Post-Operative Instructions

Crown & Filling

Bite & Occlusion

  • If your bite feels uneven or heavy, contact the office for an adjustment.

  • An uneven bite can cause jaw pain and sensitivity to temperature and pressure.

Deep Decay & Root Canal Considerations

  • Deep decay may require future root canal treatment.

  • Contact the office if you experience ongoing pain or sensitivity to hot, cold, or pressure.

Eating & Numbness

  • Avoid solid foods until numbness has completely worn off.

  • Take care not to bite your cheek, lips, or tongue.

Pain Relief & Comfort

  • Mild gum soreness and tooth sensitivity are normal for several days.

  • Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) as directed.

  • Warm salt water or chlorhexidine (Peridex) rinses may help reduce discomfort.

Temporary Crowns

  • Avoid sticky foods such as gum, taffy, and caramel.

  • If flossing around a temporary crown, slide floss out rather than lifting it upward.

  • Contact the office immediately if a temporary crown becomes loose or falls off.

  • Temporary crowns protect the tooth and prevent neighboring teeth from shifting.

Dental Implants

Activity

  • Limit physical activity for the first 24–48 hours.

  • Keep your head elevated while resting.

Bleeding

  • Minor bleeding or oozing is normal.

  • Bite on gauze with firm pressure for 30–60 minutes if needed.

  • A moist tea bag may help control persistent bleeding.

  • Avoid frequently checking the surgical site, as this can disrupt clot formation.

Diet & Hydration

  • Drink plenty of fluids.

  • Avoid hot liquids until numbness is gone and bleeding has stopped.

  • Eat soft, cool foods.

  • Avoid popcorn, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and seeded fruits.

Medications

  • Take prescribed medications exactly as directed.

  • Complete all antibiotic prescriptions.

  • Continue regular medications unless instructed otherwise.

Oral Care

  • Rinse frequently with warm salt water for the first several days.

  • Avoid aggressive rinsing, spitting, chewing, or WaterPik use during healing.

Pain Management

  • Take prescribed medication at the first sign of discomfort.

  • Tylenol or Advil may be used as directed.

  • Avoid alcohol while taking prescription pain medications.

Smoking

  • Avoid smoking during healing as it can interfere with implant integration.

Swelling

  • Apply ice packs to the surgical area as directed.

  • Anti-inflammatory medications may help reduce swelling.

  • Warm moist towels may help relieve jaw soreness after the first day.

Sutures

  • Sutures may loosen and require removal.

  • Contact the office if sutures become bothersome.

Denture Care

Adjustments

  • Several denture adjustments may be necessary while healing.

  • Do not attempt to adjust dentures yourself.

Cleaning & Storage

  • Brush dentures daily.

  • Do not use toothpaste to clean dentures.

  • Store dentures in water when not being worn.

  • Keep dentures in a protective case away from pets.

Follow-Up Care

  • Bring dentures to every dental appointment.

Healing After Extraction

  • Avoid smoking.

  • Avoid straws, spitting, heavy lifting, and strenuous activity for 48 hours.

  • Begin warm salt water rinses on the second day.

  • Use ice packs during the first 6–8 hours.

Sore Spots

  • If dentures create sore spots, leave them out as much as possible and contact the office for an adjustment.

Wearing Dentures

  • Remove dentures every night.

Frenectomy

Activity

  • Rest and limit activity for the first 12–24 hours.

  • Resume activity as tolerated.

Bleeding

  • Slight bleeding and blood-tinged saliva may occur for several days.

Diet

  • Begin with liquids and soft foods.

  • Avoid hot foods and beverages while numb.

  • Progress to normal foods as tolerated.

Healing

  • Bad breath during healing is normal.

  • White tissue at the surgical site may appear and is often part of normal healing.

Oral Hygiene

  • Do not rinse the day of surgery.

  • Begin gentle brushing and cleaning the following day.

Pain Management

  • Ibuprofen and/or Tylenol may be used as directed.

  • Alternate medications if recommended.

Swelling

  • Ice packs may be applied for the first 24 hours.

Sutures

  • Sutures typically dissolve or fall out naturally.

Oral Surgery

Activity

  • Limit physical activity immediately after surgery.

  • Rest and allow your body to heal.

  • Discontinue exercise if bleeding or throbbing develops.

Bleeding

  • Keep steady pressure on the surgical site.

  • If bleeding continues, replace the gauze and maintain pressure for another hour.

  • A moistened tea bag may help control persistent bleeding.

  • Blood-tinged saliva is normal.

Diet

  • Drink plenty of fluids.

  • Consume cool, soft foods.

  • Gradually return to a normal diet over the next two weeks.

Foods to Avoid

  • Acidic juices

  • Carbonated beverages

  • Chips

  • Popcorn

  • Spicy foods

Oral Hygiene

  • Do not rinse, spit, or disturb the surgical site on the day of surgery.

  • Begin warm salt-water rinses 48 hours after surgery.

  • Brush normally after two days while avoiding the surgical site.

  • Keep the mouth clean to promote healing.

Pain Control

  • Begin pain medication before numbness completely wears off.

  • Use prescribed medications as directed.

  • Tylenol or ibuprofen may be used for mild to moderate discomfort if appropriate.

  • Take anti-inflammatory medications with food.

Prosthetics

  • Do not wear removable dentures or partials for at least 10 days unless instructed otherwise.

Swelling

  • Apply ice packs 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the first 24 hours.

  • Swelling may last up to 10 days.

Pinhole Grafting

Activity

  • Avoid heavy exercise, dancing, aerobics, and strenuous activity for 3 weeks.

  • Walking is acceptable.

Appliances

  • Wear prescribed appliances or night guards as instructed.

Diet

  • Avoid crunchy, sticky, or seeded foods.

  • Avoid hot beverages and soups.

  • Avoid alcohol for at least 3 weeks.

Oral Care

  • No brushing over surgical sites.

  • No flossing except WaterPik use from the tongue side on low settings.

  • Rinse gently with lips apart only.

Pain & Sensitivity

  • Expect cold sensitivity for several weeks.

  • Use Tylenol and Advil together as directed.

Restrictions

  • Do not touch, lick, pull on, or inspect the surgical area.

  • Avoid facial massages.

  • Avoid smoking, tobacco products, and marijuana.

  • Avoid spitting, sucking, balloons, wind instruments, CPAP devices, and snorkeling.

Swelling

  • Ice the area at 10-minute intervals for the first 48 hours.

  • Mild swelling and bruising are expected.

Follow-Up Appointments

  • Attend all scheduled post-operative visits.

  • Follow special brushing instructions once cleared by the doctor.

Root Canal

Healing

  • Mild discomfort is normal and may last several days or weeks.

  • Healing time varies by patient and tooth.

Medications

  • Take prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications exactly as directed.

Soft Foods

  • Eat soft foods and avoid chewing on the treated side until symptoms improve.

When to Contact the Office

  • Fever

  • Increased pain or discomfort

  • Sudden swelling

  • Pus drainage

Scaling & Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

Home Care

  • Continue brushing twice daily and flossing gently.

  • Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.

  • WaterPik use is acceptable if recommended.

Medications & Comfort

  • Use Tylenol or ibuprofen as needed for tenderness.

Rinsing

  • Use warm salt water rinses 2–3 times daily.

  • Use chlorhexidine (Peridex) if prescribed.

Sensitivity

  • Temporary sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweets is common.

  • Use sensitivity toothpaste or fluoride rinses.

  • Avoid whitening and baking soda toothpastes.

Smoking

  • Avoid smoking for 24–48 hours to promote healing.

Treatment Area

  • Avoid eating for 2 hours or until numbness wears off.

  • Avoid chips, popcorn, seeds, and other hard foods for several days.

Sinus Lift

Congestion

  • Over-the-counter decongestants or antihistamines may be used if needed.

  • Saline nasal sprays are preferred.

Healing

  • Small graft particles may appear in the mouth.

  • Minor nose bleeding may occur temporarily.

Medications

  • Take all prescribed antibiotics until completed.

Restrictions

  • Do not blow your nose.

  • Do not smoke or use tobacco.

  • Do not drink through a straw.

  • Do not pull on your lip to inspect stitches.

  • Sneeze with your mouth open.

Temporary Crowns & Veneers

Cleaning

  • Brush twice daily and after sugary foods or beverages.

Flossing

  • Slide floss out carefully; do not snap floss upward.

Food Restrictions

  • Avoid sticky foods such as gum and taffy.

  • Avoid hard foods such as nuts, pretzels, and crusty bread.

Sensitivity

  • Mild temperature sensitivity may occur.

  • Contact the office if sensitivity persists beyond four days.

Temporary Restoration Care

  • Contact the office immediately if a temporary crown or veneer becomes loose or dislodged.

Teeth Whitening

Before Whitening

  • Brush thoroughly before placing whitening trays.

During Treatment

  • Do not eat while wearing trays.

  • Do not smoke while wearing trays.

  • Wear trays only as directed.

Sensitivity

  • Temporary tooth or gum sensitivity may occur.

  • Shorten treatment times or use trays on alternating days if recommended.

Storage

  • Do not freeze whitening gel.

  • Keep whitening gel away from heat and direct sunlight.

Whitening Expectations

  • Gumline areas may take longer to whiten.

  • Coffee, tobacco, and staining foods may cause discoloration to return over time.

  • Regular dental cleanings help maintain whitening results.