After your appointment
Home care instructions
A quick reference for what to expect — and what to do — after each common procedure. When in doubt, call us.
After a composite (white) filling
- Don't chew or drink hot beverages until the numbness wears off — it's easy to bite your lip or tongue while numb.
- Some hot, cold, or pressure sensitivity is normal. Ibuprofen, Tylenol, or aspirin works for most patients.
- You can chew on the filling as soon as the anesthetic wears off — composite fillings are fully set when you leave.
- If sensitivity gets worse or doesn't improve after a few days, call us.
After a crown or bridge appointment
- Avoid hot drinks until numbness wears off.
- Avoid sticky foods (chewing gum) and hard foods, and chew on the opposite side while you have a temporary crown.
- Brush normally, but pull floss out the side of the temporary crown rather than up — pulling up can dislodge it.
- If the temporary falls off, call us right away. Bring it in if you can.
- Some sensitivity to temperature and pressure is normal and usually subsides within a few weeks of the final crown.
After a tooth extraction
- Bite firmly on the gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes. Replace with fresh gauze if bleeding continues.
- For 72 hours, don't rinse vigorously, don't drink through a straw, don't smoke, and don't drink alcohol. The blood clot needs to stay in place.
- Use an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) on the cheek to keep swelling down. Swelling usually peaks at 48 hours, then improves.
- Drink lots of fluids. Eat soft, nutritious food. Resume normal eating as soon as it's comfortable.
- Take any prescribed antibiotics until they're gone, even if you feel fine.
- After 24 hours, brush and floss normally — avoid the extraction site only.
- Call us right away for heavy bleeding, severe pain, swelling lasting more than two to three days, or any medication reaction.
After cosmetic or full mouth reconstruction
- Your bite will feel different at first — this is normal. Your brain adjusts within a few days.
- If you notice persistent high spots, call us for a quick bite adjustment.
- Hot/cold sensitivity for the first week or two is normal. Warm salt water rinses three times a day help.
- Speech may be slightly affected for a few days as you adapt to the new shape.
- Avoid hard foods (ice, beer nuts, peanut brittle) and chronic stainers (coffee, red wine, berries). Wear your night guard if we made one.
When to call us right away
- • Heavy bleeding that doesn't slow after 1–2 hours of gauze pressure
- • Pain that increases instead of decreases after the first day
- • Swelling that worsens after 48 hours, or fever
- • A temporary crown that comes off
- • A reaction to any prescribed medication
Common questions
FAQs
- How long should I wait to eat after a filling?
- Wait until the anesthetic completely wears off — usually one to three hours. Composite (white) fillings are fully set when you leave, but you don't want to chew on a numb lip or tongue.
- What pain medication can I take?
- Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol, or aspirin — one tablet every three to four hours as needed. If pain isn't controlled or it gets worse over two to three days, call us.
- My temporary crown came off — what do I do?
- Call us. Bring the temporary in (or save it if you can) and we'll re-cement it. Don't try to glue it back at home — over-the-counter glue can damage the tooth.
- How long until the extraction site stops bleeding?
- Bite on the gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes. If oozing continues, replace with a fresh pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. Most bleeding stops within an hour or two.
- Can I rinse my mouth after an extraction?
- Not vigorously for 72 hours. The blood clot needs to stay in place to heal. Gentle warm salt water rinses (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) are fine starting the day after.
- When can I brush again after an extraction?
- Brush the rest of your teeth normally — just avoid the extraction site for the first 24 hours. After that, resume your full routine; clean is better than untouched for healing.
Concerned about your recovery?
Call our office. We'd rather hear a small concern early than a bigger one later.