Bluegrass Oral Health

Post-Op Care & What to Expect

Patient Info

After Your Treatment

Post-operative care instructions vary by treatment. Follow the instructions provided by your treating dentist, and contact the office that treated you if you have questions about your recovery.

Select the section that matches your treatment below to review what to expect and how to care for the area afterward.

Fillings

Immediately after your filling appointment, wait until the numbness wears off before eating or drinking to avoid accidental bites or burns.
For the first 24 hours, avoid chewing on the side where the fillings were placed.
Tooth-colored fillings set immediately, but amalgam (silver) fillings take 12 hours to harden.
It is not uncommon to experience sensitivity for more than a month after a filling. However, if pain lasts longer than 20 seconds or the teeth are routinely painful when you bite, return to the office for an evaluation. The most common cause of pain after fillings is a bite that hits too hard. This can cause pain while eating, a bruised feeling, and sensitivity to hot and cold. In this case, a minor adjustment may be all that is needed.

Extractions

Post-operative care following a dental extraction is extremely important. When a tooth is removed, it leaves a space that must be filled by a blood clot. If this clot is disrupted, you can develop a dry socket. Smoking, coughing, sucking through a straw, impacted food, vigorous rinsing, or dry gauze can disrupt the clot.
Place gauze with pressure until the initial bleeding has stopped. This usually takes approximately one hour. After the bleeding stops, leave the area alone for 3–4 days. Your doctor may prescribe an antibacterial rinse; however, placing anything else in the area may delay healing. This includes additional gauze, Orajel, vigorous salt-water rinsing, and most home remedies. You may gently brush the rest of your mouth on the evening of the extraction.
After 3–4 days, you can begin gently rinsing with warm salt water to keep the area clean and free of impacted food.
If a dry socket develops, return to the office so we can clean and evaluate the area. A dry socket occurs when the clot is gone and the bone is exposed to the air, with no new bleeding to stimulate healing. Dry sockets are extremely painful and take time to resolve.
If sutures were placed, they will dissolve within 3–7 days in most cases. It is normal for pain to increase around days three or four and then gradually decrease throughout the rest of the week. If pain increases after four days, it may be a sign of infection or dry socket and should be evaluated.

Crowns

We place two types of crowns: immediate CEREC crowns, which are permanently cemented during your first visit, and temporary crowns, which require a return visit for placement of the permanent crown.
With an immediate CEREC crown, you can resume full function immediately after the procedure because the cement sets right away. Similar to fillings, sensitivity with a new crown is normal for up to a month. If you experience discomfort while biting or chewing, or if the tooth remains sensitive to cold, it may require a small bite adjustment.
If you had one or more temporary crowns placed, be careful until you receive your permanent crown. Temporary cement is designed to allow the crown to be removed easily when the permanent crown is placed. The temporary crown could come off while brushing, flossing, or eating. Chew on the opposite side of your mouth as much as possible, and take great care to brush gently. Flossing is not necessary while you have the temporary crown.
Mouth rinses can also help keep the area clean. If the crown comes off, call the office immediately so it can be replaced.

Root Canals

Most of the time, a tooth will simply feel bruised after a root canal. However, if pain intensifies over the next three days, contact our office because it may be a sign of residual infection.
After a root canal, avoid hard or crunchy foods on that tooth until a permanent crown can be placed. A root canal hollows out the inside of the tooth, making it weaker than a normal tooth.

Implants

After implant placement, avoid eating in the area of the implant for the first seven days.
After the first 24 hours, you may begin rinsing the area very gently with warm salt water.
The doctor will often place a healing screw just above the gums. If it becomes loose, contact the office so it can be tightened.
If sutures are placed, they will dissolve within 4–7 days unless the doctor tells you otherwise.

Dentures

After receiving a new set of dentures, a general rule of thumb is that adjustment may take about one week for each decade of your age. For example, a 20-year-old may take two weeks, while a 50-year-old may take about a month. If problems or difficulties persist longer than this, schedule an evaluation because adjustments may be needed.
If painful areas develop, address them immediately. A small adjustment is often all that is needed to relieve a pressure area.
We recommend that you do not sleep in your dentures because doing so may cause infections and soreness in your mouth. Cleaning your dentures daily is critical for maintaining a good fit and a healthy mouth. Brushing your tongue and gums is also important for maintaining good oral health.
When you are not wearing your dentures, keep them in a cup of water so they remain in a moist environment similar to your mouth.
If you have implant-supported dentures, the gaskets will need to be replaced at least once a year. If your implant-supported dentures previously fit well but the fit has changed, it may be time to replace the gaskets. Replacing them should restore the fit you had when you received your dentures.

Sedation

After IV or oral sedation, the medications used will remain in your system for hours after the procedure. Each person’s body responds differently; therefore, we advise against driving or working for the rest of the day.
Arrange for supervision following the procedure because patients often do not realize they are still under the effects of the prescribed medication.
Nausea, prolonged sleepiness, and impaired cognitive and motor skills are the most significant side effects and may last for 24 hours.
The effects of nitrous oxide wear off immediately after the procedure, allowing you to drive. Nitrous oxide is safe for pregnant women. Nausea is the most common side effect and may be difficult for some individuals.

Have a Question About Your Recovery?

Contact the office where your treatment was completed so the team can respond with instructions specific to your procedure.