Post-Op

Extractions
When you arrive home from the dentist after a tooth extraction, it is very important to make sure the bleeding has stopped and the area remains free from infection. To stop the bleeding you will be asked to bite on a gauze pad for about a half hour or until the bleeding stops.

For the next 24 hours it is important to do none of the following:


Once the tooth is extracted there may be some swelling and some pain. To alleviate both these things you can use an ice bag holding it on for 20 minutes and then taking it off for 20 minutes.

Drink lots of fluids and eat only soft foods for the first 24 hours. After this and once the pain has resided you can begin to eat normally. At this time you should then begin your routine oral care as well as rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.Mix a solution of teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of warm water. Swish it around in your mouth and spit it out.

If you experience continuing pain or bleeding please feel free to contact us. If after a few days you are experiencing a lot of pain, you may have what is called dry sockets. This can become very painful and we should be called immediately so that it can be treated.

Fillings
After your tooth is filled, the area surrounding that tooth as well as lips and gums may remain numb for up to 3 hours. During this time it is important not to eat anything so that you avoid biting either your tongue and/or lip. Once the numbing has disappeared you may feel discomfort from the injection site. To relieve this pain you can take an over the counter pain medication.Your tooth may also be sensitive for a while to cold or hot liquids.

If you continue to have sensitivity or if your bite seems uneven, please contact our office.

Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy can sometimes take up to 3 visits to the dentist. In between each visit a temporary filling or crown is used for protection. There are times when the temporary filling or crown may become chipped or break off completely. If this happens, contact our office.

To help keep the temporary in place between visits, do the following:


You may experience some discomfort or swelling for several days upon returning home after the root canal. Feel free to take pain medication as recommended. Also, rinse your mouth 3 times a day with a mixture of 1 cup of warm water to 1 teaspoon of salt.

Continue your daily oral health routine of flossing and brushing. If you have ongoing pain and discomfort after the root canal was performed, please contact our office.

Implants
Once you receive your implants, it is important that you continue to care for them as you would your regular teeth by both brushing and flossing after every meal and continuing with your routine cleanings.

Crowns & Bridges
Because a crown or a bridge takes 2 visits to the dentist, a temporary is inserted between visits. It is not unusual if your temporary comes off between visits, so therefore you must take care to not eat hard or chewy foods during this time. Continue to brush your teeth, but around the temporary brush gently. If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you.

When you arrive home, do not eat for at least 2 hours until the numbness disappears. This is to avoid accidentally biting your tongue or lip. You should expect sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks after the treatment. Rinse your mouth 3 times a day with a mixture of 1 cup of warm water to 1 teaspoon of salt if your gums are sore.

Continue your daily oral health routine of flossing and brushing. If you have ongoing pain and discomfort after the treatment was performed, please contact our office.

Non-surgical Periodontal Surgery
Non-surgical periodontal surgery is performed by planing and scaling the teeth below the gum line that may later cause severe problems.

After this treatment, continue routine dental care by scheduling regular cleanings and brushing and flossing after every meal.