Post Dental Instructions


Post Op Instructions Following Dental Extractions

Please call our office for any questions or concerns: Chantilly Green Dental 703-378-2466 : Gainesville Sunday Dental Care 703-743-2287

  • 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 20 minutes. Remove for 10 minutes. 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. Then resume normal home care, gently brushing and flossing.
  • Some 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.

Post Op Instructions Following Root Canal

  • Sensitivity should subside after a few days.
  • Take your prescribed medication as directed.
  • Because a temporary filling is in 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.

Post Op Instructions Following Deep Cleaning ( SRP)

  • Scaling and Root Planing therapy involves removing bacterial plaque and tartar from the root surface below the gum line. This reduces inflammation/infection and allows re-attachment of the gums to the root surface. The depth of the periodontal pockets is reduced thus allowing more efficient flossing and brushing.
  • For the First 24 Hours:
  • Do not eat or drink hot foods until the effect of anesthetic wears off.
  • No vigorous physical exercise.
  • Do not use a straw or sucking motions.
  • Do not smoke or consume alcoholic beverages for at least 48 hours.
  • Do not eat food that is extreme in temperature or spicy.
  • Things to Do:
  • For any discomfort, you can take ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
  • Consume a soft diet for a day or two and chew on the opposite side of the treated area.
  • Rinse with a warm salt water rinse, one teaspoon in an 8 oz. glass of water, three times a day.
  • Gently brush and floss the treated area for a few days. Then resume normal brushing in a week or until the soreness is gone.
  • Rinse with chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex) if prescribed, for at least 30 seconds twice daily.
  • As the gums heal they will appear to be pink, less swollen, and will bleed less when you floss. 

Post Op Instructions For Dentures

  • The following will help you to use and properly care for your new denture.
  • It is normal to experience some discomfort, sore spots and speech problems while getting used to your new dentures. Your dentures will need a few adjustments until you are comfortable. To help with speech, read aloud for a few minutes every day. Your mouth will adjust, and your speech will improve.
  • Your bite will need to be adjusted as your dentures settle.
  • It is important to clean your denture with a denture brush and clear liquid hand soap. Soaking your denture once a week in denture cleaner tablet ( Ex: Polident) will keep them clean.  DO NOT use toothpaste.
  • You should leave your dentures out, esp. At night when sleeping,  for at least six hours to allow your gums to rest. Food particles trapped under the denture cause inflammation and sore spots. Brush the roof of your mouth as well as your gums and tongue. This will help keep your mouth healthy.
  • For partial dentures with metal clasps, special care should be taken while inserting and removing them. Keep your partials and remaining natural teeth absolutely clean to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
  • You should return to have your dentures and mouth check at least once a year. As changes in the mouth occur with further bone loss and wear on the teeth. These changes will make the denture not fit right thus causing trauma to your gums and bone leading to continuing damage.
  • With proper care we expect you to have years of satisfied use of your dentures. However, over time, there are changes in your jawbone and gums. When this occurs, your dentures/partials will feel loose and may require relining. Wearing ill-fitting dentures/partials for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease. Please call our office if these symptoms occur.

Post-Op Instructions Following Crown, Bridge, Inlay, or Onlay

  • While wearing a temporary crown or bridge:
  • You will wear temporary restorations until your permanent restoration is made (unless we have made a CEREC one-visit restoration for you).
  • It is normal for the gum around the tooth to be tender for a day or two. If the tenderness persists any longer than two days, please call the office immediately so we can check the temporary restoration and make any needed corrections.
  • If the temporary restoration comes loose or breaks, please call us. If the temporary restoration is off for even a short time, the tooth can shift position and cause the final restoration to not fit well.
  • Please avoid eating with the temporary restoration as much as possible.
  • Carefully clean around the restoration with a toothbrush and floss every day. When you do floss, pull the floss carefully out the side to avoid pulling the restoration off. In certain cases, we may advise you not to floss the area until your final restoration is delivered.
  • Avoid sticky foods and chewing gum on the temporary restoration to avoid pulling it off.
  • Slight discomfort, sensitivity, and tenderness are possible after a tooth has had dental treatment, but if any of these persist for more than a day or two, please call the office.
  • After the permanent restoration has been delivered:
  • Chewing: Do not chew hard foods on the restorations for 24 hours from the time they were cemented. The cement must mature for about 24 hours to have optimum strength.
  • Sensitivity: Mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods is common. It should disappear gradually over a few weeks. Infrequently, sensitivity lasts longer than six weeks. Please tell us if this occurs.
  • Aggressive chewing: Do not chew ice or other hard objects. Avoid chewing very sticky foods such as “hard tack” candies because they can damage or loosen the restoration.
  • Please call our dental office for any questions or concerns:

Post Op Instructions Following Night Guard

  • Clean daily with soap and water.  Use a denture-cleaning tablet (Polident, Efferdent) to freshen your mouth guard and when build-up is noticed. Follow package instructions.
  • Do not place your occlusal guard in direct sunlight.
  • Rinse your occlusal guard before and after use and store in a dry, clean case.
  • Occlusal Guard use should be discontinued and adjusted by your doctor:
    • If your occlusal guard is uncomfortable, too tight or binding, too loose (can be removed with your tongue), or damaged.
    • If when wearing the occlusal guard your back teeth or canine teeth can somehow touch each other in various jaw positions.
    • If your occlusal guard is causing additional muscle or jaw soreness after continued use.
  • Wearing your occlusal guard nightly will ensure that it protects your teeth from damage.
  • Bring your mouth guard to your regular dental cleaning appointments for inspection and professional cleaning.


Post-Operative Instructions for Soft-Tissue laser Procedures 

                    • An antimicrobial rinse like Listerine can be used several times a day to reduce the amount of bacteria in the treated area
                    •  Laser procedures usually result in little discomfort but for the first 24 hours after the  surgery you may find it helpful to take Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) according to the label. 
                    • For the first 24 hour period following surgery, you may want to stick to a liquid or soft food diet. Stay away from spicy foods and things like chips, popcorn, and pretzels to avoid irritating the surgical site. 
                    • Do not use straws to avoid suction for the next couple of days. Carefully avoid chewing food in the area where the laser was used to avoid interfering with the healing process. A good rule to follow is that if it hurts the surgical site, don’t do it.
                    •  Smoking is a bad idea in general but particularly bad during healing. Refrain from smoking for at least 48 hours after the procedure .
                    • Do not be alarmed with any color changes or the appearance of the tissue following the use of the laser. You may notice that the tissue becomes grey, yellow, red, blue, or purple. These are normal responses. It is okay to spit, rinse, and wash your mouth. Between rinsing with Listerine, you can rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in an 8 oz. glass of warm water). 
                    • After the first 24 hours of healing is complete, brush and floss the adjacent teeth normally and gently clean the area where the laser was used using a Q-tip dipped in Listerine. Do not “play with” the area using your tongue or cheek.
                    •  Do not be alarmed if you notice light bleeding, mild swelling, some soreness or mild tooth sensitivity.
                    •  Call us if you experience prolonged severe pain, prolonged or excessive bleeding, or a considerably elevated or persistent temperature.


                    ** Please call our office for any questions or concerns: Chantilly Green Dental 703-378-2466 : Gainesville Sunday Dental Care 703-743-2287 **

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