Post-Operative Care
Post-Treatment Instructions

Extractions

• After your procedure, bite on gauze for two hours, then fold two new pieces of gauze. Bite and change every two hours.
• No smoking, rinsing, brushing or using a straw. Suction can cause severe pain.
• The day after the extraction, rinse mouth gently every 3-4 hours (especially after meals). Warm salt water = tall glass of warm water and one teaspoon of salt. Stir gently. Hold over the area. Gently rinse and repeat.
• A light diet is advisable during the first 24 hours. You should only eat soft foods.
• Do NOT take these dietary supplements for one week:
  Garlic, Vitamin E, Flaxseed, Magnesium, Selenium, Coenzyme Q10, Glucosamine, Lycopene, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Vitamin A Complex, Gingko Biloba, Ginseng, Ginger

Temporary Crowns & Bridges

• Do not eat on that side until your next visit.
• Do not floss or Waterpik that area until your next visit.
• Rinse the gums with warm salt water. (Tall glass of warm water, salt, ten seconds)
• It is normal for your tooth to be sensitive to hot and cold.
• Brush gently every day.
• If the temporary comes off, you can gently put it back in with Fixodent or Polygrip, and call our office to let us know.
• It is normal for the temporary to feel rough, bulky or a different bite.

Fillings, Crown and Bridges

• Do not eat anything on the tooth for two weeks.
• Do not floss or Waterpik the tooth for two days.
• When you do, pull the floss through the side.
• It is normal for the tooth to be sensitive to hot, cold, and chewing for four months.
• If the discomfort is not getting better, you may need a root canal.
• Call the office for an evaluation in such case.
• Do not click your teeth together to check the bite. You might cause damage.
• Rinse your gums with warm salt water after meals to reduce soreness if needed. (Tall glass, warm water, one teaspoon salt, rinse for ten seconds)
• Brush gently.

Full/Partial Dentures

• Clean your dentures with a toothbrush and denture cleaning solutions (available at various stores like Walmart, CVS and Walgreens).
• Read out loud for 15 minutes twice a day to train your tongue.
• Eat only soft foods for the first week.
• Cut food into small pieces and chew from both sides.
• If you get a sore spot, take the denture out for 24 hours and rinse with warm salt water. (Tall glass, warm water, one teaspoon salt, rinse for ten seconds)
• If it does not improve in 4-5 days, call the office for an evaluation. You may need an adjustment on the denture.
• Your bite and speaking may feel strange for a few months.
• Do not sleep with dentures.
• Only wear dentures for two hours around meal times the first week.
• Wear them for two hours, take out for two hours, alternate.

Teeth Whitening

• Brush with Sensodyne toothpaste until the tube is completely finished.
• No smoking (very important).
• No Listerine for one week.
• ACT with fluoride is okay.
• Stay away from anything too hot or too cold for two days.
• Stay away from juice, soda, tea, coffee and red wine for one day.
• Anything acidic may cause sensitivity.
• If your teeth are sensitive for 1-2 weeks that is normal- just avoid what is causing the sensitivity.

Root Canal Therapy

First of all, congratulations, you made it through the root canal! Hopefully, you had a pleasant experience, considering the circumstances. That truly is our goal.

The most difficult questions we are asked is, “What am I going to feel after the numbness wears off?” Root Canal Therapy disinfects the inside of the root of an infected tooth. Since everyone heals differently, it is hard to predict what your experience will be. The following instructions are meant to guide you through the healing phase as comfortably as possible.

• Do NOT chew, touch with a finger, tap with tongue or finger, bite or put pressure on that tooth until your next visit. Do NOT floss or Waterpik that area, and brush gently every day.
• If you are given any prescription medication related to this treatment, please take them as instructed by Dr. Roperia.
• Rinsing the inside of your mouth in the area of the treatment several times a day with warm salt water rinses can relieve mild irritation of the gum around the teeth.

Root Planing

• Do not chew on that side today.
• Do not floss or use piks on that side today.
• Gently brush. Gently Waterpik.
• The first day, rinse with warm salt water after eating. (Tall glass, warm water, one teaspoon salt, rinse for ten seconds)

Arestin (Antibiotic in gums)

• Do not floss, Waterpik, or use any type of pic on the teeth for the next ten days.
• Do not eat any crunchy food on those teeth for seven days.
• Do not use any mouth rinse today. No warm salt water.
• Do not brush the area for 12 hours.
• You can go back to normal brushing and rinsing the next day.

TMJ

• Eat soft foods
• Before dinner and bedtime, use warm compresses alternating ten minutes on and ten minutes off (repeat twice daily).