We have assembled a PerioPACK that encompasses all these tools to help you succeed:

Use Peridex (brown bottle) after your 1st visit if your appointments are more than 3 weeks apart. Use Peridex after the 2nd appointment when appointments are closer together.
Use PerioMed fluoride rinse after Peridex (brown bottle) is completed.
Your dental hygienist will use a fluoride varnish application at your follow-up visit. Use your Oral-B electric toothbrush 2 times per day, and floss once per day.

Spanish Post-Op Instructions: Precauciones Depues De Una Extracion

Primer Día:

NO escupa!
NO fume por lo menos un día
NO forme un sorbedor con su boca, tanto como sorber de un pipote.
NO haga fuerza tanto como levantar cosas pesadas.
NO ponga la lengua en la parte lastimada.
PONGA presión en la parte lastimada mordiendo un trapo húmedo
MUERDA un morralito de te si sigue sangrándose
PONGA un trapo frio o helado en la cara donde tiene el dolor por 20 minutos si, y por 20 minutos no, hasta la hora de dormir para evitar qué se la hinche
ACUESTESE con la cabeza poco levantada

Segundo Día:

NO escupa!
NO forme un sorbedor con la boca
NO ponga la lengua en la parte que le duele.
USE un trapo caliente (20 minutos si, 20 minutos no) si el dolor sigue

Tercer Día:

Guarde la parte adolorida limpia. Enjuagase la boca con agua de sal
(Cucharita de sal/seis onzas de agua) Si el dolor sigue, repita el tratamiento.

Séptimo Día:

Vuelva para quitarle las puntadas

Si tienes dolor o tienes algún pregunta en cuanto su cirugía por favor llama nuestra consulta (717) 633-5874. Si llamas fuera de los horarios de costumbre puedes recibir direcciones como hablar con el doctor.

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Post-Op Instructions

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