Postoperative Instructions

Dental Crown & Bridge Combinations, Crowns, Inlays, or Onlays

• You will wear a temporary restoration until your permanent restoration is made.
• If your temporary restoration falls off or breaks, save the pieces and call your dentist. Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain.
• Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, should go away in a few days.
• Brush gently and floss carefully for the first few days.

Deep Teeth Cleaning

• Sensitivity to cold and heat will subside.
• Do not chew or eat until numbness subsides.
• Brush and floss as usual. Your gums may bleed a bit for a few days.

Denture Delivery

• It is normal to experience some discomfort and speech problems while getting used to your new dentures. New dentures need several adjustments to fit comfortably. To help with speech, read aloud for a few minutes every day. Your mouth will adjust and your speech will improve.
• Remove your dentures every night to allow your gums to rest. Keep the dentures in a container of water or denture cleaner.
• Thoroughly brush your dentures with water before wearing them.

Tooth Extractions

• For an hour after surgery, you should place pressure on the gauze pad covering the extraction site. If bleeding continues, apply new gauze and pressure for an additional 45 minutes.
• After surgery, place a cold compress on your face near the extraction site for 10 minutes. Remove for 5 minutes and repeat.
• Do not eat or drink hot foods and beverages after surgery.
• Do not rinse your mouth.
• Do not use a straw.
• Do not spit.
• Do not drink carbonated beverages.
• Do not brush your teeth on the day of the surgery. On the next day, you can resume normal home care, gently brushing and flossing.
• Bruising, swelling, and pain are normal – particularly if you have had a wisdom tooth extraction. Take your prescribed medication and use a cold compress on your face.
• Plan to eat soft foods, such as soups, milkshakes, fruit juice, and yogurt, for 2-3 days.
• Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain.

Fillings

• For an hour following your visit, do not chew. Wait until the numbness subsides before eating.
• Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain.
• Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, should go away in a few days.

Gum Surgery

• Pain, swelling, and bleeding are normal symptoms following gum surgery. A cold compress should be placed on your face near the surgical site for 10 minutes at a time, with 5 minutes off, the day of your surgery. This will reduce pain, swelling, and bleeding.
• Take your prescribed medications as instructed.
• You should keep your appointment for follow-up with your dentist.
• Do not raise your lips and probe the area with your fingers.
• Do not brush your teeth near the sutures. However, you should brush and floss the rest of your teeth as you normally would.
• You may experience loss of sensation at the surgical site, and nearby teeth may feel loose for a while.
• Do not spit or use a straw the day of your procedure. Avoid smoking for a few days.

Dental Implant Surgery

• Pain, swelling, and bleeding are normal symptoms following oral surgery. A cold compress should be placed on your face near the surgical site for 10 minutes at a time, with 5 minutes off, the day of your surgery. This will reduce pain, swelling, and bleeding.
• Take your prescribed medications as instructed.
• You should keep your appointment for follow-up with your dentist.
• Do not raise your lips and probe the area with your fingers.
• Do not brush your teeth near the sutures. However, you should brush and floss the rest of your teeth as you normally would.
• Do not spit or use a straw the day of your procedure. Avoid smoking for a few days.

Root Canal Treatment

• Any sensitivity should subside after a few days.
• Take your prescribed medication as directed.
• Because a temporary filling is on the tooth, do not bite hard for one hour after your appointment. Once the permanent filling is in place, chew carefully on the opposite side of your mouth.
• Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain.
• Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, should go away in a few days.
• Brush and floss gently.