Directions
Post Treatment Care - General & Cosmetic Denistry
If you've visited Vanguard Dental Group and have questions regarding the care of your recent treatment, this section is for you. If you'd like more information than is covered here, please contact us and we'll help.
- After a tooth extraction...
Bleeding: After an extraction bite firmly on the gauze we provided you with. The pressure will help ensure the formation of a blood clot in the socket. Change the gauze every 30-45 minutes after the procedure until the bleeding has stopped.
Swelling: To reduce swelling place an ice pack to the affected side of your face. We recommend holding the ice against your cheek for ten minutes, then removing it for 5-10 minutes, and then repeat as necessary.
Pain Control: To lessen pain, take prescribed or over the counter medication as directed. If any medication we prescribed makes you drowsy, do not drive.
Do not smoke cigarettes for at least 48 hours after an extraction or you could get a dry socket, which is a very painful post operative complication.
Do not drink through a straw, spit or rinse for 24 hours after an extraction or you may dislodge the blood clot and cause a dry socket.
Do not consume alcohol or hot beverages after your extraction.
After your extraction eat soft food and brush and floss very gently in the area of the socket.
After 24 hours, rinse at least three times a day with salt water (or as directed by your dentist) for 3-5 days. - After having a crown placed...
After a crown has been placed it is normal to have thermal sensitivity for several days. Gingival tissue surrounding the new crown can also be irritated for several days after the procedure. These sensitivities can be treated with over the counter medications such as ibuprofen and sensitivity formula tooth paste (Sensodyne tooth paste).
Should these symptoms not resolve after a week or so, we advise you to call our office for an evaluation. It may be necessary to do a simple adjustment to the restoration or something more serious such as evaluation for a root canal. - After Root Canal Therapy
It is normal to have some moderate discomfort after a root canal for a few days or up to a week. This discomfort is usually isolated to the area above the root of the tooth, and can be exacerbated by pressure/chewing.
Usually this discomfort is a result of inflammation of the tissue around the root. This is best treated by taking an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen as needed for 3-5 days after the procedure. - After a filling is placed...
It is normal to have some thermal sensitivity, especially to cold, after a new filling has been placed. The deeper the decay was, the more likely the tooth will be sensitive after the filling has been placed. Most sensitivity will resolve in a few days or weeks. If the discomfort persists, please call our office for an evaluation. Most of the time the sensitivity can be dealt with in a very simple manner with the use of a sensitivity formula tooth paste such as Sensodyne or by adjusting the contour of the filling. However, on occasions the pain can only be resolved by performing a root canal or by placing a crown (or both).
