After Care Instructions

Extractions

• Bleeding: Bite firmly on gauze for 30 minutes. Check and replace it if bleeding continues. Some blood in your saliva is normal for two days, but steady bleeding is not.
• Pressure: For three days, avoid anything that changes the pressure in your mouth (straws, smoking, heavy swishing) to help prevent dry socket.
• Swelling: Swelling often rises at first and peaks around day three, then eases. Use an ice pack on day one, then switch to heat.
• Pain: If you were not given prescription pain medication, take 400mg ibuprofen with 500mg Tylenol together every 6 to 8 hours for three days, unless a health condition prevents you. Staying ahead of the pain is easier than catching up.
• Activity: Rest and skip exercise or heavy lifting for three days. Listen to your body.

Crowns

After a temporary crown is placed:

• It is normal for the tooth to feel sensitive.
• Avoid sticky foods like gum.
• Avoid hard or crunchy foods like almonds.
• When you can, chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
• When flossing, pull the floss out to the side rather than snapping it back up.
• Temporary crowns are not meant to stay on longer than about a month. We will schedule and remind you, but getting the final crown placed is ultimately your responsibility.
• If the temporary comes off or breaks, please contact our office.

Implants

If extractions were done at the same time as your implants, follow the extraction instructions above as well.

• Bleeding: Some blood in your saliva is normal for two days, but steady bleeding is not.
• Pain: If you were not given prescription medication, take 400mg ibuprofen with 500mg Tylenol together every 6 to 8 hours, unless a health condition prevents you. Staying ahead of the pain is easier than catching up.
• Smoking: Smoking in the first three days after placement is one of the surest ways to make implants fail. Avoid it completely.
• Diet: Soft foods for two days, no straws, and plenty of water and rest.

Dentures

• Your immediate denture may feel loose, but keep wearing it for the first 24 hours to control bleeding and swelling. Taking it out too soon can keep it from fitting again.
• We will see you after 24 hours to adjust it for comfort. Follow the extraction instructions above in the meantime.
• Do not use denture adhesive until your doctor says it is safe.
• After about six months your bone will have healed and changed shape, so your temporary denture will no longer fit and a new one will be made.