Post-Operative Instructions
Take the Stress Out of Your Recovery
Now that you’ve completed your dental procedure or oral surgery at Bob Dalsania Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, your first priority should be to heal properly and as quickly as possible. That’s why Dr. Bob has gathered some post-operative instructions for various procedures at our Covington office.
Select a procedure below to view some general guidelines and specific instructions to help you recover from your procedure.
And if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (901) 476-2270. We’re here to help!
Dental Composite Fillings
After your fillings procedure, you’ll need to:
- Avoid chewing on the numbed side of your mouth. It can take several hours for the numbness to wear off, so you’ll need to eat soft foods and liquids on the day of your procedure.
- Avoid foods and drinks you’re sensitive to for a few days. If your teeth experience sensitivity to hot or cold, you should avoid those foods for a few days after your procedure. You can also try using toothpaste and mouthwash designed for sensitive teeth.
- Continue brushing and flossing as usual. However, you may need to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss gently around the filling to avoid dislodging the dental composite.
- Contact us immediately if you have an emergency. If you experience any pain or discomfort or notice that the filling is chipped or cracked, please call our office at (901) 476-2270.
Additional Tips
- Keep your mouth clean. Rinse your mouth with warm water after eating or drinking, and brush and floss your teeth twice a day.
- Avoid chewing on hard foods or sticky foods. These foods can put stress on the filling and cause it to chip or crack.
- Avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol. These habits can stain the filling and make it more susceptible to damage.
- See your hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings. This will help to ensure that your fillings are in good condition and that any problems are caught early.
Temporary Crown
After Dr. Bob has placed your temporary crown, be sure to:
- Avoid chewing. To protect your temporary crown, you’ll need to avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the crown was placed for a day or two.
- Avoid hard and sticky foods. Don’t eat these types of foods for 24 hours to give your crown time to set properly.
- Be careful when flossing around the temporary crown. Don’t floss under the crown as this could dislodge it.
- Call your dentist immediately if your temporary crown comes off.
Permanent Crown
After Dr. Bob has placed your permanent crown, you’ll need to:
- Refrain from chewing on hard or sticky foods. Avoid hard candy, suckers, taffy, gum, and other hard or sticky foods for 24 hours after the permanent crown is placed so the cement has time to set completely.
- Contact your dentist if food sensitivity continues. You may experience some sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks that may last a few days after your procedure. However, if the sensitivity is severe or lasts longer than a week, contact Dr. Bob.
- Continue to brush and floss your teeth as usual. But be careful not to damage the new crown. You may want to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss gently around the crown.
- Contact us immediately if you experience any pain or discomfort or you notice that the crown is chipped or cracked.
Delivery of Dentures
& Partial Dentures
Your new dentures or partial dentures may feel loose or strange at first. This is normal, and it may take a few weeks to get used to them.
Wear your dentures or partial dentures as much as possible, even when eating and speaking. This will help you adjust to them more quickly.
If you experience any pain or discomfort, remove your dentures or partial dentures and contact us.
Below are some more ways to help you manage your new dentures.
Eating
- Start with soft foods. You can gradually add harder foods as you become more comfortable.
- Avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods. This will ensure that your dentures remain secure as you get used to them.
- Cut your food into small pieces. Until you get used to eating with your new dentures, play it safe and cut your food into small bites.
- Chew slowly and carefully. Again, this will help ensure you don’t choke on your food until you become more familiar with your dentures.
Speaking
- Practice speaking clearly and slowly.
- Read aloud for a few minutes each day to help you adjust to your new full or partial dentures.
Cleaning
- Brush your dentures or partial dentures twice a day with a soft toothbrush and recommended denture cleaner.
- Don’t use regular toothpaste as the formula may be too abrasive for your dentures.
- Soak your dentures or partial dentures in an approved denture cleaner overnight or for at least six hours each day.
Additional Tips
- Remove your dentures or partial dentures at night and soak them in a denture cleaner. This will help to keep them clean and prevent them from warping.
- Take your dentures or partial dentures out for a few hours each day to give your gums a rest.
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as these can stain your dentures or partial dentures.
- See your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. This will help to ensure that your dentures or partial dentures are in good condition and that any problems are caught early.
If you or a family member have had a lingual frenotomy — or tongue-tie surgery — follow these tips below to ensure your surgical site heals properly:
- Keep your mouth clean. Rinse your mouth with warm water after eating or drinking, and brush and floss your teeth twice a day.
- Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth with the frenulectomy. This will help ensure that you don’t irritate or injure the surgical site and that your lip or tongue heals properly.
- Avoid hard and sticky foods. These foods can irritate your surgical site or cause you to chew in a way that increases your chance of injury.
- Be careful when flossing around the frenulectomy. Don’t floss under the frenulectomy, as this could dislodge it.
- Apply pressure to the area with a clean gauze for 10 – 15 minutes if you experience any bleeding.
- Contact Dr. Bob immediately if the bleeding persists or if you experience any pain or discomfort.
Additional Tips
- Avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods by eating a soft diet for the first few days after surgery.
- Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, juice, and soup.
- Avoid hot and spicy foods as these can cause irritation or possible infection.
- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for at least 5 days after surgery.
After your neurotoxin treatment at Bob Dalsania Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, make sure you:
- Avoid rubbing or massaging the treated area for 4 – 6 hours after treatment. This can help to prevent the neurotoxin treatment from spreading to other areas of your face.
- Avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours after treatment. This can help to prevent the neurotoxin treatment from breaking down too quickly.
- Avoid lying down for 4 hours after treatment. This can also help to prevent the neurotoxin treatment from spreading to other areas of the face.
- Avoid sleeping on your face the night after treatment. This can cause the neurotoxin to spread out to other parts of your face.
- Apply a cold compress to the area. If you experience any bruising or swelling, hold a cold compress – or an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or paper towel — to the area for 10 – 15 minutes at a time.
- Expect tenderness and discomfort. Some tenderness or soreness in the treated area for a few days after treatment is completely normal.
- Manage your expectations. It may take up to 10 days to see the full effects of your neurotoxin treatment.
Additional Tips
- Drink plenty of water. This will help to keep your skin hydrated and reduce the risk of bruising.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine. These substances can dehydrate your skin and increase the risk of bruising.
- Wear sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun will help to keep it looking its best.
- Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. These instructions will ensure a swift recovery and the best possible results.
After your dermal filler treatment at Bob Dalsania Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, please make sure to:
- Apply ice to the treated area for 10 – 15 minutes at a time for the first 24 hours. This will help to reduce swelling and bruising.
- Avoid touching or massaging the treated area for 6 – 8 hours after treatment. This can help to prevent the filler from moving out of place.
- Avoid strenuous activity for 24 hours after treatment. This can help to prevent the filler from breaking down too quickly.
- Avoid lying down for 4 hours after treatment. This can also help to prevent the filler from moving out of place.
- Avoid sleeping on your face the night after treatment. This can cause the filler to spread out to other parts of your face.
- Apply a cold compress to the area. If you experience any bruising or swelling, hold a cold compress – or an ice pack wrapped in a cloth or paper towel — to the area for 10 – 15 minutes at a time.
- Expect tenderness and discomfort. Some tenderness or soreness in the treated area for a few days after treatment is completely normal.
- Manage your expectations. It may take up to two weeks to see the full effects of your filler treatment.
Additional Tips
- Drink plenty of water. This will help to keep your skin hydrated and reduce the risk of bruising.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine. These substances can dehydrate your skin and increase the risk of bruising.
- Wear sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun will help to keep it looking its best.
- Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. These instructions will ensure a swift recovery and the best possible results.
If you had a dental implant surgery performed by Dr. Bob, here are some helpful, general ways to deal with potential side effects and other issues.
Bleeding
- Bite down on a gauze pad. Do this for 30 – 60 minutes after surgery to help control bleeding.
- Replace the gauze pad if the bleeding persists. Bite down for another 30 minutes. You may need to continue doing this several times.
- Don’t spit, rinse, or suck on your mouth for 24 hours after your surgery. These actions can dislodge the blood clot and cause bleeding.
- Avoid blowing your nose or sneezing for 24 hours after your surgery. If you must sneeze, do so with your mouth open.
Pain
- Manage your expectations. Know that you’ll experience some pain and discomfort, which is completely normal after your surgery.
- Take prescription medication. Dr. Bob may prescribe you pain medication, which you’ll need to take as directed to manage your pain and discomfort.
- Use over-the-counter pain relievers. You can also manage your pain and discomfort with ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or other OTC pain medication as needed.
- Apply an ice pack to the side of your face. Do this for 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off for the first 24 hours to help reduce swelling and pain.
Swelling
- Don’t sweat swelling. It’s normal to experience some swelling after surgery. Your swelling may increase for the first 2 – 3 days before it starts to go down.
- Sleep with your head elevated. To help reduce swelling, you should keep your head slightly above your heart while asleep.
- Apply a warm compress to your face. After the first 24 hours, you can apply heat to the side of your face to help reduce swelling.
Diet
- Drink plenty of fluids. Consume water, juice, and soup (but don’t use a straw so you don’t dislodge the blood cot as your extraction point heals).
- Avoid hard, crunchy, and/or sticky foods. Eat a soft diet for the first few days after surgery.
- Avoid hot and spicy foods. These foods can cause irritation at your extraction site and potentially increase your risk of infection.
Other Instructions
- Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol for at least five days after surgery.
- Don’t brush your teeth for 24 hours after surgery.
- Brush your teeth gently around the extraction site after 24 hours.
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water after each meal.
- See Dr. Bob for a follow-up appointment in 7 – 10 days to have your stitches removed (if applicable).
Additional Tips
- Get plenty of rest.
- Avoid strenuous activity.
- Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Healing Time
The healing process for dental implants can take several months. During this time, it’s important to follow your dentist's instructions carefully to ensure the success of your implant.
Here are some additional post-operative instructions for dental implant surgery:
- Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. Be careful not to brush or floss too vigorously around the implant site.
- Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the implant was placed. This can put too much stress on the implant and cause it to fail.
- Eat a healthy diet. Eating a nutritious diet will help your body to heal properly.
- See your hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings. This will help to ensure that your implant is healthy and that your gums are healthy.
Post-Operative Instructions
for Deep Cleanings
After an oral surgical procedure, it’s expected that your mouth will be extra sensitive — and it’s no different with deep cleanings.
Here’s what you can expect during your twice-a-year dental cleanings:
Bleeding
It’s normal to experience some bleeding after a deep cleaning. This is because your dentist has removed plaque and tartar from the roots of your teeth, which can irritate your gums.
To help control bleeding, bite down on a gauze pad for 30 – 60 minutes after your procedure. If the bleeding persists, replace the gauze pad and bite down for another 30 minutes. You may need to do this several times.
Do not spit, rinse, or suck on your mouth for 24 hours after your deep cleaning. This can dislodge the blood clot and cause bleeding.
Swelling
It’s normal to experience some swelling after a deep cleaning. The swelling may increase for the first 2 – 3 days before it starts to go down.
To help reduce swelling, sleep with your head elevated slightly above your heart. You can also apply a warm compress to the side of your face after the first 24 hours.
Diet
Eat a soft diet for the first few days after your deep cleaning. Avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods. Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, juice, and soup. Avoid hot and spicy foods.
Pain
You may experience some pain and discomfort after a deep cleaning — this is completely normal. Your dentist may prescribe pain medication. Take your prescription as directed. You can also use an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Apply an ice pack to the side of your face for 20 minutes on, 10 minutes off for the first 24 hours to help reduce swelling and pain.
Other Instructions
Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for at least 5 days after your deep cleaning. Do not brush your teeth for 24 hours after your deep cleaning.
After 24 hours, brush your teeth gently around the areas that were treated. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water after each meal.
See your dentist for a follow-up appointment in 7 – 10 days to evaluate your healing and discuss your next steps for maintaining your dental health.
We're Here to Help!
At Bob Dalsania Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, our expert, caring team wants to help you heal as quickly as possible so you can get back to doing what you love.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to give us a call at (901) 476-2270.
