Post-Op Instructions
Post-Op Instructions
Please select the procedure you received to see a summary of post-op instructions. Feel free to contact us should you have any further questions.
- Extraction
- Fillings
- Crowns and Bridges
- Root Canal Treatment
- Teeth Cleaning/Deep Cleaning
- Placement of Braces
- Gum Surgery
- Implant Surgery
- Denture Delivery
- Apicoectomy (Root Canal Surgery)
- Bone Graft Surgery
Extraction:
Put pressure on the gauze pad that has been put over the extraction area for one hour. When the bleeding continues, place new gauze and apply pressure for another 45 minutes. When supervising children who had tooth extraction, make sure they don’t bite on their numb lips or tongue. This can lead to serious injury to their soft tissue.
Do not eat or drink anything hot on the day of your extraction. It is also not wise to have carbonated drinks. Take soft food and liquids such as yogurt, milkshakes, soup and juices during the first 2-3 days after the extraction. Avoid spitting or rinsing your mouth. Brushing is likewise not advised on the day of the extraction. Gently resume brushing and flossing the following day.
Ice bag application and prescribed medication will help minimize any discomfort. Make sure to take all medication based on the provided instructions.
In case of complex surgical procedures such as Wisdom Tooth Extraction and Implant Surgical Procedures, you will receive an ice wrap. This should be worn for the rest of the day until you go to bed on the same day (10 minutes on and 5 minutes off).
Call us if you experience excessive bleeding, severe pain or swelling or if you have any questions or concerns.
Fillings:
It is not advised to eat on your new filling for one hour or when there is still a feeling of numbness. Children who had fillings done must not bite on their numb lips or tongue as this can cause serious injury. In case of silver amalgam fillings, do not bite hard or chew for 24 hours.
It is normal to experience cold and heat sensitivity along with gum soreness for the first few days. When you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few days after the fillings, feel free to contact our office.
Crowns and Bridges (also Inlays and Onlays):
It usually takes 2-3 appointments to complete crowns and bridges. The tooth/teeth are prepared on the first appointment. This includes taking impressions and placing a temporary crown on your tooth/teeth.You may experience sensitivity, gum soreness, and slight discomfort on the tooth/teeth. There is nothing to worry;it would subside when the permanent crown(s) are placed.
Temporary crownsare usually made of plastic-based material or soft metal. It can break when too much pressure is placed on it. When your crown comes off, save it and call us. The temporary crown protects the tooth and prevents other teeth from moving. If it comes off, it should be replaced as soon as possible. To avoid this, do not chew on sticky or hard food. Whenever anaesthesia is used, do not chew on your teeth until the numbness has worn off.
Be careful while flossing around the temporaries. Try to remove the floss gently from the side. If it is hard to get the floss between the temporary and surrounding teeth, resume flossing when you receive your permanent crown.
You may feel slight pressure for a few days after the permanent restoration. Bite may also feel different for a day or two. Call us when the bite still feels uneven after 2-3 days or when you feel discomfort as you chew. Delaying the necessary adjustments may damage your tooth permanently.
Root Canal Treatment:
You may experience moderate pain and sensitivity a few days after the treatment. The discomfort should subside gradually.Take prescribed medications for faster healing process.
Do not bite on the tooth while you are numb or for one hour after temporary filling has been placed. Until the permanent restoration is placed, be gentle with the tooth and try to chew on the opposite side.
Follow up with the placement of your permanent restoration as you have been advised. Any unnecessary delay in placement of final restoration may damage the tooth permanently.
Call us if you experience severe pain or swelling.
Teeth Cleaning (Deep Cleaning):
You may experience some cold and heat sensitivity. This is especially true after a deep cleaning procedure. Continue your regular brushing and flossing.
Some bleeding for a day or two is normal. Call us when it bleeds too much or when you have any concern.
Placement of Braces:
You may experience some pressure and discomfort on your teeth.Be gentle with your braces and avoid chewing hard or sticky food. It may be hard to brush and floss, but these are important to keep your mouth clean. Call us should you have any question or concern about your braces.
Gum and Implant Surgery:
Pain, swelling, and bleeding are normal side effects of the surgery. To minimize these effects, take all prescribed medications according to instructions.Use an ice bag near the treated area on the day of surgery for 10 minutes on and 5 minutes off.
Do not raise your lips with your fingers to inspect the treated area. Do not brush the teeth near it. It is also not wise to smoke, spit, or use straw for drinking while in the healing stage. Note that there is often a temporary loss of feeling in the operated area and the tooth may feel loose.
Keep your next appointment on time for removal of sutures and follow up checks. Should any difficulties occur, do not hesitate to call our office anytime.
Denture Delivery:
Any new denture may bring some discomfort for a few days. All new dentures need several adjustments to fit completely and comfortably to your mouth.Speech is also affected during the first few days. A good practice to condition your mouth is by reading a book or newspaper aloud for several minutes a day. Your tongue and other muscles will get used to your dentures as you do this every day.
Take your dentures out every night and keep them in a clean container filled with water or denture cleaning solution.Clean your dentures using a brush and water before wearing them back.
Feel free to call us if you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or if you have any questions.
Apicoectomy (Root Canal Surgery):
Swelling, minor pain and/or skin discoloration may be experienced temporarilyfollowing the surgical procedure.To lessen the swelling, use an ice pack for the first few hours after surgery. Place it on for 10 minutes and off for 5 minutes.
Use lukewarm water to rinse the treated area following each meal. Do this for the first 3 days following the procedure. Eat only soft foods, but make sure to have your normal intake amount. Include juices, soup, and milk.
Do not raise your lips with your fingers to inspect the treated area or brush the teeth near it.Get plenty of rest and try not to sleep on the side of operated area for 2-3 days. Loss of feeling is temporary. Should any problem occur, call us anytime.
Bone Graft Surgery
Whether you were put to sleep for your surgery procedure or were only given anaesthesia, the post-operative instructions remain the same.
You will have several sutures (stitches) at the surgical site. These sutures may or may not be resorbable. If you received external silk sutures, we have to remove them as they will cause pulling on your tissue over the area. The bone graft site will have about 15 % more bone fill than what was naturally there. Do not pull up your lips or cheeks to check the area. The undue pressure will cause the sutures to widen away from the surgical site, expose bone, create more pain, and delay healing dramatically.
Your doctor will tell you what time period to expect. Keep in mind that this is not etched in stone and the doctor may extend the time before your sutures are removed. He has to assure adequate healing and prevention of surgical regression.
You also may have a periodontal pack placed over the surgical site. The pack is infused with antibiotic, which will protect the area from infection. The pack should be left in place for as long as possible. The doctor will remove thisduring your 1-week follow-up. Usually the packing is kept on for 7 to 10 days at a minimum. Return to the office if your pack falls off.
Brush in every area except where the periodontal pack is placed. Use no astringents like mouth wash or antiseptic solutions during the healing period. They can contaminate the bone grafting site, which may require replacement. We will provide you with normal saline and instruct you on how to use it after the first healing stage.
You should not eat anything that is too hard, too hot, or too sticky. Your food should be tepid or on the cool side. Smoking after any oral surgical procedure will delay or disrupt normal healing. It must be stopped for the first 7 to 10 days.
Note that bone grafting has inherent risks associated with it. Some of these risks are also pertinent to your post-operative care. If you have questions about anything post-surgically, call the office and we will inform you of the proper action to take.
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