Patient Info

Eating After Fillings

1. Wait for numbness to fade: If you received anesthesia, avoid eating until full sensation returns to prevent accidentally biting your cheeks, lips, or tongue.

2. Resume chewing normally: Composite fillings harden immediately, so once numbness is gone, you may chew as usual.

Tooth Sensitivity

1. Normal sensitivity: Mild sensitivity to hot, cold, or pressure is common and should improve within days to weeks.

2. Deep fillings: If the cavity was deep, sensitivity may last longer. If symptoms worsen, contact us.

Gum Soreness & Jaw Discomfort

1. Irritated gums: The gum area near the filling may feel sore for a few days. Warm salt-water rinses and OTC pain relievers help.

2. Jaw fatigue: After multiple fillings, your jaw may feel tired or sore from keeping your mouth open. This typically improves within 2–5 days.

Bite Adjustment

1. New surface feel: Your filling may feel unusual at first, but you’ll adapt within a few days.

2. Uneven bite: If your bite feels high or uncomfortable once numbness wears off, call us for a quick adjustment.

Smoking After Fillings

1. Avoid smoking while numb: Wait until full sensation returns to avoid accidental burns.

2. Delay smoking: Smoking can affect healing. Avoid until you’re comfortable and healed.

Home Care

1. Good oral hygiene: Brush and floss daily to prevent new decay around the filling and increase its longevity.

Temporary Crowns & Bridges

1. Purpose: Temporaries protect the tooth and maintain space for the permanent restoration.

2. Oral hygiene: Brush normally and floss carefully—slide floss out from the side to avoid dislodging the temporary.

3. If temporary falls off: Contact us immediately. You may temporarily place it with toothpaste or denture adhesive until you can come in.

Permanent Crowns & Bridges

1. Prevent decay: The porcelain cannot decay, but the tooth underneath can. Clean well around the gumline.

2. Cleaning under bridges: Use a floss threader to clean beneath the bridge (under the “false tooth”). We’ll demonstrate if needed.

3. Chewing habits: Avoid sticky or hard foods that may disturb temporaries.

After Permanent Placement

1. Mild sensitivity: A small amount of pressure or temperature sensitivity is normal for the first few days.

2. Bite concerns: If chewing feels uneven or uncomfortable, contact us for an adjustment.

3. Persistent sensitivity: If symptoms don’t improve after a few weeks, let us know.

Long-Term Maintenance

1. Daily care: Brush and floss thoroughly around the restoration.

2. Decay prevention: Keep the margin (edge) clean to avoid future issues.

Immediate Aftercare

1. Discomfort is normal: Mild to moderate soreness or pressure may last for a few days.

2. Medication: Take prescribed medications as directed.

3. Temporary filling: Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until numbness wears off; be gentle until the crown/filling is placed.

4. Chewing: Use the opposite side when possible.

5. Oral hygiene: Continue brushing and flossing normally.

Follow-Up Care

1. Final restoration: A permanent crown or filling must be placed on time to protect the tooth.

2. Normal sensations: The tooth may feel “different” for a while, even after healing.

Contact Us If

1. Pain persists or worsens for more than a few days.

2. Swelling appears inside or outside the mouth.

3. Your bite feels high or uneven.

4. Your temporary crown/filling comes out.

Long-Term Care

1. Crown is essential: Most treated teeth need a full-coverage crown for long-term success.

2. Continue routine hygiene and checkups.

3. Monitoring: We’ll track healing at future appointments.

After Surgery

1. Expect mild swelling and soreness: This is normal for a few days. Use an ice pack (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off) for the first 24 hours.

2. Bleeding: Slight oozing is normal. Bite gently on gauze if needed.

3. Medication: Take all prescribed antibiotics and pain relievers exactly as directed.

Oral Care

1. Do not rinse vigorously for 24 hours.

2. After 24 hours: Rinse gently with warm salt water 2–3 times a day to promote healing.

3. Brushing: Brush normally but avoid the surgical area for a few days.

Eating & Activity

1. Soft foods only for the first 24 hours.

2. Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods until the area feels better.

3. No smoking or alcohol for 72 hours — these delay healing.

4. Limit physical activity for the first day.

When to Call Us
– Increasing swelling after 48 hours
– Persistent bleeding
– Fever, severe pain, or unusual discharge
– If a stitch becomes loose or falls out early

What to Expect

1. Mild tenderness: Gums may feel sore for a few days.

2. Temperature sensitivity: Hot and cold sensitivity is common and temporary.

3. Bleeding: Light bleeding during brushing is normal at first.

Oral Care

1. Brush gently but thoroughly around the treated areas.

2. Floss daily: Even if gums are tender, this helps healing.

3. Warm salt rinses (2–3 times daily) help reduce soreness.

Eating & Home Care

1. Soft foods for the first 24 hours.

2. Avoid spicy, acidic, or crunchy foods temporarily.

3. Desensitizing toothpaste can help with sensitivity.

Follow-Up

1. Gum maintenance visits are important to keep gum disease controlled.

2. Continue regular cleanings every 3–4 months as recommended.

Right After Extraction

1. Bite on gauze for 30–45 minutes to control bleeding.

2. Do not spit, rinse, or use a straw for the first 24 hours — this can cause dry socket.

3. Some bleeding is normal: A little oozing for 24 hours is expected.

Pain & Swelling

1. Ice packs for the first day help reduce swelling.

2. Take medications as prescribed.

3. Swelling may peak at 48 hours, then improve.

Eating & Activity

1. Soft foods only: Yogurt, eggs, mashed potatoes, soup.

2. Avoid smoking for at least 72 hours — major risk of dry socket.

3. Limit exercise for 24–48 hours.

Oral Hygiene

1. Do not brush the extraction site for the first day.

2. After 24 hours: Rinse gently with warm salt water.

3. Brush other teeth normally throughout.

Call Us If:
– Bleeding continues heavily
– Fever or foul taste appears
– Severe pain develops after 2–3 days (possible dry socket)

After Surgery

1. Expect swelling and mild discomfort: Use ice packs the first day.

2. Bleeding: Light bleeding is normal. Gently bite gauze if needed.

3. Medication: Take antibiotics and pain relievers as instructed.

Eating & Activity

1. Soft diet for several days.

2. Avoid hard, crunchy, sticky foods that may disturb the area.

3. No smoking or alcohol for at least 72 hours.

4. Avoid exercise for 24–48 hours.

Oral Hygiene

1. Do not brush or floss the surgical site until instructed.

2. Use prescribed mouth rinse if provided.

3. Brush other teeth normally.

Dressings & Stitches

1. A protective dressing may be placed—don’t disturb it.

2. If it falls off early, call us for instructions.

3. Sutures may dissolve or require removal depending on type.

What to Expect
After your braces are placed, it’s normal to feel pressure or soreness for the first few days. Your teeth and cheeks need time to adjust.

Care Instructions

• Discomfort Management: Mild soreness is normal. You may take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen as needed.

• Eat Soft Foods: Stick to soups, pasta, mashed potatoes, yogurt, eggs, and smoothies for the first 2–3 days.

• Avoid Hard & Sticky Foods: No chewing gum, candy, popcorn, nuts, ice, or anything that can break brackets.

• Wax Application: If brackets or wires irritate your cheeks, apply orthodontic wax to ease discomfort.

• Oral Hygiene:

  • Brush gently but thoroughly at least twice a day.

  • Use an interdental brush or floss threader to clean around wires.

  • Rinse with warm salt water to soothe gum irritation.

• Loose Brackets or Wires:
  If something breaks or pokes, call our office for guidance. Do not try to fix it yourself.

Follow-Up
You will have adjustment visits every 4–6 weeks. Be sure to attend them for best results.

First 24 Hours

• Bite firmly on the gauze to control bleeding. Replace it every 30–45 minutes as needed.

• Minor bleeding or oozing is normal for up to 24 hours.

• Apply an ice pack on the cheek (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) for the first 6–8 hours to reduce swelling.

Oral Care

• Do NOT rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours.

• After 24 hours, rinse gently with warm salt water 3–4 times a day.

• Brush your teeth carefully, avoiding the surgical site for the first few days.

Eating

• Stick to soft foods for 48–72 hours: yogurt, mashed potatoes, smoothies, eggs, pasta.

• Avoid hot, spicy, crunchy, or hard foods.

• No drinking through straws and no smoking for at least 72 hours.

Medications

• Take prescribed antibiotics and pain medications exactly as directed.

Swelling & Bruising

• Swelling peaks at 48–72 hours and then improves.

• Bruising may appear but is normal.

When to Call

• Severe pain not relieved by medication

• Heavy bleeding

• Fever or signs of infection

• Loose healing cap or implant exposure

What to Expect

• New dentures may feel bulky or tight at first. This is normal and improves as your mouth adapts.

• Increased saliva, mild soreness, and slight speech changes are expected temporarily.

Care Tips

• Wear the dentures as instructed so we can monitor fit and make adjustments.

• Remove dentures every night to allow your gums to rest.

• Clean dentures daily with a denture brush and non-abrasive cleaner.

• Do NOT use hot water — it can warp your denture.

Eating

• Start with soft foods and cut food into small pieces.

• Chew slowly and evenly on both sides to keep dentures stable.

Soreness

• If denture edges rub and cause sore spots, call us for an adjustment.
  Do not attempt to adjust them yourself.

Oral Hygiene

• Clean gums, tongue, and any remaining teeth twice a day.

• Keep dentures soaked in a denture solution overnight.

Protect the Graft Area

• Avoid disturbing the graft area with your tongue or fingers.

• Do NOT pull on your lip to “check it” — this may loosen the stitches.

Bleeding

• Some bleeding or pink-tinged saliva is normal for 24–48 hours.

• Use gauze as instructed to control active bleeding.

Swelling

• Apply an ice pack for the first 24 hours.

• Sleep with your head elevated for 2–3 nights to reduce swelling.

Eating

• Soft diet only for the first week.

• Avoid chewing on the graft side.

Oral Hygiene

• No brushing the graft site for 7 days.

• After 24 hours, begin gentle warm salt-water rinses.

• Take all antibiotics as prescribed — extremely important for graft success.

Avoid

• Smoking or vaping for a minimum of 1 week (preferably longer).

• Drinking through straws.

• Intense physical activity for 72 hours.

When to Call

• Severe pain, swelling after day 3, or pus-like discharge

• Loose membrane or exposed graft material

If you experience any of the following, contact our office immediately:

• Severe or increasing pain

• Heavy bleeding that doesn’t stop

• A broken bracket, wire, denture, or crown

• Swelling with fever

• Trauma to the mouth or teeth

Life-Threatening Situations
If you are experiencing difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, severe facial swelling blocking the airway, or any life-threatening emergency:
➡ Call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately.