We have provided post-op instructions for several common dental treatments on this page. Dr. Charlotte Etesse and our team will also provide these and other instructions while you are at our office. For more information or to schedule a follow-up appointment with our dentists in Solana Beach, California, call us today at 858-794-7768.
Do not eat for at least two hours or until the anesthesia has worn off.
Post-Op Instructions for Crowns
Temporary, or provisional, crowns and bridges are placed to protect the tooth while the final restoration is being made. This temporary crown works to prevent sensitivity, prevent the tooth from shifting, and prevent food and bacteria from collecting on the tooth.
Avoid chewing sticky or hard foods while wearing the temporary. You may brush normally, but when flossing, pull the thread through the contact rather than lifting up.
If your temporary comes loose, slip it back on and contact our office so that we can re-cement it for you.
Final Crown
After the final restoration is placed, it may take you a few days to get used to the new crown. Please contact our office if your bite feels unbalanced or high or if you experience lasting discomfort.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common following treatment. This sensitivity should subside a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration. You may use mild pain relievers or natural anti-inflammatories to alleviate tenderness. We recommend that you avoid extremely hot or cold beverages for a few days. You may also rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz. of water) to manage tenderness.
Home Care
Although crowns are very durable, the underlying tooth is still vulnerable to decay. Please resume brushing and flossing regularly immediately after placement of the crown. By maintaining a good oral hygiene routine and balanced diet, you can increase the longevity of your new restoration and minimize your risk of tooth decay or other problems.
Post-Op Instructions for Bridges
Final Bridge
After the final restoration is placed, it may take you a few days to get used to the new bridge. Please contact our office if your bite feels unbalanced or high or if you experience lasting discomfort.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common following treatment. This sensitivity should subside a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration. You may use mild pain relievers or natural anti-inflammatories to alleviate tenderness. We recommend that you avoid extremely hot or cold beverages for a few days. You may also rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz. of water) to manage tenderness.
Home Care
Although bridges are very durable, the underlying tooth is still vulnerable to decay. Please resume brushing and flossing regularly immediately after placement of the bridge. By maintaining a good oral hygiene routine and balanced diet, you can increase the longevity of your new restoration and minimize your risk of tooth decay or other problems.
Post-Op Instructions for Dental Fillings
Your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours after receiving a dental filling. Avoid chewing or drinking hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off to avoid accidentally biting or burning yourself.
You may experience some tooth sensitivity or soreness after your treatment. This will subside within a few days. You may use mild pain relievers or natural anti-inflammatories to manage discomfort.
You may chew on your fillings as soon as the anesthetic wears off.
If your bite feels uneven or you experience persistent or increasing pain or sensitivity, please contact our office at once.
Surgical Post-Op Instructions
(Extractions, Periodontal Gum Surgery, Implants, Tissue Grafts, and Bone Grafts)
General Post-Op Instructions
Avoid heavy or strenuous exercise for 2-3 days. Return to normal activities as tolerated.
Avoid drinking out of a straw, swishing forcefully, or spitting forcefully. These processes will disrupt the clotting process and result in bleeding.
No smoking as this can cause altered healing and higher risk for infection.
No alcohol or alcoholic mouthwash during the healing process.
Diet: No hot, spicy, crunchy or hard foods for the first few days after surgery. Avoid any crunchy or hard foods until stitches are removed or until you return for a post-operative visit. Soft foods are ideal for the first few days following surgery. Try to keep food away from the surgical area.
Oral hygiene: Keeping your mouth clean is essential to healing. Please continue with normal brushing and flossing in other areas of your mouth with the exception to the surgical area. Avoid hygiene in the surgical area until stitch removal or your post-operative appointment. If a simple surgical procedure was done and no post-op visit is necessary, normal hygiene can resume after 10 days.
Surgical site care
You may rinse the surgical site with warm salt water 2-3 times per day. Do not swish vigorously. Put the salt water in your mouth and gently swish for 30 seconds before letting it fall out of your mouth. Dilution: 1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 oz water.
Sutures may have been placed to help control bleeding and promote healing. They may fall out or dissolve throughout the next few days. The goal is to keep the sutures in place for as long as possible.
You will have oozing from the surgical site and a red or pink color to your saliva, which is normal.
Swelling usually peaks at 3-4 days after surgical procedures and then begins to decrease. Bruising may occur adjacent to the site, on your cheeks, or near your nasal region.
Prescriptions: You may be prescribed antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, mouth rinses, or other pain reducing medications. Please take as prescribed. If taking antibiotics, finish the course of antibiotics
Things to watch out for:
Bleeding: After surgical procedures it is common to have a red color in your saliva and for some oozing to occur. If severe bleeding occurs, hold gauze, a paper towel or a damp black tea bag with firm pressure against the surgical or extraction site for 10 minutes. If a large amount of bleeding occurs, please also contact us.
Swelling: Some swelling and inflammation may occur in the first 3-5 days. Ice packs may be used (10 minutes on then 10 minutes off) to decrease swelling and bruising. If swelling persists for more than 7 days, please contact the office.
Infection: A slight fever (99-100 degree) is common after surgical procedures. If a higher fever develops or the fever persists, please contact the office. Signs of infection include fever, severe swelling, and pus (white, milky fluid drainage). If infection develops, please contact the office.
Dry Socket (after extractions): Premature dissolving or loss of a blood clot following an extraction procedure may result in a “dry socket.” This typically occurs on day 3 to 5 after the extraction, with a persistent throbbing pain in the jaw. To avoid a dry socket, do not smoke and do not use straws.
Dental implants
If an implant was done, please avoid chewing or functioning around the implant area. Placing forces onto implants before they are healed may lead to implant failure. There may be a small metal component visible after an implant is placed. Please avoid chewing on this metal component and let us know immediately if it becomes loose. If it falls out, please save the metal component and inform the office immediately.
Soft tissue grafts and palatal stents
Palatal stents are used after soft tissue graft procedures. If you were given a stent, wear it for the first 24 hours after the procedure. After that, you can take the stent out after eating to rinse it off and when performing oral hygiene. Sleep with the stent in and wear the stent when eating. Wear this stent for at least the first 7 days after the procedure. You may wear the stent longer than 7 days for your comfort.
Sinus augmentation
There may be some slight nose bleeding or sinus congestion after the procedure, which can be normal.
Do not blow your nose (just wipe with a tissue). If you sneeze, try to do it with your mouth open.
Do not fly on an airplane, do not swim, and avoid high altitude for 2 weeks following the procedure.
