Please see the patient post-op instructions below. If you have questions, reach out to our team today at 972.335.2201.

Bone Graft

If you have had a bone graft, please follow these instructions to minimize discomfort.

  1. The graft area is extremely fragile for the next 3-4 weeks while the soft tissue around the area heals.
  2. Care for the graft area in the first four weeks by gently brushing the neighboring teeth with a soft toothbrush and do your best not to tear the stitches in the area.
  3. Do not allow plaque and food debris to build up around or on the graft area. This will slow healing and increase the risk of graft failure. Clean the membrane and stitches gently with a Q-Tip dipped into the antibiotic mouth rinse 2-3 times a day.
    Rinse gently with one teaspoon of antibacterial mouth rinse and then spit out. Use twice a day for the first week.
  4. For pain control, follow your dentist’s instructions as advised. Narcotic pain medication is provided as well for break-through pain. You will most likely need these for the first 2-3 days.
  5. Do not play with the stitches or remove them yourself. If you have questions, call our office to schedule a follow-up appointment.
  6. Please keep your follow up appointment so that we can make sure healing is adequate.
  7. The stitches and membrane dissolve on their own and do not need a separate appointment to be removed.
  8. If you have a temp crown inserted at the time of implant or graft placement, do NOT use the temporary for any biting function. The temporary crown is for cosmetic purposes only. Bite pressure on the temporary crown could easily cause the failure of the implant and graft. Your dentist has reduced the temporary crown in height on purpose so that it does not contact your other teeth when you close.

Extraction

Do Not Disturb the Area

For the next few days, and especially the first 24 hours, it is very important to allow your body to form a good clot and start the natural healing process. Swishing, sucking through a straw, and smoking can all dislodge the clot. Keep anything sharp from entering the wound (crunchy food, toothpicks, eating utensils). Be sure to chew on the opposite side for 24 hours.

Bleeding

When you leave the office, you might be biting on a gauze pad to control bleeding. Keep slight pressure on this gauze for at least 30 minutes. Please don’t change it during this time; it needs to remain undisturbed while a clot forms in the extraction socket. After 30 minutes, you may remove it. You may bite on gauze for another 30 minutes if you feel it is still bleeding. Small amounts of blood in the saliva can make your saliva appear quite red. This is normal and might be noticeable the rest of the day after the procedure.

Smoking

Smoking should be stopped following surgery. Healing and success of the surgery will be substantially reduced by the cigarette smoke chemicals in your body.

Pain

Some discomfort is normal after surgery. To minimize pain, Take OTC pain medications to maintain comfort. Take it before the anesthesia wears off. If prescription pain medication is prescribed, take it as instructed on the label. Don’t exceed the dose on the label. Taking with food or milk will help reduce an upset stomach. Do not combine OTC and prescription medication unless advised.

Nausea

This is most often caused by taking pain medications on an empty stomach. Reduce nausea by preceding each pain pill with soft food and taking the pill with a large glass of water.

Swelling

Applying an ice bag to the face over the operated area will minimize swelling. Apply for 15 minutes, then remove for 15 minutes. Continue this for the first day.

Numbness

The local anesthetic will cause you to be numb for several hours after you leave the office. Be very careful not to bite, chew, pinch, or scratch the numb area. Sometimes the extraction causes residual numbness or tingling for six weeks or longer. If the numbness does not subside in 24 hours, please call us for follow up.

Brushing

Do not brush your teeth for the first 8 hours after surgery. After this, you may brush your teeth gently.

Rinsing

After 24 hours, you may begin gentle rinsing with a saltwater solution (1/2 teaspoon salt + 8 ounces warm water). Avoid commercial mouth rinses unless prescribed.

Diet

Eat soft foods for the first two days. Maintain a good, balanced diet. Return to normal regular meals as soon as you are able after the first two days. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol for 48 hours.

Antibiotics

If you were given an antibiotic prescription, take all of them as directed until they are gone.

Follow-Up Appointments

You may need to return to the office to have sutures removed or just for a brief follow-up healing check.

Crown & Bridge

Here are just a few steps to ensure your comfort after the procedure and so that you can enjoy your prosthesis.

Temporary Crown

If you have received a temporary crown today, please follow the instructions as advised.

  1. Sometimes, despite all precautions, temporary restorations come loose or fracture. If that happens, please give us a call so we can place a new temporary restoration.
  2. If you are out of town and the crown has come off, carefully clean out the previous cement. Then go to a pharmacy and purchase a temporary dental cement or denture adhesive (Fixodent). Replace the temporary on your tooth with the new material inside and seat firmly. Make sure it is in the proper orientation, then bite down all the way to hold it in place. Please do not leave the temporary restoration out of your mouth for an extended period of time because the surrounding teeth may move, and the final restoration may not fit. Please give us a call so we can see you as soon as possible.
  3. Sticky and hard foods and gum may stick to the temporary restoration and cause it to come out. Please avoid sticky and hard foods and gum. This is not the case with the final restoration.

Final Crown

If you have received your final crown today, please follow these instructions as advised below.

  1. Be sure to brush and floss your new restoration to keep the area healthy. With a bridge, you will need a special floss threader or other aids to reach and clean all areas properly
  2. If you received anesthesia for the cementation of the final crowns, please make sure not to eat anything until the anesthesia wears off. Please be careful not to bite your lip, cheek, or tongue while you are numb.
  3. It is not uncommon to experience some soreness or temperature sensitivity for a few weeks. Rinsing with warm salt water and taking over the counter pain medication may be helpful. Call us if any sensitivity or soreness persists for more than two weeks or if you experience any sharp pain.
  4. It is very important that your “bite” is perfect; let us know if you experience any change in the way it feels.
  5. Avoid chewing on your new crown for 45 minutes to allow the final cement to set completely. Also, avoid chewing or biting on hard candy or nuts, which might break both the teeth and the restorations.

Pain Management

Postoperative pain can be managed well if you adhere to the following instructions:

  1. Please take rest for the first 24 hours following your surgery.
  2. Eat a soft diet, which will lower your chance of having an upset stomach with the medications.
  3. Take the following medications as advised. If you have been taking pain medication prior to your visit due to any other condition or if prescribed by your physician, please inform your doctor at the time of your visit to prevent medication interactions or an overdose. If you have been advised by your physician to avoid one of these medications, then do not take that particular one, and please inform us of the same.
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil): Use three 200 Mg tablets every six for pain. Do this for three days, whether you are having pain or not. It will minimize inflammation at the site of surgery.
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Extra Strength: Take two tabs every 6 hours while symptoms last. Do not use more than six pills in 24 hours unless advised by your doctor.
  • OTC (DO NOT TAKE IF taking prescription medication): If you have been advised, you may alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen.

If your pain is not controlled or you have been instructed to do so, then take your narcotic pain prescription as advised. You may need to take Oxycodone or Hydrocodone as advised by the doctor.

Reach Out to Frisco Dental Today

Please note that some amount of discomfort is common after surgery. Please take your medications as advised to minimize postoperative pain and discomfort. If you have any known allergies to any of the above pain medications, please DO NOT take those medications and inform our office as soon as possible. If at any point your pain worsens or is not controlled by medications as advised, please inform our office as soon as possible. If you have questions about medications or need assistance with pain management, please call our office at 972.335.2201.