Common Problems

Avoid the 4 S’s for minimum 2 days post surgery
Smoking
Spitting
Straws
Soda (anything with carbonation)

Do Not Disturb the Area
For the next few days, and especially the first 24 hours, it is very important to allow the body to form a good clot and start the natural healing process. Swishing, sucking through a straw, and smoking can 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. Absolutely no spitting for 2 days. If you feel like you need to spit, drink ice water instead. Use your Sockit Gel every 3-4 hours until finished.

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. 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 another gauze or a tea bag 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 may be noticed the rest of the day after the procedure.

Pain
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. 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 another gauze or a tea bag 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 may be noticed the rest of the day after the procedure.

Swelling
Applying an ice bag to the face over the operated area will minimize swelling. Apply for 15 minutes and 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 weeks or longer.

Brushing
Do not brush your teeth for the first 8 hours after surgery. After this, you may brush your teeth gently, but avoid the area of surgery for 3 days.

Rinsing
Avoid all rinsing or swishing for 24 hours after extraction. Rinsing can disturb the formation of a clot which is essential to proper healing. This could cause bleeding and risk of dry socket. After 24 hours you may begin gentle rinsing with a saltwater solution (1 tablespoon salt + 8 ounces warm water).

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. Absolutely no use of straws or soda for 2 days!

Activity
After leaving the office, rest and avoid strenuous activities for the remainder of the day. Keeping blood pressure lower will reduce bleeding and aid healing. Sleep with your head slightly elevated.

Sinus
If your sinus was involved in the procedure, you should avoid blowing your nose or playing a wind music instrument for one week. Use of decongestant medications might be recommended.

Please call us at 816-633-5393 if you have:
Uncontrollable pain
Excessive or severe bleeding
Marked fever
Excessive warm swelling occurring a few days after the procedure
Reactions to medications, especially rash, itching, or breathing problems

Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, brushing, or touching the implant area on the day of surgery


Bleeding
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues profusely, please call the office.

Swelling
Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling apply an ice bag, or a plastic bag or towel filled with ice, on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously, as much as possible, for the first 36 hours.

Diet
Drink plenty of fluids;staying hydrated is vital for healing. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed.

Pain
You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. The golden formula for discomfort is:
600mg Ibuprofen + 500mg Tylenol every 4-6 hours as needed with a full glass of water
Do not take any of the above medication if you are allergic to them, or have been instructed by your doctor not to take it. Please let us know, and we’ll prescribe an alternative. Pain or discomfort following surgery should subside more and more every day. If pain persists, it may require attention and you should call the office.
Day 3 following any surgery will be the most sore, and then symptoms improve after.

Antibiotics
If prescribed antibiotics, be sure to finish the antibiotics as directed to help prevent infection.

Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is essential to good healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed Peridex Oral Rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the Peridex should be used twice daily; after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Warm salt water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day as well, especially after meals. Brush your teeth and the healing abutments. Be gentle initially while brushing the surgical areas.

Activity
Keep physical activities to a minimum immediately following surgery. If you exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. Exercise may resume on day 3 post surgery.

Should you feel you are experiencing any symtpoms not described above, please call the office at 816-633-5393.
You may reach the doctors after hours via the phone prompt.

Getting Used to the Occlusal Guard: If you are concerned about getting used to your occlusal guard, especially if this is your first appliance, then consider the first week as an adjustment period.

1. The night guard should be worn to bed each night.
2. The night guard should be stored in a plastic container with water when you are not wearing it.
3. Occlusal guards will discolor over time. This is not a problem. The night guard should be brushed each day with warm water, not toothpaste, after you wear it. Once a week, you can soak the guard in pure hydrogen perioxide for 30 min to remove stains.
4. If you have any restorative dental work done in the future, please bring your night guard with you to the appointment. It may need adjusting after the restorative work.
5. Call the office if:
   You have any tightness in the jaw that feels abnormal
   You are having problems with your TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint)
   The night guard feels too tight or bulky

1. Numbness of your lip, tongue or palate may persist for several hours. Do not chew gum, eat, drink hot liquids or smoke until the anesthetic has worn off to prevent injury from accidentally biting or burning oneself.
2. Soreness may occur at the tooth, the surrounding gum, the injection sites or the jaw joint. If these occur, apply moist heat to the affected area and take an analgesic/antiinflammatory, such as ibuprofen or similar product (if medically able to do so).
3. When a temporary restoration made out of acrylic or thin plastic has been placed on your tooth, avoid sticky or crunchy foods to avoid loosening or fracturing this restoration.
4. If the bite feels “high” on the temporary restoration, please call the office to have it adjusted. Failure to do so can result in a toothache or fracture of the temporary restoration.
5. Brush your temporary restoration daily. When flossing, slide the floss out from between the teeth instead of lifting it back out to avoid loosening the temporary restoration.
6. If your temporary restoration loosens, call the office to have it re-cemented. If you are unable to come in, a pea size amount of toothpaste applied inside the crown or bridge will hold it in place temporarily. Another option is 1 drop of elmers school glue inside the crown and then seat the crown and hold for 10 min. Don’t worry, it’s safe and effective for this use.
7. When the final restoration has been placed, brush and floss accordingly. Do not chew on ice cubes or other hard objects or continue deleterious habits, such as biting on popsicle sticks, pens etc. Use Sensodyne toothpaste with fluoride if thermal sensitivity occurs. Also, if the bite feels unusual, please call to have it checked.
8. On occasion, damage to the pulp of the tooth may occur following any restorative procedure due to a variety of reasons. If this occurs, further treatment, such as root canal therapy may be necessary.
9. Regular dental examinations are important to maintain the function and appearance of one’s crowns, bridges, etc.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office, 816-633-5393.  
After hours, you may reach the doctors via the comand prompt on the office answering service.

Rinsing
You may rinse with a saltwater solution (1 tablespoon salt + 8 ounces warm water) as needed.

Discomfort
Some discomfort is normal after the therapy is complete. To minimize pain, take 500mg Tylenol and 600mg ibuprofen together every 6 hours until bedtime to maintain comfort. Take it before the anesthesia wears off.

Numbness
The local anesthetic will cause you to be numb for 2-4 hours after you leave the office. Be very careful not to bite, chew, pinch, or scratch the numb area.

Homecare
Continue brushing twice daily and flossing at least once daily to effectively remove plaque and bacteria. A Waterpik is an excellent tool to flush away plaque build up below the gum surface. We recommend using a Waterpik once daily before bed. 

Please call us at (816) 633-5393 if you have any questions or concerns following your treatment.