Composite (Tooth Colored) Fillings Take Home Instructions

  • After using local anesthetic, you may be numb for several hours following your procedure. Avoid chewing and drinking hot beverages until the numbness has gone away to ensure you do not bite or burn yourself.
  • After using local anesthetic, you may be numb for several hours following your procedure. Avoid chewing and drinking hot beverages until the numbness has gone away to ensure you do not bite or burn yourself.
  • Composite fillings are fully set when you leave the office so it is okay to chew on them once the anesthetic wears off.
  • It is normal to feel some slight sensitivity to hot, cold and pressure. If you are still having discomfort 2-3 days following your appointment, please call our office.

Crown and Bridge Take Home Instructions

  • After using local anesthetic, you may be numb for several hours following your procedure. Avoid chewing and drinking hot beverages until the numbness has gone away to ensure you do not bite or burn yourself.
  • When your temporary crown is placed, avoid eating foods that are hard, sticky, chewy, and crunchy. These foods can cause the temporary crown to fall off.
  • After using local anesthetic, you may be numb for several hours following your procedure. Avoid chewing and drinking hot beverages until the numbness has gone away to ensure you do not bite or burn yourself.
  • Once the final restoration is placed, it is normal to feel some slight sensitivity to hot, cold and pressure. If you are still having discomfort 2-3 days following your appointment, please call our office.

Scaling and Root Planing Take Home Instructions

  • After using local anesthetic, you may be numb for several hours following your procedure. Avoid chewing and drinking hot beverages until the numbness has gone away to ensure you do not bite or burn yourself.
  • Brush softly on the first evening
  • You may use a mouth rinse after 48 hours
  • Until you have healed fully, avoid alcohol and spicy foods
  • Do not use tobacco products for three days following your appointment
  • Eat only soft foods for the first two or three days

Tooth Extraction After Care

After the First Day

After the initial 24-hour healing period, you can gradually resume normal activities.  You can gently rinse your mouth with a salt water solution (8 oz. warm water, ½ tsp. salt) and brush and floss normally, being careful to avoid the open socket.

You’ll want to stick to soft foods for a few days, such as Jell-O, soup, pudding, yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and so on.  As your socket heals, you can resume a normal diet, but avoid hard foods that might injure your socket and impede healing, at least until you’re fully recovered.

Post-Operative Instructions Following An Extraction – Tooth Extraction Care

Rest:

  • Rest quietly with your head elevated for the remainder of the day.
  • Always get up slowly from a reclined position to prevent dizziness
  • Limit physical activity for the first 24 hours and avoid excessive exertion for the first 72 hours.
  • Healing will occur much faster with rest!

Bleeding:

  • Red saliva is expected for the first 24 hours, however extensive bleeding should not occur. If such bleeding should occur, apply firm pressure with a moist gauze or moist teabag to the area for 20 minutes. If the bleeding does not subside, please call.

Mouth Care:

  • AVOID RINSING, SPITTING OR SUCKING THROUGH A STRAW for 3 days after surgery. Blood is clotting and this will disturb the healing process.
  • You may begin gentle rinsing 3 days after surgery, but do not rinse vigorously for 7 days.
  • Do not rinse with an over-the-counter mouthwash for 7 days
  • You may begin to brush the NON-SURGICAL areas the day of surgery

Eating:

  • Eat softer foods for the first week such as pasta, eggs, fish, yogurt, soup, pudding and soft cooked vegetables.
  • For the first few days, avoid extremes: very hot, very cold or acidic/spicy foods.
  • Do not eat hard crunchy foods such as popcorn, small seeds (like in strawberries, sesame, and poppy), nuts or chips for the first week after surgery.
  • Maintain a balanced diet.

Smoking:

  • We strongly advise NOT SMOKING after surgery. Smoking delays the healing, increases discomfort, and may encourage bleeding and infection in the surgical site.