Post Treatment Instructions
Post-Operative / Post-Treatment Instructions after Dental Procedures
See below a summary of post-op instructions. Call us if you have any questions.
Fillings
1. Do not eat on your new filling for one hour and until your numbness is gone.
2. If you are supervising children who had fillings done, make sure they don’t bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue).
3. You may experience cold and heat sensitivity and some gum soreness; this usually subsides within a few days.
4. Call our office if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few days after the fillings, or if you have any questions.
Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
1. You may experience some cold and heat sensitivity (especially after a deep cleaning).
2. If you have received anesthesia do not eat anything until the numbness has worn off to avoid injury to your soft tissues.
3. Continue your regular brushing and flossing.
4. Some bleeding for a day or two after cleaning is normal, but if you experience any excessive bleeding call our office.
5. Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.
Crowns and Bridges
1. Crowns and bridges usually take two appointments to complete. At the first appointment, the tooth/teeth are prepared, and impression or scan is taken, and a temporary crown is placed on your tooth/teeth.
2. You may experience sensitivity, gum soreness, and slight discomfort on the tooth/teeth; it should subside after the placement of the permanent crown/bridge.
3. Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing on your teeth until the numbness has worn off to avoid injury to your soft tissues.
4. A temporary crown is usually made of plastic-based material. It can break if too much pressure is placed on it. The crown may also come off; if it does, save the crown and call our office to schedule an appointment to have it re-seated. The temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth and prevent other teeth from moving so it is important to call us as soon as possible when this happens. To avoid losing your temporary, do not chew on sticky or hard food (chewing gum, ice). Try to chew on the opposite side of the temporary as much as possible.
5. Continue your normal brushing but be careful while flossing around the temporaries (remove the floss gently from the side). If it is difficult to get the floss between the temporary and surrounding teeth, refrain from flossing until you receive your permanent crown.
6. After the permanent restoration is placed you may feel slight pressure for a few days. Also, the bite may feel different for a day or two. After 2-3 days if your bite still feels uneven or you feel any discomfort when chewing on the tooth, call our office as soon as possible as adjustments may need to be made. Delaying the necessary adjustments may damage the tooth permanently.
7. Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.
Denture Delivery
1. You will experience some discomfort with any new denture for a few days. All new dentures may need several adjustments to completely and comfortably fit your mouth.
2. You should take the dentures out every night and keep them in a clean container filled with water or denture cleaning solution. Your gums need to rest and be without the dentures every day for a period of time.
3. Clean your dentures thoroughly with a toothbrush and water before putting them back in your mouth.
4. It may be difficult to talk normally with the new dentures for a few days. One way to practice is to read a book or newspaper out loud for a period of time every day. Your tongue and muscles will get used to the new denture and you will talk normally very soon.
5. Call our office if you are experiencing any pain, discomfort, or if you have any questions.
Teeth Whitening
Hypersensitivity is very common after teeth whitening. Patients who are about to undergo a professional teeth whitening treatment are advised to build up a resistance to sensitivity by changing to a sensitive toothpaste or gel at least one week before the start of the treatment.
You may experience heightened sensitivity to hot and cold drinks, certain sweet foods, and contact with the teeth (especially during teeth brushing). Mild discomfort and sensitivity is expected to last for no longer than around 48 hours.- Tips for dealing with sensitivity after teeth whitening include:
1. After your whitening treatment (when sensitivity is at its highest), use a toothpaste and/or gel specifically designed to cope with sensitivity. In most cases, this sensitivity will only last around 48 hours at most – you can switch back to your regular toothpaste after this period.
2. When brushing your teeth, be gentle. Use a soft bristled brush and lukewarm water instead of cold to take some of the sting out of your sensitive teeth. We would also advise that you leave the toothpaste in your mouth for a few minutes after you’ve finished brushing and before rinsing to give it some extra time to work.
3. When using home whitening kits, place a toothpaste for sensitive teeth into the trays and apply to the teeth for 20 minutes after whitening. This can drastically reduce the amount of sensitivity.
4. For a couple of days after your treatment, try to steer clear of hot and cold drinks – we would recommend trying to avoid hot drinks like tea and coffee anyway as these can stain your newly whitened teeth.
5. You might find it easier to drink through a straw as this allows the liquid to bypass your teeth for the most part, providing some relief from the temporary pain.
Get in Touch with us
(808) 589-2486
Direct Line
1010 S King St #403
Honolulu, HI 96814
Address
doc.gum@gmail.com
(808) 596-8865
Fax
Office Hours
- Monday 8:00am - 5:00pm
- Tuesday 8:00am - 5:00pm
- Wednesday 8:00am - 6:00pm
- Thursday 8:00am - 2:00pm
- Friday 8:00am - 2:00pm
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed