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Home|About|Post-Operative Instructions

Post-Operative Instructions

With dental treatments, post-operative care is an integral part of ensuring successful results. Below, cosmetic dentist Robin Rutherford, DDS highlights aftercare steps and instructional videos for specific procedures, treatments, and products.

Cosmetic Procedures

Remember that it will take time to adjust to the feel of your new bite. When the bite is altered or the position of the teeth changes, it takes several days for the “brain” to recognize the new position and thickness of your teeth. If you continue to detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call us so we can schedule an adjustment appointment.

It is normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity. Removing tooth structure and placement of new materials may result in a period of adjustment. Your gums may also be sore for several days. Rinse three times a day with warm saltwater to reduce the pain and swelling. Mild medication should ease your discomfort during the adjustment period.

Do not be concerned if your speech is affected for the first few days. You will quickly adapt and speak normally. You may notice increased salivary flow. This should subside to normal within a week or two.

Daily plaque removal is critical for the long-term success of your dental work. Maintain a regular oral hygiene routine. Daily brushing and flossing are a must and regular cleaning appointments in our office are also critically important. We will use the appropriate cleaning abrasives and techniques for your specific cosmetic work.

It is important to change habits to protect your new teeth. Any food that could chip, crack, or damage your natural teeth can do the same to your new cosmetic restorations. Avoid sticky candies, any unusually hard foods (such as peanut brittle, fingernails, pencils, and ice). Avoid or minimize your use of foods that stain, such as tea, coffee, red wine, and berries. Smoking will quickly yellow your teeth.

Let us know if you grind your teeth at night or engage in sports so that we can make you a custom mouth guard. Adjusting to the look and feel of your new smile will take time. If you have any problems or concerns, we always welcome your questions.

Dental Crowns and Bridges

Crowns and bridges usually take two or three appointments to complete. On the first appointment the teeth are prepared (shaped). Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made. After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.

On rare occasions, temporary crowns come off. Call us if this happens, keep the temporary so we can re-cement it, and come in immediately so that we can re-cement the temporary crown! If the temporary crown or bridge is not in position on your tooth the day we cement the permanent one, the tooth may shift out of position and the permanent crown will not fit.

It is normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after each appointment. Your gums may be sore for several days. Rinse three times a day with warm saltwater to reduce pain and swelling. Use medication as directed.

To help keep your temporary restoration in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to brush and floss the rest of your teeth, but do not floss the temporary crown for fear that you may pull it off. Do brush it carefully.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office.

Fillings

When anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. Your metal-free fillings are completely set and strong when you leave.

It is normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Your gums may be sore for several days. Rinse three times a day with warm saltwater to reduce pain and swelling.

If you feel that the bite is uneven, if you have any persistent pain, or if you have any questions or concerns, please call our office. We will adjust the bite if your teeth are not hitting evenly.

Full Extractions with Dentures

First 24 Hours

Your denture(s) will be in place when you leave the office after having your extractions. You may or may not have sutures; if so, we will schedule a time to have them removed in about 10 days. Your new denture will help your gums heal to conform to the denture. It will also help keep the swelling to a minimum. You may also use ice packs to help keep the swelling down. DO NOT take your denture(s) out for even one minute during the first 24 hours.

***If you take it out, you may have a difficult time getting it back in until the swelling goes down, which could be several days later!

Day 2 to 10

After the first 24 hours, take your denture out. Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater and clean the denture with a toothbrush. Brush your gums with an extra soft brush and clean your tongue with a warm washcloth or with your toothbrush. Put the denture back in within 10 minutes. If the denture is out for more than 10 minutes, your gums may swell and you may not be able to get the denture back in for about a week or until the swelling goes down. Please take your denture(s) out to clean your mouth and denture and to rinse with warm saltwater at least twice a day (morning and evening).

After Day 10

We recommend that you leave your denture(s) out at night while you sleep. This will allow your gums to heal faster.

You will need to contact the office that made your denture for any sore spot adjustments.

Implant Under Dentures

First 24 Hours

Your denture will be in place when you leave the office after having your dental implants placed. Use ice packs to help keep swelling down. DO NOT take your denture(s) out for even one minute during the first 24 hours.

***If you take it out, you may have a difficult time getting it back in until the swelling goes down, which could be several days later!

Day 2 to 5

You may take your denture(s) out to rinse and brush. This needs to be done at least twice a day (morning and evening), always putting it back in within 10 minutes. Leaving it out will allow your gums to become swollen. After 24 hours, take your denture out and clean it with a toothbrush, brush your gums with an extra soft brush and use a warm washcloth or toothbrush to clean your tongue. Rinse with warm saltwater and put the denture back in immediately. If the denture is out for more than 10 minutes, your gums may swell and you may not be able to get your denture in until the swelling goes down in about a week.

After Day 5

We recommend that you leave your denture(s) out at night while you sleep. This will allow your gums to heal faster.

You will have an appointment for three months later to check your implants and see if they are completely stable for the denture attachments to be added.

Root Canal Therapy

In our office, root canal treatment usually takes only one appointment. After any appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. It’s normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment, especially when chewing. To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm saltwater.

Always continue to take your antibiotics as prescribed, until they are all gone, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone. If we also prepared the tooth for a crown, then the tooth will wear a temporary crown for a couple of weeks until the permanent crown is made and back to us from the lab, and is ready to cement on. If the bite feels “high” on the temporary crown, let us adjust it so the bite is correct. If your temporary crown comes off or if it breaks, please call us and come in for repairs, even if your tooth is not sensitive.

If a temporary crown is not on your tooth until the day the final crown is to be cemented, the tooth may shift its position, and the permanent crown may not fit. To protect the tooth and help keep your temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to continue to brush and floss the rest of your teeth normally. However, do not floss the temporary crown for fear that you may pull it off. Do brush it carefully.

Tooth Extraction

After a tooth extraction, it is important for a blood clot to form to fill the hole where the tooth had been, to stop the bleeding, and to begin the healing process. That is why we ask you to bite on the gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes after the procedure without stopping. If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the gauze pad, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.

After the blood clot forms, it is important to protect it, especially for the next 24 hours.

Don’t:

These activities will dislodge the clot and slow down healing. Limit yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours. This keeps your blood pressure lower, reduces bleeding, and helps the healing process begin.

After the tooth is extracted, you may feel some pain and some swelling. You can use an ice bag to keep this to a minimum. The swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours. At the 48 hour point, discontinue using ice and switch to heat instead. Use a heating pad or a hot, wet washcloth on the swollen area.

Use pain medication only as directed, call the office if it does not seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them until they are completely gone, even if all of the symptoms and signs of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluids and eat only soft nutritious foods on the day of the extraction. Do not drink alcoholic beverages and avoid hot, spicy foods. You can begin eating normally the next day or as soon as it is comfortable.

Gently rinse your mouth with saltwater three times a day, beginning two days after the extraction. Also, rinse gently after meals. This helps to keep food out of the extraction site. It is very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This includes brushing your teeth, tongue, and flossing every day. This speeds healing and helps to keep your breath and mouth fresh.

Call us right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling after three or four days, or a reaction to the medication. After a few days you will be well and feeling fine, and can resume your normal activities.

Periodontal and Laser Therapy

Begin with a warm saltwater rinse (1 teaspoon of salt, mixed with 8 oz. of warm water) the day after treatment has been received. Do not brush your teeth the evening your treatment was received. Resume brushing your teeth with a soft bristle brush, but remember to brush away from the gums. Do not floss for three days after treatment and do not use your WaterPik until gum therapy has been completed. Initially, you may have to be very gentle with your home care.

Before your laser dentistry procedure, you will be given anesthetic to ensure your comfort. This anesthetic typically leaves your entire mouth feeling numb after the appointment. For this reason, you should avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off following your procedure. Some discomfort after treatment is normal. Ibuprofen or Tylenol® is usually sufficient to help with any discomfort that arises. Following your treatment, your next meals should consist of soft foods such as shakes, soups, and broths. Avoid any hard food like potato chips, meats, popcorn, and candy.

Swelling or jaw stiffness rarely occurs; however, if it does occur, the use of warm compresses to any area of stiffness will help. Please do not smoke following your gum therapy procedures. Refrain from smoking for at least 48 hours after treatment. Tobacco smoke acts as an irritant and can inhibit your healing.

Following perio therapy, you can expect to notice less redness, bleeding, and swelling of your gum tissue. Your teeth may feel smoother, and your mouth will taste and feel better.

It is not unusual for your teeth to be more sensitive to hot or cold temperatures and/or sweets. This occurs as the gum tissue heals and begins to shrink in size.

The fluoridex we prescribe to you is to control any sensitivity and aid in the healing of your gum tissue. With time, any sensitivity should subside completely.

Consistent and thorough daily oral hygiene, as prescribed by your hygienist, is essential to the proper healing of your gum tissue. In most cases, the entire mouth is treated in one visit, followed by a polish and re-evaluation appointment.

Please remember to keep all appointments to complete your treatment so the best possible results are achieved.

Waterpik™

Sonicare Toothbrush

For more information about post-operative instructions, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rutherford, please contact our office.