Dental Post-Op Instructions

Following the dental post-op instructions is essential to ensure proper healing and avoid future issues or complications. As a rule, you should always wait two hours to let the anesthesia wear off before you try to eat any food. Trying to eat before the anesthesia wears off could result in biting your lip, tongue, or cheek because you cannot feel all of your mouth. The instructions found below are guidelines. After your appointment, our dentist, Dr. Brian McDowell, will give you complete instructions.

Root Canal Treatment

You can expect sensitivity and soreness after a root canal procedure for a couple of days. It is best to avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the endodontist performed the treatment so you do not irritate the area and ensure the restorative material properly sets. You may also benefit if you take an antibiotic to treat any infection that remains in the tooth. Call your Fitchburg dentist’s office immediately if you notice an increasing amount of pain or discomfort, a reaction to the pain medication, or the loss of the provisional restoration (filling).

Dental Crowns and Bridges

Before Dr. McDowell places your permanent dental crowns or bridge, you will first receive a provisional restoration. This temporary one is less durable than the permanent one, so you should be careful when cleaning and eating. For example, brush gently and avoid pulling the floss up when flossing to prevent dislodging the tooth. The same rule goes for consuming food. You should avoid chewy or sticky foods while you have the temporary.

You may experience sensitivity and irritation after Dr. McDowell places the provisional or permanent. This sensitivity is normal and will lessen after the soft tissue heals; however, if the discomfort does not go away. A warm salt water rinse may help, and you can also take an over-the-counter like Advil or Tylenol.

When our restorative and cosmetic dentist, Dr. McDowell, places the permanent crown or bridge, it may feel awkward for a few days. This awkwardness is because your mouth needs to adapt to the new tooth. It should look and feel like your natural teeth in less than a week. If your bite feels uneven, please let us know. Caring for your dental bridge or crown is like caring for your natural teeth. You should brush and floss regularly.

White Fillings (Bonding)

After the anesthesia wears off, your teeth may be sensitive. You should avoid chewing or hot drinks until the anesthesia completely wears off, then carefully chew anything hard/crunchy or sticky/chewy for the next day. After that, your treated teeth will look and feel just like before. Continuing your regular teeth cleaning and hygiene plan to ensure your dental fillings last.

Scaling and Root Planing

After scaling and root planing treatment, your gums may be slightly sore and irritated for a few days. Our dentist recommends rinsing your mouth with warm water and salt (1 tsp salt/8 oz water) 2-3 times daily. Rinsing will relieve the pain and cleanse the area. We advise our patients to continue brushing and flossing right after the procedure. Still, it would help if you brushed gently to not irritate the area further. Suppose you experience any swelling or stiffness in the area. In that case, you can place a cold compress on the site and take pain-relieving medicine. Avoid hard or chewy foods 2-3 days after the procedure to ensure the treatment area heals correctly. If you continue to experience discomfort or swelling after a few days, contact us.

Dental Veneers

Before you receive your permanent dental veneers, you will first receive a provisional restoration. This temporary is less durable than permanent veneers, so you should be careful when cleaning and eating all foods. Our Fitchburg dentist recommends that patients avoid sticky or chewy foods while wearing a temporary dental veneer.

You may experience sensitivity after our cosmetic dentist places the temporary or permanent veneers. This sensitivity is typical and will lessen after the soft tissue begins to heal. A warm salt water rinse will aid; it may also help to take Advil or Tylenol if the pain does not go away.

When our cosmetic dentist Dr. Brian McDowell places the veneer, it may feel a little uncomfortable for a few days. Your mouth needs to adapt and adjust to the new teeth, and it should feel like one of your natural teeth in a few days. If your bite still feels abnormal, please call our Fitchburg cosmetic dentist and team at Brian C. McDowell, DDS, to let us know immediately. When brushing or flossing your teeth, you should pay close attention to the space between the dental veneer and the tooth at the gum line.

Tooth Extractions

After a tooth extraction, you will need to rest and apply gauze to the treatment area to stop the expected bleeding. If bleeding continues for more than 24 hours, call our Fitchburg dentist’s office at (978) 252-2049. It is best to rest when you return home but do not lie flat. Laying flat could prolong the bleeding. Instead, prop your head up on a pillow when lying down. Dr. McDowell will prescribe pain medication, so if you become sore, take it as directed. It will also help to use an ice pack for the pain. Dr. McDowell may also provide a cleaning solution to clean the treatment area.

You will be limited to liquids and soft foods for a few days after treatment. Some foods we recommend are:

Gelatin
Pudding
Yogurt
Ice Cream
Mashed Potatoes
Thin Soups

When drinking, make sure not to use a straw because sucking can loosen your sutures and slow the clotting process. The same goes for smoking. If you have prolonged pain, bleeding, or irritation, or don’t feel the extraction site is healing properly, call 978-252-2049 for a follow-up appointment.

Schedule A Appointment At Brian McDowell, DDS

Call our Fitchburg dental practice at (978) 252-2049 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Brian McDowell or to learn more about dental post-op instructions. With advanced training and 30+ years of experience, our dentist, Dr. Brian McDowell treats patients from Fitchburg, Leominster, Westminster, Gardner, Lunenburg, and many surrounding areas.