Post Operative Insturctions

Please find Post Operative Instructions . Please click on type of the procedure to view about Instructions. If you have any further question, feel free to Contact Us

Post-op Instructions - Tooth Extraction


DURING THE FIRST 24 HOURS:

It is important that a blood clot forms on the extraction site to stop bleeding, reduce pain, and speed healing. To protect the clot and avoid the pain of dry socket.

  • Bite on gauze pad firmly for 30-60 minutes. Blood and saliva mix in the mouth and make it look like there is more bleeding than there is more bleeding than there really is. Some oozing is normal and may be noticed the rest of the day after the procedure. You may bite on another gauze or a tea bag for another 30 minutes if you feel it is still bleeding.
  • Do not spit
  • Do not use straw to drink liquid.
  • Do not suck candies
  • Do not rinse your mouth for 24 hours.

 

SMOKING:  Smoking should be stopped following surgery. Healing and success of the surgery will be substantially reduced by the cigarette smoke chemicals in your body. Also the suction created when inhaling cigarettes can dislodge the clot. Smokers are at greater risk of developing a painful Dry Socket.

 

PAIN:  Some discomfort is normal after surgery. To minimize pain, Take two Tylenol, Nuprin, Advil, or similar non-aspirin pain reliever every 3 to 4 hours until bedtime to maintain comfort. Take it before the anesthesia wears off. If prescription pain medication is prescribed, take it as instructed on the label. Don't exceed the dose on the label. Taking with food or milk will help reduce upset stomach. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery when taking pain prescriptions. Do not drink alcohol while taking prescription pain medications.

 

NAUSEA:  This is most often caused by taking pain medications on an empty stomach. Reduce nausea by preceding each pain pill with soft food, and taking the pill with a large glass of water.

 

SWELLING:   Applying an ice bag to the face over the operated area will minimize swelling. Apply for 15 minutes, then remove for 15 minutes. Continue this for the first day.

 

NUMBNESS:  The local anesthetic will cause you to be numb for several hours after you leave the office. Be very careful not to bite, chew, pinch, or scratch the numb area. Sometimes the extraction causes residual numbness or tingling for six weeks or longer.

 

BRUSHING:  Do not brush your teeth for the first 8 hours after surgery. After this, you may brush your teeth gently, but avoid the area of surgery for 3 days.

 

RINSING:  Avoid all rinsing or swishing for 24 hours after extraction. Rinsing can disturb the formation of a healing blood clot which is essential to proper healing. This could cause bleeding and risk of dry socket. After 24 hours you may begin gentle rinsing with a saltwater solution (1/2 teaspoon salt + 1/2 teaspoon soda + 8 ounces warm water). Avoid commercial mouthrinses.

 

DIET:  Eat soft foods for the first two days. Maintain a good, balanced diet. Return to normal regular meals as soon as you are able after the first two days. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol for 48 hours.

 

ACTIVITY:   After leaving the office, rest and avoid strenuous activities for the remainder of the day. Keeping blood pressure lower will reduce bleeding and aid healing.

 

ANTIBIOTICS:  If you were given an antibiotic prescription, take all of them as directed until they are gone. Women: some antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. Use alternate birth control methods for two months.

 

SINUS:  If your sinus was involved in the procedure, you should avoid blowing your nose or playing a wind musical instrument for one week. Use of decongestant medications might be recommended.

 

FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS:  You may need to return to the office to have sutures removed, or just for a brief follow-up healing check.

Please call your dentist if you have:

  • uncontrollable pain
  • excessive or severe bleeding
  • marked fever
  • excessive warm swelling occurring a few days after the procedure
  • reactions to medications, especially rash, itching, or breathing problems

Following these instructions very closely will greatly help your comfort, and promote uneventful healing of the area. If any of the instructions are not followed, you might have significantly more discomfort, and the success of the procedure may be affected.

Caring for Your New Dentures


Quick Cleaning:

 

  • Never use alcohol or alcohol base products to clean your denture.  Alcohol will damage your denture and will void the warranty.
  • Gently brush your teeth with a toothbrush and warm water every time you remove it.  Do not brush the denture because it will scratch the shine.
  • Never boil your denture
  • Never use bleach on your denture

 

Easy Storage:

  • Always store your denture in a denture container in distilled or tap water.  Pets love to chew on dentures so keep it safe in a container.  Keeping it in a container also helps to prevent breakage.
  • Do not use bleach or alcohol-based products for storage.  Mouthwash and denture cleaners almost always contain alcohol and will void the warranty.
  • Do not expose your denture to extreme heat or extreme sunlight.

 

Following products are recommended:

  • “Stain Away” available at Walgreens
  • “Retainer Brite” available at (800) 866-6884

Things you should know about Root Canal Treatment


 

  • It is difficult to predict which symptoms, if any, you may experience and to what extent. In complicated cases, Doctor may prescribe pain medication and/or antibiotics if necessary.

 

  • While severe pain is usually not expected except in extreme circumstances, it is normal to have some discomfort after the procedure; this usually only lasts three days.

 

  • If you experience swelling, call our office; it may be necessary to prescribe an antibiotic for you.

 

  • If you have an adverse reaction to any medications Doctor prescribed for you, call our office; it may be necessary to change or discontinue your medication.

 

  • A temporary filling may be used to seal the tooth between visits.

 

  • Be gentle and cautious on the tooth while eating until the final restoration is placed.

 

  • During endodontic treatment the nerve, blood and nutrient supply to the tooth are removed. This causes the tooth to become brittle and prone to cracking and fracturing. If a fracture does occur, the tooth may need to be extracted. Therefore, in almost all cases, a post and core build-up and a full coverage crown restoration is necessary to prevent this from happening.

Things you should know about Crown and Bridge Treatment


  • Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a few weeks. This sensitivity is usually most noticeable the first couple of days after the anesthetic wears off, and gradually diminishes during the following weeks.  The gum tissue may have been irritated during the procedure (especially if the decay went below the gum line) and may be sore for a few days.  Also, the anesthetic injection site is normally tender for a day or two.

 

  • After your first appointment for crown and bridge treatment, a temporary crown or temporary bridge is usually placed on the tooth or teeth involved. The temporary crown restores the tooth while the custom crown is being made especially for you.  Temporary crowns are of a universal size and shade and never match the tooth perfectly. Your final restoration will be shaped and shaded better than the temporary to match your other teeth in both color and function.

 

  • Special cement is used so the temporary crown can be easily removed at your next appointment. It is not uncommon for a temporary crown to dislodge between appointments.  If your temporary crown comes off between appointments, slip it back on with denture adhesive, and call the office for an appointment.

 

  • With your temporary crown and with your permanent crown, you may experience some discomfort due to irritation of the area during the treatment procedures. You may also notice sensitivity to cold or pressure.  That sensitivity will diminish with time.  Once your permanent custom-made crown is cemented, the gum tissue will return to normal.

 

  • Keep your temporary crown clean by brushing regularly, but floss very gently and carefully as flossing may inadvertently pull off the temporary crown.

 

  • Your new permanent crown will be shaped and shaded to match your teeth in color and fit. The temporary crown is made to serve you temporarily, so its color and fit are not custom matched to your teeth

 

  • After your new permanent crown is in place you may need a few days to adjust to it. If after that time you feel your bite is not correctly balanced, we can simply adjust it.

 

  • Care for your new crown with proper brushing and flossing. It is especially important to keep your teeth clean using good hygiene to maintain your oral health and prevent tooth decay.