Post Operative Procedures

Your doctor or assistant will explain your unique situation in detail.

It is important for the cementation of your permanent restoration(s) to practice excellent oral hygiene while wearing the provisional (temporary). Resume normal brushing unless instructed otherwise. Modify flossing by pulling floss out to the side instead of pulling floss back up between your teeth. This will minimize the possibility that the provisional will come off. Patients with bridges will require special floss to allow access under the temporary. Patients with veneers will run floss straight through at the gumline.

With a few exceptions, you should function on your crown or bridge restoration to ensure the supporting teeth remain healthy. Avoid sticky and hard foods (candy, crust of bread, nuts, uncooked carrots). Veneer patients should avoid eating on their provisional restorations due to their thin nature.

It is normal to experience tissue soreness around the involved teeth for a few days. Extreme hot and cold foods and beverages may also irritate the teeth. Please inform you doctor if you experience unprovoked or spontaneous pain or discomfort. Typically, most irritation will settle within a few days. A small dose of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminaphen (Tylenol) should be all that is required for comfort.

Final restorations will be placed in a few weeks. For anterior (front) restorations, you will have some time to evaluate your provisional for size and shape. Changes can be made before restorations are finalized.

Please contact our office should you have any questions or concerns (770) 972-4436.

Thank you for allowing us to provide your care.

Your doctor or assistant will explain you unique situation in detail.

The placement of an implant is a surgical procedure. Special care must be taken to avoid trauma to the surgical site. Avoid brushing teeth adjacent to any incision or suture for 4 days. Prescription mouth rinses may be recommended. Chlorhexidine 0.12% rinse should be done three times daily. A follow-up visit should be scheduled in approximately 10 days for suture removal and to evaluate healing of the surgical site. If an antibiotic was prescribed to you, take as directed.

Management of post-operative pain or discomfort will involve the use of over the counter medications in most cases. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen should be taken every 4 hours or as directed by your doctor. A prescription analgesic may also be provided to you based on your individual needs.

Implants have varying healing periods which are dependent on the location and bone density. The implant will heal, or osseointegrate, into the bone over a 4 to 6 month period for most patients. A determination of when to restore will be made by your doctor as the healing progresses.

Please contact our office if you experience unexpected pain or swelling at the surgical site or should you have any questions or concerns (770) 972-4436.

Thank you for allowing us to provide your care.

Your doctor will explain you unique situation in detail.

An extraction is a surgical procedure to remove a tooth. Special care must be taken to avoid trauma to the surgical site. Avoid brushing teeth adjacent to any incision, socket, or suture for 4 days. To control bleeding, maintain pressure on gauze. Replace gauze every 25-30 minutes until bleeding is minimal or stopped.

Most sutures are resorbable and will dissolve on their own. Generally, you will not need to return for a follow-up visit.

Avoid smoking, carbonated beverages, vigorous rinsing, and spitting for at least 3 days to prevent a dry socket (exposed bone at the extraction site). A dry socket is extremely uncommon if care is taken to maintain the blood clot in the extraction socket.

An ice pack can be placed in 20 minute intervals for difficult surgeries.

Your gums will adapt to your new appliance over the course of several weeks. Adjustments to the new prosthetic will generally take a few visits to address sore spots that will develop during initial wear. At your follow up appointment, please be sure to have your appliance in place for at least 2 hours before. This will allow for a more detailed adjustment of your new prosthetic.

After you are comfortable with your denture or partial, you will begin the process of learning to eat with them. This takes about 2-4 weeks for most individuals. We advise you to start slowly with soft foods. With a denture, it is important to attempt to chew on both sides of the mouth at the same time. This is quite different than how you chewed with natural teeth. It is also wise to not bite into foods with your front teeth. Many patients develop the ability to eat on their front teeth even though it is not recommended without implant stabilization.

If adhesive is required for retention, use a small amount of powder or paste. Poligrip and Fixodent are available at most pharmacies and you will have a sample in your prosthetic kit to take home.

Dentures and partials should be gently brushed and cleaned after each meal if possible. Cleaning tablets can be used 1-3 times a week for removal of small debris or bacteria. We prefer patients not sleep in their prosthesis as tissues need a rest too.

Please remember, adjusting to your new prosthetic takes time and patience but, it is well worth it.

The healing period of a root canal is often related to the condition of the nerve of the tooth. An infected tooth will likely be a diseased tooth. You can expect sore discomfort after treatment which may last for several days. If you doctor prescribed an antibiotic, please take as directed along with any medications to manage discomfort.

If a crown restoration is planned, use care when eating until the final restoration is placed. Remember, the success of the root canal procedure is dependent upon the tooth being properly restored and protected.

If swelling persists or worsens, contact our office immediately. (770) 972-4436