When you have a dental procedure at our office, we will provide you with instructions on how to properly care for the affected area along with information about what you can expect post-treatment. For your convenience, we’re also providing some of the more common instructions below. If you have any questions about your procedure or your post-op care instructions, please contact our office at 785-539-5949.
We want to ensure your smile heals properly, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns!
After you have received a dental crown or bridge, do not eat for at least two hours or until the anesthesia has worn off.
You may have had a temporary crown or bridge placed while your final restoration was being created. This temporary protects your exposed teeth and prevents them from shifting or moving. Avoid chewing on sticky foods such as gum or caramels, as they can dislodge the temporary restoration. Also avoid crunchy or hard foods, which can break the temporary tooth. You may brush your teeth normally, but make sure to pull the floss through rather than lifting up so as to not dislodge the temporary. If your temporary comes off, you can slip it back on and call our office so that we can re-cement it for you.
You may also experience some sensitivity, especially to hot or cold foods and beverages after your treatment. This is normal. You can take a mild pain reliever, such as Tylenol or Advil, or rinse with warm saltwater (half-teaspoon of salt per 8 ounces water) to relieve this discomfort.
After your final crown has been placed, continue to brush and floss normally. If your bite feels unbalanced, call and make an appointment with our team for an adjustment.
(also called endosteal implant surgery)
FOLLOW THE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
Sensitivity to cold on the natural teeth can occur and will disappear gradually with time.
Avoid ice, ice cream, cold drinks and solids, if they are causing this discomfort.
Swelling is to be expected.
DO NOT apply pressure to the implant with your tongue or fingers.
DO NOT eat sticky or hard foods.
NOTIFY THE OFFICE IF:
- Numbness persists after the initial day of surgery.
- Bleeding has NOT decreased after three days.
- The temporary becomes loose or fractures.
- Pain increases after several days.
- The implant becomes loose.
IMPORTANT:
These instructions are in addition to the General Instructions that may have been given already. If there is duplication, the instructions on this page supersede all others.
Instructions for using PERIOSCIENCE GEL:
After eating and brushing put one pump of gel on a Q-Tip and gently dab the site. Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after applying.
- 1st week: 5 times a day
- 2nd week: 3 times a day
- 3rd week: 3 times a day
- 4th week: 1 time a day until gone
Please notify the office if you have ANY questions. Usually, a single explanation can resolve the situation and free you of worry.
Your dentures may feel awkward at first. Your speech may seem altered, and you may feel that your mouth is too full. As you adjust to wearing your appliance, these problems will subside. Most new dentures require a period of “breaking in” while you adjust to them. This adjustment period varies between patients.
Make sure to care for your dentures by cleaning them after each meal with a soft brush and cleaning paste or soapy water. You should also remove your dentures for at least six hours each day to give your gums a rest — for example, remove them when you go to sleep at night. During this time, place your dentures in a small tub of water to prevent them from drying out. At least once a week, use a cleaning solution instead.
Your dentures should be checked at least once annually so that they can be adjusted to any changes in your mouth and receive routine maintenance. If you have problems with your dentures, contact our office immediately to make an appointment.
You may expect some swelling after dental surgery. Fair skinned people or those who bruise easily may anticipate some discoloration of the skin in the area. Any discomfort you have should be controlled with medication and not be severe.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOME CARE:
- Bite with pressure on the gauze pack that has been placed over the area to prevent and slow bleeding. Pressure will stop the bleeding.
- If bleeding continues (without slowing) for several hours, apply a tea bag wrapped in gauze and apply pressure. Tannic acid in tea will control bleeding.
- If profuse bleeding is still occurring after 3-4 hours, and the above measures have been taken, call the office.
- If you develop a fever, please call the office.
- Rinse with warm salt water after 24 hours — do not swish — hold water in the surgery area.
- Follow additional instructions provided by the doctor that are pertinent to the particular medications that have been prescribed for you.
- If you find that your regular diet is too difficult, follow a high protein liquid diet for two or three days.
- Apply ice packs at 10-15 minute intervals to reduce swelling. Swelling is part of the healing process and can be expected for 3 days to several weeks depending on the nature and extent of the surgery.
DO NOT'S:
- Do not try to eat solid foods until the local anesthetic wears off. You may unknowingly bite yourself. You may take in liquids after one hour and should do so before taking any pain medication. This will help prevent nausea.
- Do not rinse for at least 24 hours.
- Do not over exercise. The heartbeat will be increased and can cause bleeding to increase.
REMEMBER RIPE:
- R= REST
- I= ICE
- P=PRESSURE
- E=ELEVATE
Take Tylenol 500mg 1 tablet with Ibuprofen 200mg 3 tablets together every 6 hours as needed.
BONE GRAFT:
- DO NOT rinse or spit aggressively for 7 days
- DO NOT apply pressure with your tongue or fingers - the material is movable during the initial healing
- DO NOT SMOKE, VAPE, SPIT OR DRINK THRU A STRAW.
- DO NOT lift or pull on your lip to look at sutures (stitches) — this can cause undue pressure and tear the sutures.
- Apply an ice pack on and off every 10 minutes throughout the first day.
NOTIFY THE OFFICE IF:
- A suture falls out within the first three days
- If a bandage that has been placed should loosen within the first three days
- If graft material comes out.
- If you medications DO NOT relieve your discomfort
IMPORTANT: These instructions are in addition to the General Instructions that may have been given already. If there is duplication, the instructions on this page supersede all others.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PERIOSCIENCES GEL: Start the day after surgery, put one pump of gel on a Q-tip and gently dab on site. Do not rinse off — let it absorb.
- 1st week: 5 times a day
- 2nd week: 3 times a day
- 3rd week: 3 times a day
- 4th week: once a day until gone.
For pain management: try taking one tablet (OTC) Tylenol 500 mg and 3 tablets Ibuprofen 200 mg together every 4-6 hours as needed.
Please notify the office if you have any questions. Usually, a single explanation can resolve the situation and free you of worry.
After receiving a dental filling, refrain from eating for at least two hours or until anesthesia has worn off.
You will experience some sensitivity for a few days following treatment. Avoid hot and cold foods and beverages during that time. If your gums are tender, rinse them with warm saltwater (half-teaspoon of salt per 8 ounces of water) or take a mild pain reliever, such as Tylenol or Advil.
Resume regular brushing and flossing immediately to keep your teeth healthy, prevent cavities and ensure the longevity of your dental fillings.
There should be minimal swelling and discomfort with this procedure.
Use an ice pack on and off (10 min on, 10 min off) throughout the day of the procedure to minimize swelling.
If you do experience discomfort, you can take 3 ibuprofen and 1 Tylenol to relieve pain.
Take prescription pills as directed on the bottle.
DO NOT PULL on your lips or cheeks to examine the site.
It’s normal for sutures to poke your lip or cheek and be bothersome. They also can come loose the first few days after the procedure. DO NOT PULL or remove sutures yourself. If they become too bothersome call the office 785-539-5949.
Do not brush the sites or floss until we do follow up visits.
You will not use toothpaste, The doctor will check sites over the next few weeks and when they have healed enough, we will let you know when you can start. Use lukewarm water to brush off plaque and debris. Flossing other areas is okay.
Use Perioscience 3 x a day. Apply a pump to a clean Q-tip and gently dab on site. DO NOT EAT/SPIT/ or DRINK for 30 mins after you have applied the gel for about 4 weeks.
DO NOT BITE into food. All food must be cut up and placed in the back of your mouth. Eat what you feel comfortable eating.
Call us at 785-539-5949 if you have any questions.
After your root canal treatment, do not eat for at least two hours or until any anesthesia has worn off. Your treated tooth will be sore, so you should avoid hard and chewy foods until discomfort subsides. This typically takes seven to 10 days.
Take all antibiotics and medications as prescribed. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please contact our office:
- A reaction to prescribed medication
- Increasing tenderness or swelling in the area of the treated tooth
- The temporary filling or crown becomes dislodged
- The treated tooth fractures