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POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS
ROOT CANAL THERAPY What to Expect After Treatment An anesthetic was used; your lips and tongue will feel numb for a subsided so as not to accidentally burn or bite your tongue or lips. Some minor swelling may also occur a few hours after your appointment. Avoid chewing and hot drinks until the numbness has . It is advisable to place an ice bag on the outside of the face over the treated tooth. Alternate 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off for two to three hours. If the swelling should linger more than a few days, or increases, call us! Your tooth may feel sensitive when biting and or even feel a bit loose. This sensitivity comes from the nerve-endings in the bone near the root of your tooth, where we cleaned, irrigated and placed filler and sealer material. This sensitivity will be short lived. You may feel a depression or rough area on the top of your back tooth or the back of your front tooth where the access to the nerve was made. There is a soft temporary material in that area, which may wear away to some degree before your next visit for the crown. Occasionally, a small bubble or pimple will appear on the gum tissue within a few days of having root canal therapy. This should disappear within a few days. Sometimes antibiotics will be prescribed to help control infection. If you were prescribed antibiotics, it is very important that you take the medication as directed!
What to Do After Treatment We recommend you take something for pain relief within one hour of leaving our office. This allows the medication to get into your blood system before the anesthesia wears off completely. Generally, only one dose is needed. We recommend Advil, Motrin or Ibuprofen (600 mg). If you cannot take these medicines, please talk to the doctorfor some alternatives. Tylenol is a substitute, although it does not contain anti-inflammatory properties. Aspirin and aspirin-containing products are not advisable as they tend to increase bleeding from the area that was treated. Whenever possible, try to chew on the opposite side of your mouth from where we have just treated, until you have a final restoration placed. Until this time, your tooth is weakened and could fracture (requiring its removal). Please avoid chewing gum, caramels or other sticky foods. These can dislodge your temporary filling or cause tooth fracture. It is very important to keep this tooth as well as all the other ones as clean as possible. If the tooth is sore, be gentle but it must be brushed for healing to take place. Please Call Us If:
TEMPORARY CROWN AND BRIDGEAfter Treatment Here are a few simple rules to promote healing and make yourself more comfortable as your final restoration is being custom fabricated by our laboratory. For the first 24 to 48 hours afterpreparation you may experience some minor sensitivity or discomfort. We recommend Advil, Motrin or Ibuprofen (400-600 mg every 4 or 6 hours as needed for discomfort and anti-inflammatory effect). If you cannot take these medicines, please call our office for some alternatives. Tylenol is a substitute, although it does not contain anti-inflammatory properties. Aspirin and aspirin-containing products are not advisable as they tend to increase bleeding from the area that was treated.
Your gums may be irritated! We highly recommend rinsing with warm salt water three times per day. This is an excellent method for soothing sore gums. We may recommend gentle digital message, as well!
The jaw joints may be sensitive from keeping the jaw open during treatment. This can easily be soothed with the application of warm compresses on the jaw joint. We suggest a heating pad that can be moistened. Place the moist heat on the jaw joint areas - open and close the mouth slightly during this application. The heat should be applied at 10 to 15 minute intervals with 15 minutes of rest between placements.
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It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue. Sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.
For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an Advil or Tylenol if the discomfort persists. ___________________________________________________ Scaling/Root Planing/Deep Cleaning We have now begun the deep cleaning therapy sequence. The goal of this therapy is to cleanse your oral tissues of bacteria, bacterial toxins and debris and start the process toward gum and tissue healing. The goal is for your gums and supporting structures to become the stable foundation needed to maintain your teeth for a lifetime. After Treatment An anesthetic will be used so your lips and tongue might feel numb for a few hours after your appointment. Avoid chewing and hot drinks until the numbness has subsided so as not to accidentally burn or bite your tongue or lips. It is normal for your gums to feel tender. We strongly recommend rinsing twice daily for two days with warm (not hot) salt water to speed-up healing and reduce tenderness. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon salt in a glass of 8oz (1 cup) warm water. We recommend Advil, Motrin or Ibuprofen (400-600 mg every 4 or 6 hours as needed for discomfort and anti-inflammatory effect). If you cannot take these medicines, please call our office for some alternatives. Tylenol is a substitute, although it does not contain anti-inflammatory properties. Aspirin and aspirin-containing products are not advisable as they tend to increase bleeding from the area that was treated. It is normal for your teeth to be sensitive to cold and hot foods or liquids after deep cleaning. Should this become problematic, try using a tooth paste for sensitive teeth. If your sensitivity continues, please call our office. For 2 days after your deep cleaning avoid any small hard foods that might get caught under the gum tissue. Examples include popcorn, nuts, and seeds (poppy seeds, strawberry jam, etc.). It is unlikely, yet it is possible to develop a gum abscess if these foods are caught under the tissue (when the gums heal they tighten, which traps these foods). It is very important to continue thorough homecare: brushing & flossing to remove plaque. Leaving plaque on the teeth will slow healing and greatly minimize the benefits of treatment. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us!
PORCELAIN VENEERS (LAMINATES)
It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue. Temporary: Please be careful when cleaning around the temporary restorations. Do not pull up on the temporary when flossing this area. Make sure to brush this area gently and not to chew any hard foods on the restoration. If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you.
Sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment. For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an Advil or Tylenol if the discomfort persists. Permanent Veneers: When the final restoration is placed, your bite may feel a little different. This is just your mouth adjusting to the new addition. If it still feels off in a few days, please call the office for a slight adjustment. Home Care: It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. It is very important to thoroughly clean the area between the veneer and the tooth at the gumline. A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration. ___________________________________________________ ORAL SURGERY/EXTRACTIONS After Care Instructions 1. Avoid chewing and hot drinks until all numbness is gone. 2. We recommend you take something for pain relief within one hour of leaving our office. This allows the medication to get into your blood system before the numbness is gone. We recommend Advil, Motrin or Ibuprofen (600 mg). If you cannot take these medicines, please call our office for some alternatives. Tylenol is a substitute, although it does not contain anti-inflammatory properties. Aspirin and aspirin-containing products are not advisable as they tend to increase bleeding from the area that was treated. 3. Today eat soft foods only. It is very important to maintain good nutrition for proper healing
4. DO NOT SPIT, SUCK THROUGH A STRAW OR RINSE VIGOROUSLY TODAY. Doing any of these may dislodge the blood clot and cause a dry socket.
5. You can rinse gently with warm salt water (place ¼ tsp. of salt to 8 oz of water) starting the day after surgery.
6. NO SMOKING for at least 24 hours after surgery. Smoking is a leading cause of dry socket after oral surgery.
7. NO ALCOHOL for at least 24 hours following surgery or at any time while taking prescribed medication.
8. Bite on wet gauze for 15-20 minutes. Change the gauze as needed if bleeding continues.
9. If bleeding continues excessively for over 2-3 hours, soak a common tea bag in warm water for a minute or so and then place the teabag over the extraction site and bite down. Hold the teabag there for 20 to 30 minutes. If bleeding still continues, call our office immediately.
10. Do not drive, operate machinery or do anything requiring judgment or coordination while taking prescription pain medicine.
11. If we have prescribed antibiotics, take all of the antibiotic prescription as directed unless you develop an allergic reaction (skin rash or difficulty breathing are examples). If this happens stop taking the medicine and contact our office.
12. Occasionally a small bony fragment may work up through the gum tissue during healing. Do not be alarmed, this is not unusual. If it becomes irritated or painful contact our office.
13. After more extensive surgery (such as multiple extractions or impacted wisdom teeth) swelling usually occurs. To help reduce the swelling place an ice pack over the area where the surgery was performed for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off. Do this over the first several hours following surgery.
14. Starting 24 hours after the surgery, begin salt & water or peroxide and water rinses four times per day for one to two weeks.
15. Light brushing around the surgical site should be started at this time, as well. Brush more vigorously each day as comfort allows.
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Bellecare Dental |
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Family & Cosmetic Dentistry |
425-454-4963 |
