Post-Treatment Instructions: Crowns, Bridges, Inlays & Onlays
After Tooth Preparation:
It’s completely normal to experience tenderness or sensitivity in the treated tooth and surrounding gums for a couple of days. If discomfort continues beyond this period, please get in touch with our office for further care.
If your treatment involved anesthesia, avoid eating, chewing, or biting until the numbness has completely worn off.
Depending on the treatment plan, your permanent restoration may be placed during the same visit or scheduled for a later date.
For Temporary Restorations:
Stick to soft foods and avoid anything that’s hard, sticky, or chewy.
Continue your regular brushing and flossing routine with caution around the temporary crown or bridge. When flossing, gently slide it out from the side rather than lifting it out, to prevent dislodging the restoration.
If your temporary restoration becomes loose or breaks, please contact us as soon as possible.
After Permanent Restoration Placement:
For the first 24 hours, avoid hard, sticky, or crunchy foods to allow the cement to fully set.
It’s not unusual to have temporary sensitivity to hot or cold foods. If this persists beyond six weeks, please let us know.
Long-Term Maintenance:
Brush your teeth and restorations after every meal, and floss at least once daily. Rinse with water or mouthwash to help remove debris left behind.
If you have pain or concerns, don’t hesitate to call us.
Post-Operative Care: Tooth Extractions
Following your extraction, apply steady pressure to the surgical area using the gauze provided. This will help control bleeding and promote clot formation. Change the gauze as needed.
Children should be closely supervised post-extraction to avoid accidental injury to the lips, cheeks, or tongue due to residual numbness.
Take all prescribed medications exactly as directed. If you’ve received medication that may cause drowsiness (other than basic pain relievers like Tylenol or ibuprofen), avoid driving or operating machinery.
Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection—be sure to complete the full course.
Swelling is common and typically worsens the day after surgery. Use a cold compress (wrapped in cloth) for 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. After 36 hours, switch to moist heat.
For 24 hours, avoid smoking, alcohol, spitting, or using a straw. Also avoid hot or spicy foods.
Limit physical activity on the day of surgery. Light activity can resume the next day.
Starting the day after surgery, rinse gently with a saltwater solution (½ tsp salt in 8 oz warm water) three times daily.
Stick to soft foods for the first few days—soups, smoothies, yogurts, and juices are good options.
If stitches were placed, they may dissolve naturally within 10 days. If removal is needed, we will schedule a follow-up visit.
Contact us immediately if you experience prolonged bleeding, intense pain, or significant swelling. In an emergency, dial 911.
Post-Treatment Instructions: Fillings
Wait until the anesthetic wears off before eating or chewing. Children should be watched closely to prevent accidental biting of the tongue or lips.
Avoid hard or crunchy foods for at least 24 hours.
Sensitivity to hot or cold is common but should fade after a few days. If it doesn’t, give us a call.
Post-Surgical Instructions: Dental Implants
Mild pain, bleeding, or swelling after implant surgery is expected. Do not touch or disturb the area with your fingers or tongue.
Use over-the-counter pain relief like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, following label directions or our guidance.
Swelling may appear within the first 72 hours. Apply an ice pack (wrapped in cloth) to the face for 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off. After 36 hours, use moist heat instead.
Rinse gently with warm salt water three times daily to soothe the area.
You can brush and floss other areas of your mouth, but avoid brushing near the surgical site initially.
Avoid smoking, spitting, rinsing, or using a straw for the first 24 hours.
Stick to soft foods and avoid anything hot, spicy, or carbonated in the early days.
Refrain from heavy activity on the day of surgery. You can return to normal activity the following day.
If we’ve prescribed medication or antibiotics, take them exactly as instructed.
Limit denture use if it impacts the surgical area. Resume normal denture use after a week unless directed otherwise.
Attend all follow-up visits so we can monitor your healing progress.
Let us know if you experience increased pain or swelling after a few days.
Post-Treatment Instructions: Root Canal Therapy
Avoid food or drink for 30 minutes post-treatment to allow the filling to set. Do not touch the area with your tongue.
Take medications as prescribed. If none were provided, over-the-counter ibuprofen or Tylenol is typically fine—check the label for safe dosing.
Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling: 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, for the first 6–8 hours.
Avoid biting down on the treated tooth until the permanent crown or filling is placed. Composite materials can fracture under pressure.
Sensitivity may continue until your permanent restoration is in place. Delaying final treatment increases the risk of reinfection or fracture.
Maintain gentle brushing and flossing habits to keep the area clean.
If a temporary filling falls out, call us. Temporary repair kits are available at pharmacies if needed overnight.
It’s normal to feel soreness in the treated tooth and nearby tissue for several days or even weeks.
Important: Flare-Ups
In about 5% of cases, a “flare-up” may occur, causing significant pain or swelling. These usually happen in previously treated or severely infected teeth. Contact us immediately if this happens—we may need to prescribe additional medication or see you again.
Post-Procedure Instructions: Scaling & Root Planing
Temperature sensitivity is common during the first 24 hours.
Don’t eat or drink until the numbness wears off.
Avoid spicy, hot foods and intense physical activity during the first day.
Wait 48 hours before consuming alcohol or smoking.
Minor bleeding after deep cleaning is normal. If it persists, reach out to us.
Pain relief medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are fine if needed—just follow the directions.
Resume gentle brushing and flossing after treatment. Once sensitivity subsides, return to your regular oral care routine.
Follow all instructions provided, and take any prescribed medications.
Aftercare Guidelines: Soft Tissue Graft
Following surgery, you may experience swelling, bleeding, or mild pain. Do not pull your lip to view the area or touch it directly.
Avoid using straws or spitting to prevent disturbing the healing site. Bite down gently on gauze to manage bleeding.
Take all medications, including prescribed rinses, as directed.
After the first day, rinse gently with salt water (4–5 times daily after meals).
Begin brushing with a soft manual toothbrush the day after surgery, avoiding the graft area.
Swelling and bruising may occur. Use a cold compress (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) for the first 36 hours. After that, switch to moist heat if needed.
Stick to soft, non-acidic, non-spicy foods and stay hydrated. Avoid hard, crunchy items and all tobacco and alcohol.
Limit physical exertion for 2–3 days post-surgery.
Leave surgical bandages in place for at least 24 hours. Once they come off naturally, clean the area gently with a cotton swab and prescribed rinse.
Post-Treatment Guidelines: Teeth Whitening
After Bleaching:
Teeth are more prone to staining in the first 48 hours after treatment. Avoid dark-colored foods and drinks—if it can stain your clothes, it can stain your teeth.
Skip coffee, tea, soda, berries, ketchup, soy sauce, and tobacco during this time.
For Custom Trays:
Follow our specific instructions. Apply the bleaching gel to the center of each tray so it rests on the front surface of your teeth. Wear the trays as directed.
Once done, rinse your mouth and clean off any remaining gel with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Rinse and clean your trays thoroughly before reusing.
Invisalign® Instructions
What to Do:
Use your fingers to place aligners—start from the front teeth, then press over the molars. They may feel snug initially, but this will ease with time.
Wear your aligners all the time, except when eating, brushing, or flossing. Remove them for hot drinks as well.
To remove, pull from both sides at the back before lifting from the front. Always store aligners in their case when not in use.
Clean your aligners with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste.
Wear each set for two weeks unless instructed otherwise. Follow the numbered sequence.
Bring previous sets to each appointment.
What Not to Do:
Never leave your aligners in napkins—they might get thrown away.
Don’t bite them into place.
Keep them away from pets; they’re attracted to saliva.
Do not clean with denture solutions or place them in hot water.
Avoid chewing gum while wearing aligners.
Don’t smoke while using them—it can stain the trays and your teeth.
If Something Goes Wrong:
Lost a tab or aligner? Call us. If one tray is missing, wear the previous or next one, and notify us so we can assess if a replacement is needed. Replacement trays may incur a fee.