HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS AFTER DENTAL PROCEDURES

At Serene Dental Spa, we understand that some dental procedures in Weddington near Waxhaw, NC, might take an extended recovery period, while some will not. Here are some after-treatment home care instructions to follow till you recover completely.

After Crown and Bridge Appointments

Dental crown and bridge procedures can take 2 to 3 appointments to complete. After taking the impression of your teeth and preparing it on the first visit, temporary crowns or bridges are fitted to protect the vitality of the teeth. In the event that the temporary crown comes off, please contact us immediately to fix it. 

After your first appointment, you may experience mild sensitivities to temperatures and pressures. Avoid eating hard foods or sticky foods, and ensure you chew on the opposite side of your mouth. Please contact us if your bite feels uneven, you’re experiencing persistent pain, or if you have any questions or concerns.

Tooth Extraction

After having your tooth extracted, we ask that you bite down on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes or until the bleeding subsides. Once the blood clots, it’s crucial you don’t dislodge the clots which would delay the healing process. To maintain the clot, avoid rinsing vigorously, sucking through straws, brushing extraction sites, flossing your teeth in that area, smoking, and drinking alcohol.

You may experience redness and swelling which will subside after 48 hours. You can place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas over the surgical site to minimize swelling. You may also take pain medication as prescribed by your dentist. Drink plenty of fluids and stay on a soft diet for a day or two. You can resume your standard dental routine after 24 hours.

Please contact us if you’re experiencing heavy bleeding, continued swelling for 3-4 days, severe pain, or reactions to your medication.

Fillings

During a dental filling procedure, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the treatment area. This may leave your lips and tongue numb for several hours after the procedures. At this point, it’s important that you avoid chewing and drinking hot beverages until the numbness wears off.

Take one tablet of Ibuprofen (Motrin) every 3-4 hours as needed to relieve pain or soreness. You may begin chewing on your composite filling immediately after the numbness wears off. Contact us if your bite feels uneven, if you feel continuous pain, or if you have any questions or concerns. Our team is more than willing to attend to every one of your concerns.