Post-Operative Instructions

Please select the procedure you received to see a summary of post-op
instructions. Call us if you have any questions:

Extraction
Fillings
Crowns
Root Canal Treatment
Teeth Cleaning/Deep Cleaning
Placement of Braces
Care After Chewed Lip, Cheek or Tongue

Extraction:

1- Pressure should be placed on the gauze pad that has been put over the
extraction site for one hour. If the bleeding continues new gauze should be
placed and pressure applied for another 45 minutes.

2- If you are supervising children who have had an extraction done, make sure
they dont bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to
their soft tissue).

3- Avoid eating or drinking anything hot on the day of your extraction. Also,
do not rinse your mouth and do not use a straw for drinking. Do not spit and do
not drink carbonated beverages. Do not brush on the day of the surgery; you can
gently resume your brushing and flossing the day after.

4-You may experience some pain, bruising around your lips, and/or some
swelling, especially after extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Ice bag
application and medication prescribed for you will help to minimize your
discomfort.

5- Please take all the medication you have received based on the provided
instructions.

6- During the first 2-3 days after surgery a diet of soft food and liquids is
recommended (soup, yogurt, milkshakes and juice).

7- For more complex surgical procedures, including Impacted Wisdom Tooth
Extraction, Implant Surgical Procedures, etc: You will receive an ice wrap which
should be worn for the rest of the day until you go to bed on the day of surgery
(10 minutes on and 5 minutes off). Instructions for various surgical treatments
will have some unique directions, which will be supplied to you at the time of
your treatment.

8- Call our office if you experience excessive bleeding, severe pain or
swelling, or if you have any questions or concerns. In case of serious
emergencies call 911.

Fillings:

1- Do not eat on your new filling for one hour and until your numbness is gone.

2- If you are supervising children who had fillings done, make sure they
dont bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue).

3- Do not bite hard or chew on silver amalgam fillings for 24 hours.

4- You may experience cold and heat sensitivity and some gum soreness; this
usually subsides within a few days.

5- Call our office if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few
days after the fillings, or if you have any questions.

Crowns and Bridges (also Inlays and Onlays):

1- Crowns and bridges usually take 2 or 3 appointments to complete. On the
first appointment, the tooth/teeth are prepared, impressions are taken, and a
temporary crown is placed on your tooth/teeth.

2- You may experience sensitivity, gum soreness, and slight discomfort on the
tooth/teeth; it should subside after the placement of the permanent crown(s).

3- Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing on your teeth until the
numbness has worn off.

4- A temporary crown is usually made of plastic-based material or soft metal.
It can break if too much pressure is placed on it. The crown may also come off;
if it does, save the crown and call our office. The temporary crown is placed to
protect the tooth and prevent other teeth from moving. If it comes off it should
be replaced as soon as possible. To avoid losing your temporary, do not chew on
sticky or hard food (chewing gum, ice). Try to chew on the opposite side of the
temporary as much as possible.

5- Continue your normal brushing but be careful while flossing around the
temporaries (remove the floss gently from the side). If it is difficult to get
the floss between the temporary and surrounding teeth, refrain from flossing
until you receive your permanent crown.

6- After the permanent restoration is placed you may feel slight pressure for
a few days. Also, the bite may feel different for a day or two. But if after 2-3
days the bite still feels uneven or if you feel discomfort when chewing on the
tooth, call our office. Delaying the necessary adjustments may damage the tooth
permanently.

7- Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.

Root Canal Treatment:

1- You may experience moderate pain and sensitivity to pressure on your
tooth. Also, you may feel gum soreness for few days after your treatment. The
healing process may take several days but the pain and discomfort should subside
gradually.

2- Take any medication that was prescribed for you according to instructions.

3- Usually a temporary filling has been placed on your tooth; do not bite on
the tooth for one hour and while you are numb. Also, until the permanent
restoration is placed, be very gentle with the tooth. Try to chew with the
opposite side.

4- Continue your brushing and flossing.

5- Follow up with the placement of your permanent restoration as you have
been advised. Any unnecessary delay in placement of final restoration may damage
the tooth permanently.

6- Call our office if you are in severe pain or experience swelling, or if
you have any questions.

Teeth Cleaning (Deep Cleaning):

1- You may experience some cold and heat sensitivity (especially after deep
cleaning).2- If you have received anesthesia do not eat anything until the numbness has worn off.

3- Continue your regular brushing and flossing.

4- Some bleeding for a day or two after cleaning is normal, but if you experience any excessive bleeding call our office.

5- Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.

Placement of Braces:

1- You may experience some pressure and discomfort on your teeth.

2- Be gentle with braces and avoid chewing hard and/or sticky food.

3- Brushing and flossing around braces is sometimes challenging and time consuming, but very important.

4- Call our office if you have any questions.

Care After Chewed Lips, Cheek or Tongue:

In some dental treatments where anesthesia has been used (numbing), your
child may bite their cheeks, lips or tongue because they will be unable to feel
the areas affected. Numbness generally lasts for a few hours after treatment is
performed. During this time, avoid giving your child solid food as they may bite
or chew their cheeks, lips, or tongue and not feel the wound. Stick with soft
foods such as Jell-O or that are not difficult to chew.

If your child does bite their cheek, lips, or tongue there may be
swelling over the next couple of days while the wound heals. A
yellowish, whiteness will appear over the wound and is a soft scab which
is a part of the healing process. Mouth wounds heal in about 10-14 days.
If your child complains of discomfort you can apply Orabase over the
swollen areas. If the bleeding is excessive and does not seem to slow
within a 15-20 minute period contact our office for emergency services.