Post-operative Care > Root Canal
- Until your root canal procedure is completely finished and the permanent filling or crown is in place, it is wise to minimize chewing on the tooth under repair.
- Upon completion of treatment, the tooth may feel sensitive for a few days due to natural tissue inflammation. This can usually be controlled with over-the-counter pain killers such as ibuprofen .
- Most patients can return to their normal activities the next day.
Post-operative Care > Extraction
- You can expect to leave the office biting on gauze. The patient should remain biting on it for 30 to 45 minutes, or as directed by the dentist.
- You can expect your child to be numb and you should watch them closely. Kids can do a lot of damage by chewing on a numb lip, cheek, or tongue and not realize it until the anesthetic wears off.
- Keep activities low key for the first 24 hours. No running or jumping. Children should sit out of gym class as well. Reading, computer, homework, and television are some ideas for quiet activities.
- It is often best to give ibuprofen or whatever you would normally give for a fever or headache, before the anesthetic wears off. This may be all the pain medicine that they need.
- No spitting or using a straw for the first 24 hours.
- Try to eat soft foods for the first couple of days. Avoid hard, crunchy things and very hot things, like soups. Yogurt, eggs, ice cream, mashed potatoes, and applesauce are some good examples of things to eat during the first 24 hours.
- Brushing is ok, just be gentle in that area.
- You can expect the extraction site to ooze for the first few days and the saliva will likely be pink. This is normal.
Post-operative Care > Crowns
- Avoid sticky or chewy foods (e.g., chewing gum and caramels), which have the potential of grabbing and pulling at the crown.
- Shift the bulk of your chewing to the opposite side of your mouth.
- Avoid chewing hard foods (e.g., raw vegetables), which can dislodge or break the crown.
- When cleaning your teeth, slide flossing material out rather that lifting it out. Lifting the floss out could pull off the temporary crown.
Follow-up Care > Dentures
Cleaning your dentures every day is one of the most important things you can do to help your smile keep its attractive appearance. If you skip cleanings, plaque can form on dentures, making them less bright. Failing to clean your dentures regularly can result in staining and denture odor as well. To clean your dentures, apply a denture cleansing paste to a denture brush or soft bristled toothbrush. Brush all surfaces thoroughly. While you sleep at night, soak your dentures in water. Brush your gums, tongue, and palate with a toothbrush to remove plaque and stimulate circulation.
Cleaning your dentures every day is one of the most important things you can do to help your smile keep its attractive appearance. If you skip cleanings, plaque can form on dentures, making them less bright. Failing to clean your dentures regularly can result in staining and denture odor as well. To clean your dentures, apply a denture cleansing paste to a denture brush or soft bristled toothbrush. Brush all surfaces thoroughly. While you sleep at night, soak your dentures in water. Brush your gums, tongue, and palate with a toothbrush to remove plaque and stimulate circulation.
Post-operative Care > Fillings
- You can expect to be numb.
- Avoid eating anything sticky or hard during the first 24 hours.
- It is best to wait until anesthetic wears off before eating, for it is very easy to bite and traumatize some of the numb tissues in your mouth if you were to eat before it wears off. If you have had a ‘white’ resin filling, the filling is cured up completely after it is placed in your mouth, and after the numbness wears off, you can resume eating and drinking as you normally would.