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POST OPERATION CARE

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Information After Your Treatment

It is not unusual to have discomfort, bruising, or swelling after anesthetic injection. This may make opening your mouth difficult. Placing ice packs on your face in the area of your injection for 10 to 20 minutes, on and off, can help for the first day.

After fillings or crowns, teeth will usually be sensitive to cold, but the sensitivity will usually decrease over days to weeks.

Your bite will be different for a few days after getting a new filling or crown. This should feel normal in a few days, but if not, please call us.

At first, your tongue will magnify the differences between your original tooth and the new tooth, new filling, or new crown.

Be careful not to bite your lip, cheek, or tongue while you are still numb from the anesthetic. Numbness may last 15 minutes to 12 hours. Please observe children.

Pain or Discomfort.

Call us if these medications do not help you.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, or Motrin): take 2 - 3 tablets (400-600mg) every 6 hours

Aleve: 2 tablets every 8 hours

Acetaminophen (Tylenol): 2 tablets every 6 hours

Aspirin: 2 tablets every 6 hours

Antibiotics

These will be given only when we determine it to be necessary. Take all of these as prescribed until all are gone. Some antibiotics may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills.

Specific Procedures

Fillings: Do not bite hard on silver fillings for the first 24 hours. Gums near the new fillings may be sore at first. Deeper cavities will be more sensitive and if pain persists, a root canal may be needed. Larger fillings involving more than 50% of the tooth may break and require a crown.

Crowns: After the first appointment, a temporary will be on the tooth. It may not feel or look like a real crown. Avoid sticky foods and pull floss through, not up, when flossing around the temporary crown. If it comes off, place a dab of Vaseline on the temporary crown, put it back on the tooth, and please call us.

Root Canals: If you have pain when you put your teeth together and bite with no food in your mouth, call us to make adjustments. If you have any pain or swelling for more than a few days, please call us. After most root canals, you will need a crown. The national success rate with root canals is 90 percent. Failures usually result from delayed treatments, no crowns, fractured roots or abnormal sinus, bone or root problems.

Information and Care Following a Tooth Extraction

Bleeding

Slight bleeding or oozing of blood can be expected for up to 24 hours. Bite on the gauze or cotton sponges that we give you with consistent pressure for 45 minutes to 2 hours until the bleeding stops. Continue to use if bleeding does not stop. Change gauze after 30-45 minutes if needed. Slight damp gauze or a wet tea bag may work better to stop the bleeding.

Rinsing

DO NOT RINSE OR SPIT TODAY. TOMORROW, rinse every 3-4 hours with warm water (approximately 8 oz.) mixed with ½ teaspoon of salt, especially after eating. We have special syringes if needed to help rinse food from extraction areas.

Food and Drinks

Drink plenty of water for the first 24 hours. Do not drink through a straw. Do not drink alcohol. Do not drink carbonated drinks like sodas. Do not drink hot liquids. Eat a soft diet for the first 24 hours.

Smoking

DO NOT SMOKE FOR 24 HOURS.

Medications

Take all medications as directed. Take antibiotics for infections until all pills are gone. Eat yogurt, buttermilk or cottage cheese if your stomach is upset from these medications. Take pain medication before your numbness wears off. Four Advil or two Aleve are good over the counter pain medications.

Swelling

Swelling and bruising may occur. Place ice on outside of face on the affected area for 15-20 minutes, then take the ice off for 15-20 minutes. Alternate on and off for up to 48 hours.

Brushing

Brush and floss gently in the area of extraction.

Bone Chips

During healing, you may notice small fragments of bone that work their way through the gums and you can usually pick them out. Call us if you need help.

Dry Sockets

These usually occur when the blood clot in the extraction hole does not form properly and is usually caused by smoking, spitting or getting food in the hole. These usually occur 2 days after the extraction and caused severe pain to the area and surrounding jaw. Call us if you suspect a dry socket.

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