Post op instructions

•  For the first 24 hours: NO rinsing, spitting, drinking through a straw, or smoking. Protect the healing clot as much as possible to avoid dry socket. Dry socket occurs when the healing blood clot is dislodged and can be painful. Keep activity light (avoid lifting heavy objects, bending over, working out, lifting weights).
• Bleeding: Bleeding will stop slowly. Use gauze and pressure as needed to stop the bleeding. Remove gauze 30-45 minutes after appointment. Do not replace gauze unless bleeding starts again. The bleeding should stop in one to three hours, slight

           oozing is normal. If area starts to bleed again, use gauze      with gentle but firm pressure or a dampened tea bag in the area until bleeding subsides.

• Swelling: For the first 24 hours, apply a plastic bag or towel filled with ice against the outside of the cheek on the affected side. Alternate 15 minutes on and 5 minutes off as much as possible throughout the day.
• Food: You may eat and drink however for the first 24 hours, a soft diet is recommended. Avoid hot liquids and hard foods near the extraction area. After 24 hours use good judgment. Gently brush unaffected teeth after each meal.
• Bony Edges: After teeth are extracted, you may feel sliver like projections in the gum tissue. This is normal. They are small spicules of bone that will work their way out of the tissue. If the sensation becomes uncomfortable, please let us know.
•  Medication: If antibiotics are prescribed, take the full amount prescribed even if symptoms have disappeared. If pain medication is prescribed, take it according to directions and only as needed for pain. You should switch to (or if not prescribed pain medication) Tylenol extra strength (2) or Advil (2-3 200mg) tablets every four hours as needed for pain.
• Questions: If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at 301-972-5000. You may also text our office number if after business hours.

Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease. The purpose of the treatment is to remove bacterial plaque and tartar from around the teeth and under the gum line. The goal is to produce clean, smooth teeth and roots which will promote healing of the inflammation and infection of gum disease.

•  After scaling and root planing avoid eating anything on the area being treated for two hours or until the dental anesthetic has worn off completely. Avoid any hard, crunchy, or “chippy” foods such as tortilla chips, potato chips, popcorn, or seeds for the next several days.
• To help soothe the area, rinse your mouth 2-3 times a day with warm saltwater.
• Resume your home care regimen immediately but be gentle with the area recently treated.
• Refrain from smoking for 24 to 48 hours after scaling and root planing. Tobacco will delay healing of the tissues.
• You may take a non-aspirin pain reliever for any tenderness or discomfort. Take ibuprofen (Advil) or Tylenol unless you are allergic or have medical conditions that prevent taking these medications.
• If you have persistent discomfort or swelling that occurs after scaling and root planing, contact the office for instructions as soon as possible by calling or texting at 301-972-5000..

Please follow these instructions while you are awaiting for  your permanent crown or bridge. Do not hesitate to call the office should you have any questions about your temporary.

•  Avoid eating sticky foods (caramel, chewing gum) and hard foods (hard candy, ice) on the side of the mouth with a temporary crown.
• Do not floss the area around your temporary crown. Should you find it necessary to do so, pop your floss in between your teeth and then pull it out on the side. Do not pop the floss back out as it can cause the loss and/or damage of your temporary crown.
• Your temporary plays an important role in protecting your tooth and holding the space for your permanent crown or bridge. Should it need recementing or become damaged please call our office during business hours and we will be happy to recement or repair it.
• If the temporary comes off, call us ASAP. If you wait too long,  permanent crown might not fit, and you will be responsible for the lab fee for redo.
• It is normal to have significant changes in response to temperature and soreness at the injection site after dental restorations. This should subside within a few days and in some cases a few weeks. If your pain gets progressively worse or is causing more than mild discomfort, please call our office.
•  Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is highly effective for dental pain.
• Should the gums around the temporary crown become sensitive, rinse 4 times a day with warm saltwater.
•  Once the case is here, we will call or text you. Please schedule your appointment ASAP. After 4 weeks, we discard crowns and bridge work. In case a new one needs to be made; you will be responsible for the lab fee.

• After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid chewing on the side of the treated tooth until the numbness has completely worn off.
• A temporary filling is placed by your dentist to protect the tooth. It is common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out, please call our office so it can be replaced.
• Avoid chewing sticky foods (especially gum). Avoid biting hard foods or objects such as ice, fingernails, and pencils. If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.
• It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal therapy appointment, especially when chewing. It is not uncommon for a tooth to be uncomfortable or even exhibit a dull ache immediately after receiving root canal therapy. This should subside within a few days or even weeks. Even if you were not experiencing any discomfort prior to treatment, it is normal for you to experience some degree of discomfort for a few days after.
• We recommend if needed to take ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). Should you experience discomfort that cannot be controlled with pain medications or should swelling develop please call or text our office. To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm saltwater. It is important to continue to brush and floss normally.
• Usually the last step after root canal therapy is the placement of a crown on the tooth. A crown covers and protects the tooth from breaking in the future. Unless otherwise noted by the dentist, it is critical to have a crown placed on our root canal therapy treated tooth as soon as possible. Delay in obtaining final restoration (crown) may result in fracture and/or possible loss of tooth.