After an extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process.  That’s why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes after extraction.  If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the gauze pad, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another thirty 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.

                      So Don’t:

•  Smoke
•  Suck through a straw
  •  Rinse your mouth vigorously
•  Clean the teeth next to the extraction site

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.

After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and have some swelling.  You can use an ice bag to keep this to a minimum.  The swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours.

Use pain medication only as directed, call the office if it doesn’t seem to be working.  If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.  Drink lots of fluid and eat only soft nutritious foods on the day of the extraction.  Don’t use alcoholic beverages and avoid hot and spicy foods.  You can begin eating normally the next day or as soon as it is comfortable.

Gently rinse your mouth with salt water three times a day beginning the day after the extraction (a tsp of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit).  Also, rinse gently after meals, it helps keep food out of the extraction site.  It is very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours; this should include brushing your teeth and tongue and flossing at least once a day.  This speeds healing and helps keep your breath and mouth fresh.

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

Post Op Instructions -After Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

.Following scaling and root planning, you can expect to notice less redness, less bleeding, and less swelling of your gum tissues.  Your teeth may feel smoother, and your mouth will taste and feel better.  Your gum health must be maintained with proper homecare, as instructed, and regular professional care.

.When anesthesia 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.  It is easy to bite or burn your tongue or lip while numb. It is recommended that you take some ibuprofen before the anesthetic completely wears off.  This will help with any swelling or pain at the injection sites where your anesthetic was administered.

.It is not unusual for the teeth to be more sensitive to hot or cold temperatures, and/or sweets.  This occurs as the gum tissue heals and shrinks in size.  Brushing two to three times daily with sensitivity toothpaste or using fluoride rinses may help alleviate this over time.  If sensitivity continues or is severe, professional application of a desensitizing agent may be required.

.For a few days, a soft diet is recommended, chewing on the opposite side

.Consistent and thorough daily oral hygiene is essential to the proper healing of your gum tissues.  Brushing, flossing and rinsing with recommended products are critical. Use Listerine, or if prescribed, Peridex (Chlorhexidine).

.If a localized antibiotic (Arestin) was placed, please follow all additional instructions given to you at your appointment.

.In most cases, only one half of the mouth is treated at a visit.  Please remember to keep all appointments to complete the treatment on the opposite side, and all follow-up appointments thereafter.

Post Op Instructions- After Partial or Complete Dentures:

.New dentures always require a period of adjustment.  First-time denture patients may require several weeks to get used to their new appliance.  Speech may be altered, and may require adaptation of the tongue and lips.

.For the first few days, you should wear your dentures for as long as possible, and chew soft food in small bites.  Remember, dentures do not have the same chewing efficiency as natural teeth and may affect your taste of food.   If your bite feels uneven after several days, we can adjust the way your teeth contact at follow-up visits.

It is not unusual for sore spots to develop in isolated areas of the mouth.  These areas can be relieved easily at follow-up appointments.  If a severe sore spot develops which prevents wearing the denture and an appointment is made for adjustment, please wear the denture for 24 hours prior to the appointment.  This will greatly aid in locating the exact location of the area, and make adjustments significantly easier and more predictable.

.Proper cleaning of your denture is important to prevent stains and bacteria from accumulating on your appliance.  Since cleaning procedures differ for various types of appliances, please follow the directions given to you at your insertion appointment.

.Do not wear your complete or partial dentures to bed.  It is important to allow your gum tissues and jaw bones to rest in order to prevent further tissue irritation, infection, and future bone shrinkage.

.Over time, or with weight loss or gain, the supporting gum tissues and bone may change shape and size.  Periodic relines of your dentures may be necessary to ensure a retentive fit.  Denture teeth may wear or chip over time.  For this reason, an annual check of your tissues and dentures is recommended.

Post Op Instructions – After Veneers:

.Plastic temporary restorations will serve you for a short period of time while your permanent veneer is being made. They are attached only slightly to the underlying tooth so they can be removed easily.

.If a veneer comes off, call us to have them recemented. If you are in a situation that will not allow you to come in, place the temporary back in place with some Fixodent (denture adhesive). You must still see us as soon as possible.

.The size, shape, and color of the temporary does not resemble the final veneer.

.Temporary veneers may leak saliva, or food onto the tooth. Sensitivity to hot, cold, pressure, or sweets is not uncommon. You may also see stains under the temporaries. These will be removed prior to final cementation.

.Avoid heavy brushing of the temporaries, and do not floss between them because you may pull them off.

.Your final veneers will be as close to the natural beauty and function of your teeth as possible. They look and feel normal in every way. We place our veneers with the finest materials and techniques available today. However, you should be aware of the following information about your restorations:

.As with natural teeth, avoid chewing excessively hard foods on the veneered teeth (hard candy, ice, raw carrots, etc.) because the porcelain material can break under extreme forces.

.Proper brushing, flossing, and regular 6-month (minimal) cleanings are essential to the long-term stability and appearance of your veneers. Often, problems that may develop with the veneers can be found at an early stage and repaired easily, while waiting for a longer time may require redoing entire restorations.

.The gums may recede from the veneers, displaying discolored tooth structure underneath. This situation usually takes place after many years and requires veneer replacement.