After a dental procedure, patients are typically provided with a set of instructions to follow, which may require adjustments to habits such as diet, brushing, medications, and scheduling follow-up appointments. These instructions can vary based on the type of procedure performed but generally include recommendations like eating a soft diet, maintaining oral cleanliness, and taking prescribed pain medications as needed.
Why Following Post-Op Instructions is Crucial:
Adhering to post-operative instructions is essential for a quick and healthy recovery. Failure to do so can lead to complications. One common issue is a dry socket, which occurs when a blood clot doesn’t form in the empty tooth socket, exposing the bone and nerves to food, air, and saliva, resulting in pain. Another potential problem is infection, which can range from mild to severe. Bacteria can enter the body through cuts in the mouth, leading to infections that, in severe cases, can be life-threatening. Following post-op care instructions helps prevent these issues and supports a smoother recovery process.
Post-Operative Instructions
Post-Operative Instructions for Extractions and Oral Surgery
Day 1: Continue to bite on the gauze for 30-60 minutes after your procedure. Do not spit, suck (using a straw), smoke, or drink carbonated or alcoholic beverages for at least 72 hours. Passively empty your mouth when needed.
The goal is to keep blood clots in the socket to prevent bleeding and dry socket.
Day 2: After the tooth extraction, you may experience one or more of the symptoms like minor pain, swelling, bruising, difficulty in opening or closing your mouth, pain in the jaw or ear, and sore throat. When you experience these difficulties, listen to your body and take rest as possible you can. We recommend not to do any heavy lifting, spitting, sucking, alcohol usage, or smoking. Besides, follow the below-given instructions:
Oral hygiene
Brush your teeth gently. Use a gentle lukewarm salt water rinse to freshen your mouth. But take care not to spit; just let the fluid passively empty. Moisturize the corners of your mouth to prevent it from becoming cracked and dry.
Discomfort
Take an over-the-counter- pain medication (Ibuprofen, Aleve, and Tylenol) as directed on the bottle to relieve pain and discomfort.
Swelling
Apply cold compresses to affected areas at 10-minute intervals on the first day to minimize swelling. Any swelling that occurs typically starts to diminish within 72 hours; call the office if there is no change.
Bleeding
You may experience some oozing of blood for the first 12-24 hours. While sleeping, put a towel on your pillow as you may experience some drooling when you are numb. If excessive bleeding occurs, apply firm pressure with 1-2 folded gauze pads or a damp tea bag on the affected area for 30-60 minutes. Also, keep your head elevated to prevent bleeding and call the dental office if the bleeding does not subside.
Diet
Drink plenty of water. However, it is important to avoid carbonated and alcoholic beverages. Consume a soft diet: yogurt, milkshakes (no straw), soups, fish, and pasta. Nothing too spicy is recommended. You may also experience a little tenderness while chewing and difficulty opening your mouth wide, but this will subside soon.
Stitches
If you have sutures, avoid touching them with your hand or tongue. A fifteen-minute appointment will be needed to remove the sutures in 7-10 days.
Prescriptions
If you have been prescribed antibiotics, pain medication, or a mouth rinse, take them as directed. In case of any unusual disturbances, questions, or post-surgical problems, please call the office. If it is after hours and an emergency, please go to an emergency room.
How Can I Reduce My Risk of Infection?
Taking good care of your teeth after dentistry treatments can dramatically lower your risk of infection. A bacterial infection is painful and can lead to tooth loss. While most cases of post-op infections are mild, it’s important to monitor your teeth and gums closely and call your dentist right away if you suspect an infection.
Extractions and Oral Surgery
Extractions and oral surgery are procedures that are designed to remove a tooth from its socket in the jawbone. Extractions are often used to remove teeth that are damaged beyond repair and cannot be fixed with root canal therapy. Extractions may also be necessary to prevent infection or if they are causing overcrowding in the mouth. Oral surgery may consist of a tooth extraction, or it may be performed to address problems with the gums, jaw, and other tissues.
After a Root Canal
Root canal therapy may need 1-2 appointments. After each appointment, when an anesthetic has been used, you may feel numbness in your lips, teeth, and tongue for several hours. Do not chew on the side of the treated tooth until the numbness has completely disappeared.
A temporary filling or crown is placed by your dentist to protect the tooth between appointments.
Between appointments, it’s common for a tiny portion of your temporary filling or crown to wear away or chip off. If the entire filling falls out, or if a temporary crown comes off, please call our office to replace it.
Post Op Instructions: After a Root Canal
- Do not chew sticky foods (especially gum).
- Do not bite hard foods and hard objects, like ice, fingernails, and pencils.
- If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.
Composite (White) fillings
Composite fillings, also known as tooth-colored fillings, are an alternative to amalgam fillings. They are made from a resin material that bonds with the natural tooth structure, which strengthens it. Composite fillings can be color-matched to the natural shade of your tooth, making them nearly invisible.
Post-op Instructions for Composite (White) fillings
Your new composite fillings are fully hardened before you even leave the office; however, it is advised to chew on the opposite side of the newly placed filling(s). You may feel sore gums for a few days. To prevent this, rinse your mouth thrice a day with warm salt water. This will help to reduce pain and swelling. One of the most common problems following filling placement with anesthesia is an incorrect bite.
Besides, after the placement of composite fillings, you may also experience some hot, cold, and biting sensitivity for 3-4 days after your appointment. It should decrease each day after this period. If your sensitivity does not subside, please contact our office. 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 also important to take some ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil, 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed) before the anesthetic completely wears off. This will help to subside any swelling or pain at the injection sites where the anesthetic was administered. If your bite feels uneven or if you have persistent pain, please contact our office immediately, and we will give you help or advice at(317) 956-5962.
