Post Operative Instructions

If you wish to speed up your healing process and avoid any unnecessary discomfort or inconvenience, please follow the following instructions.

• FOR SAFETY REASONS, DO NOT EAT UNTIL THE ANESTHESIA HAS COMPLETELY WANED to avoid accidentally biting your lips, cheeks, or tongue.
• Don't eat hard, chewy, or sticky foods because they may pull your temporary restoration off or break it. These temporary restorations serve several purposes beyond cosmetics, including protecting your tooth from damage, promoting gum tissue healing, and preventing surrounding teeth from shifting. Should your temporary restoration break or fall off more than 5 days before your next appointment, please call our office to discuss how to proceed or if a visit is necessary. When you have a temporary restoration on your front tooth/teeth, it is very important not to bite directly into food with your front teeth. Instead, cut your food up and chew with your back teeth instead.
• You need to brush and floss gently around the temporary restoration, paying attention to the gumline. You should floss between your teeth, and then SLIDE THE FLOSS OUT THE SIDE. Do not pop the floss back out because it may dislodge the temporary crown. Please avoid using a Waterpik around your temporary crown if you use one
• Your teeth or jaws may feel sensitive, but this is common and should subside in a few days. We recommend contacting our office if the pain persists or if you can no longer bite on the tooth after 3-4 days. the tooth and temporary may need to be evaluated further.
• A WARM SALT WATER RINSE WILL REDUCE GUM TISSUE SORENESS. The procedure may cause your gum tissue to temporarily swell or become sore around the restoration. In the first three days, use one teaspoon of salt to one cup of water and gently rinse three to four times a day.
• MEDICATION MUST BE TAKEN AS DIRECTED BY YOUR DOCTOR. For tenderness or discomfort, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol).
• If your temporary crown comes off less than 5 days before your crown cement appointment, you may leave the temporary crown off. We may need to recement your crown if you are experiencing severe cold sensitivity, or if your appointment is more than five days away. Most pharmacies sell temporary crown cement, which can be used to place the temporary crown back on. Make sure your tooth and crown are clean before recementing. You can also use Vaseline or toothpaste instead of temporary cement.

Please call our office if:

• If your temporary restoration breaks or comes off five days or more before your next appointment.
• If you experience severe pain or swelling around the restoration site that does not subside.
• You experience sharp pain when you bite down on the tooth after the first two days.
• If you have had an allergic reaction to any medication you have taken.

Follow these instructions to expedite your healing and avoid unnecessary discomfort:

• FOR SAFETY REASONS, DO NOT EAT UNTIL THE ANESTHESIA HAS COMPLETELY WANED to avoid accidentally biting your lips, cheeks, or tongue.
• Use biting pressure for 30 minutes to 1 hour on gauze to stop the bleeding and let a blood clot form. It is normal to experience mild bleeding/oozing following an extraction for up to 24 hours after the procedure.  
  If swelling occurs, place an ice pack on the side of your face where the tooth/teeth were extracted. To help reduce swelling, repeat the procedure every 30 minutes for the first 24 hours.
• Please refrain from smoking or using tobacco for 72 hours following the procedure. It is important to note that smoking significantly increases the possibility of developing dry sockets, which can be very painful.
• DO NOT SPIT, SUCK THROUGH A STRAW or SUCK ON CANDIES OR LOZENGES. This could dislodge the clot and lead to infection or dry socket.
• MEDICATIONS must be taken as directed/prescribed by the doctor. Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) can be taken up to 800mg every 6 hours to reduce pain, unless you are allergic or otherwise instructed not to.
• BE CAREFUL WHILE BRUSHING. During the first 24 hours after extraction, do not brush at or near the extraction site. It is not advisable to swish water vigorously or spit when rinsing out toothpaste. You can tilt your head side to side to allow water to flow from one side to the other, then lean over the sink and let the water drain.
• REST. The first 24 hours should be spent resting and elevating your head when lying down.
• To reduce swelling even further and prevent food particles from contaminating the site, rinse with warm salt water after the first 24 hours. Gently rinse with 1 teaspoon of salt per 1 cup of water.

Please call our office if:

• When bleeding persists to the point where your mouth fills with blood and you are unable to stop it even if you bite on gauze
• If pain or swelling persists for more than two to three days
• If you develop an allergic reaction to any medication you have taken
• If you detect a bad taste or odor in your mouth