What to expect following a root canal therapy:

• Pain in and around gum.
• Soreness to chew.
• May feel rough to tongue.
• Foods and gum will stick to filling: this is temporary.
• Bite may feel a bit odd.
• Soft tissues will be numb in area.
• Slightly odd taste.

How long will these things last?

• Gum soreness should subside in 2-3 days.
• Rough feeling will go away within 2 weeks, or delivery of crown.
• Stickiness will go away in a week, or following delivery of crown.
• Bite may feel odd for a few days, and tooth may be sore to chew on anywhere from a few days to a few months.
• Numbness will go away in 2 hours.
• Odd taste should go away in 2 hours.
• Root canal treatment can produce lingering ‘soreness’ for several weeks.

Things that could mean there’s a problem…

• Swelling.
• Fever.
• Trouble swallowing or breathing.

What to expect following a crown preparation:

• Pain in and around gum area.
• Cold/Hot sensitivity.
• May feel rough to tongue.
• Food/Gum will stick to crown.
• Bite may feel a bit odd, or may be sore to chew on.
• Soft tissues will be numb in area.
• Slightly odd taste.

How long will these things last?

• Gum soreness should subside in 2-3 days.
• Cold/Hot sensitivity could last a few weeks to a few months.
• Roughness will go away in about a week or so.
• Stickiness will go away in about a week or so.
• Odd feeling in your bite should go away in 2-3 days.
• Numbness will go away in 2 hours.
• Odd taste should go away in 2 hours.

Things that could be problem…

• Cold/ Hot PAIN that lingers longer than 10 seconds after removing the cold or hot away from the tooth.
• PAIN that wakes you up at night.
• Spontaneous ACHING, that Advil or Tylenol cannot subside.
• If your temp. crown comes off or cracks call our office ASAP, it needs to be recemented immediately to insure proper fit of your permanent crown.

• Following scaling and root planing, you should notice a reduction of redness, bleeding, and swelling of your gum tissue. Your teeth may feel smoother and your mouth will taste and feel better.
• Your gum health must be maintained with proper homecare, brushing 2x day, flossing 1x day, and using mouth-rinses according to instruction.
• When anesthesia has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. DO NOT eat anything until the numbing has completely worn off or else you may accidently bite your tongue or cheeks.
• You may take 600 mg of Ibuprofen 3x day for 3 days as needed for discomfort.
• You can expect some gum soreness and soreness at the site of the injections. Warm salt water rinses may lessen this discomfort. You may swish with 1 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz. of warm water, 2x day to reduce swelling.
• It is not unusual for the teeth to be more sensitive to hot or cold temperatures, and/or sweets. This occurs as the gum tissue heals and shrinks in size, exposing root structure. Brushing 2x day with sensitive toothpaste or using fluoride rinses may help alleviate this over time. If sensitivity continues or is severe, professional application of a desensitizing agent is available.
• When the bacteria/tartar is removed from the tooth structure and below the gums, the inflammation should reduce. As the gum tissue shrinks and returns to a healthy state, you may notice that more space is visible between the teeth.
• For a few days, a soft diet is recommended, as well as avoiding spicy or hot foods.
• Your follow up periodontal maintenance appointments should be scheduled every 3 months. This is so we can disrupt the bacterial cycle, in the deep pockets between the teeth and gums, before any further damage can be caused to the bone and gums.

What to expect following your filling…

• Pain in and around gum area.
• Cold/Hot sensitivity.
• May feel rough to tongue.
• Food/Gum will stick to crown.
• Bite may feel a bit odd, or may be sore to chew on.
• Soft tissues will be numb in area.
• Slightly odd taste.

How long will these things last?

• Gum soreness should subside in 2-3 days.
• Cold/Hot sensitivity could last a few weeks to a few months.
• Roughness will go away in about a week or so.
• Stickiness will go away in about a week or so.
• Odd feeling in your bite should go away in 2-3 days.
• Numbness will go away in 2 hours.
• Odd taste should go away in 2 hours.

Things that could be problem…

• Cold/ Hot PAIN that lingers longer than 10 seconds after removing the cold or hot away from the tooth.
• PAIN that wakes you up at night.
• Spontaneous ACHING, that Advil or Tylenol cannot subside.

• If you experience swelling, place cold towels or an ice bag to your face for the first 6-8 hours. Leave it 15 minutes on, then 15 minutes off.
• Do not rinse mouth vigorously.
• On the morning following surgery, rinse mouth with warm salt water (1/2 tsp of salt to a ‘Dixie cup’ of warm water). Then repeat this several times a day.
• Keep fingers and tongue away from socket. Always avoid playing with site.
• Bleeding: It is normal for your saliva to be slightly streaked with blood for 1-2 days. If abnormal bleeding occurs, place 3-4 squares of gauze (folded) over the extraction site, and bite firmly for 20 minutes. Holding a wet tea bag on the site may also be used if bleeding continues.
• Following dental surgery, it is normal to experience some discomfort. If medication has been prescribed, take it as instructed.
• It is normal for small fragments of bone to work their way through the gum as the bone heals. Salt water rinses 3 times a day will help these to come out. IF they do not do so on their own after two weeks, please call us.
• Do not blow your nose forcefully for 24 hours if you have had an upper tooth pulled.
• Diet: A liquid or soft diet is advised during the first 24 hours. Drink lots of fluid. Stay away from carbonated and alcoholic beverages!
• NO SMOKING OR STRAWS!

• Take Advil 600 MG 3x a day for 3 days.
• Don’t blow your nose forcefully for 3 days.
• Small ‘particles’ of the bone graft will work their way out of the socket. Do not be alarmed. This is normal and part of the healing process.
• The sutures we placed will dissolve in about 10 days.
• You should be ready for an implant and a new tooth in about 4 months.
• Chew carefully on this side for 3 weeks, try to avoid the area if possible when chewing.
• Brush gently in the area beginning tomorrow.
• Please call us if you are having any unusual symptoms not listed on your post-operative sheets.

• Take Tylenol or Advil as needed for pain.
• Take your antibiotics as prescribed for 1 week.
• Brush the area gently with a soft toothbrush beginning tomorrow.
• Be very careful with the site that has stitches.
• The stitches we placed will dissolve in 7-10 days. Do not be alarmed if they come out sooner.
• Eat soft foods! Hard foods will disrupt the area!
• Chew carefully on this side for 3 weeks, try to avoid the area if possible when chewing very dense foods. Normal chewing is fine in the area after a week.
• Implants have 95% long-term success rate. We look forward to a long lasting restoration in this area.