Seattle Post Op Dental Care
Post Operative Instructions for Composite Restorations.
When an anesthetic has been used, your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off. It is very easy to bite or burn your tongue or lip while you are numb.
It is normal to experience some hot, cold & pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Injection sites and the gums may also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or aspirin , used as directed, work well to alleviate the tenderness. Please contact your dentist if pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to cold or hot increases. You may chew on your composite fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off since they are fully set when you leave the office. Like the teeth, fillings can break when excess force is applied to the tooth. Always avoid chewing hard foods and objects like corn nuts, ice or pencils. Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth. Also avoid chewing sticky candy and using your teeth as tools.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call your dentist. or Bellevue Place Dental 425-688-1345
What to do after root canal therapy?
Root canal therapy may take more than one appointment to complete. Since anesthetic has been used, your lips, tongue and the roof of your mouth may be numb for several hours after your appointment. Avoid chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has worn off.
Between appointments until the tooth is fully restored, it is common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. Call your dentist to have it replaced if the entire filling falls out or if the temporary crown comes off.
It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment. To control discomfort, take the pain medication prescribed your dentist as recommended.
If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as directed, even if all signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Stopping the antibiotic prematurely can create resistant strains of bacteria that become very difficult to kill.
To protect the tooth and keep the temporary in place, avoid eating hard and sticky foods (gum) and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. Continue to brush and floss normally.
Usually, the last step in root canal treatment is the placement of a crown on the tooth. A crown will protect the tooth from breaking in the future.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have any signs of swelling or increasing pain call your dentist as soon as possible.
What do you do after a tooth extraction?
After tooth extraction, it is 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 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times. If you run out of gauze tea bags will also work well. Keep your head elevated above your heart as long as bleeding persists and avoid any activities that increases your heart rate.
After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids in the healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for next 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and retard the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours as it will increase blood pressure and increase bleeding from the extraction site.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. Icing the area is the key to minimize swelling and decrease healing times. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the outside of the face will keep swelling to a minimum. Hold the ice pack on for 15 minutes and off for 15 minutes. To avoid frost bite, do not exceed these time recommendations and remove the ice pack immediately if the area goes numb. The swelling usually subsides after 3 to 4 days.
Take all pain medications only as prescribed. Use the pain medication as directed. Call your dentist if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if the signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Stopping the antibiotic prematurely can create resistant strains of bacteria that become very difficult to kill.
Drink lots of fluid and eat nutritious, soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.
It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day; remember no vigorous rinsing for 72 hours. This will speed healing and help to keep your mouth feeling fresh and clean.
After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain for two or three days, a reaction to the medication, or continued swelling after 4 days, call your dentist immediately