After Care Instructions for Dental Services in Newbury Park, CA
EXTRACTIONS AND IMPLANTS
DO NOT DISTURB THE AREA for the next few days, and especially the first 24 hours to allow your body to form a blood clot during the healing process. Try to keep fingers, tongue crunch or seedy food away from the surgical area and eat on the opposite. When leaving the office after your procedure, we will send you home with a gauze pad to control bleeding. We will have you bite firmly on a gauze pad for 30 minutes but if the bleeding persists insert another gauze pad for another 30 minutes.
Discomfort and swelling is normal after surgery for the next couple of days. To help minimize any discomfort apply an ice compress over the operated area. Apply for 15 minutes, then remove for 15 minutes. Continue for the first day. We recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen every 3-4 hours. If a medication is prescribed, take it as instructed on the label and DO NOT exceed the dose on the label.
Do not use a straw or spit during the healing process. NO SMOKING after surgery! It can impact the healing and success of the procedure. The suction created when inhaling cigarettes and vapes can dislodge the blood clot causing painful Dry Socket.
Avoid any strenuous activity such as working out or lifting for at least 3-4 days after surgery. Avoid sneezing with your mouth open.
Do not brush your teeth for the first 8 hours after surgery. After the first 8 hours, you may brush your teeth gently but avoid the surgery site for 3 days. Avoid all rinsing or swishing for 24 hours to avoid disturbing the formation of the blood clot. This could cause bleeding and Dry Socket. After 24 hours, you may gently rinse with a saltwater solution (1/2 teaspoon salt and 8 ounces of water) to help flush out particles of food and debris that may get lodge in the surgical site.
Avoid eating anything that can get stuck in the surgical site (no seeds, nuts, popcorn, alcohol). We recommend eating soft, easy to chew foods, such as: soup, yogurt, eggs, mashed potatoes, applesauce, mashed bananas, smoothies, hummus or ice cream
Please call the office if you have any question or concerns and we will see you in 1 week for a Post-op visit with the Dr. Fung to check on the surgical site healing.
CROWNS AND FILLINGS
Gum soreness around the tooth and the injection site is normal. These symptoms will last for the next couple of days and should gradually start to subside. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen every 3-4 hours.
A temporary crown will be placed while the lab is processing your permanent crown. While you have a temporary crown do not eat any sticky foods or floss that area to avoid the risk of the crown coming off. If your temporary does come off please call our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to have it recemented. DO NOT WAIT until your next appointment!
If your temporary crown or permanent crown comes off DO NOT try to recement it yourself. Please call our office to schedule a recement.
DEEP CLEANING
Scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) is done to remove tartar or calculus around or below the gum line. After having a deep cleaning it is normal to experience symptoms of soreness, swelling, sensitivity or bleeding. We recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen every 3-4 hours or as needed. Please wait until numbness has worn off before eating to avid biting yourself unknowingly. Its important to ensure healthy healing to refrain from smoking for 24 hours after the procedure and smoking has been proven to accelerate plaque build-up. Avoid acidic, seedy or crunch foods for 24 hours to avoid further irritating the gum tissue. Remember, its important to brush your teeth twice daily and floss. A perio-maintenance appointment every 3 months is needed to monitor and maintain your progress from the scaling and root planing.