Dental Proceedure After Care

Dental Proceedure After Care Best Practices

Dental proceedure after-care is important for patients who have undergone proceedures such as tooth extraction, oral surgery, Invisalign insertion, and dental implant surgery. Proper after-care hygiene will help ensure your mouth heals as quickly as possible, while certain methods have proven to be the most effective for managing pain, swelling and bleeding while you are recovering. While the exact instructions for your dental proceedure after-care will vary by proceedure, here are some general Best Practice guidelines.

Dental After-Care Hygiene Control

One of the most important aspects of dental after-care is proper hygience control. Follow these instructions to help ensure your mouth and gums stay clean.

• Brush lightly and floss only if able to open wide enough.
• Avoid mouthwash. Gently rinse your mouth with tap water.
• Avoid forceful rinsing and spitting for 24 hours.
• After 24 hours, you may begin rinsing with a saline or salt water solution. This will naturally help keep the surgical site clean, aiding in the recovery process. Prepare a saline solution by dissolving one tablespoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Do not swallow the saline solution. Repeat this as needed throughout the day.
• If you have had an extraction, do not try to remove anything from the tooth socket (hole). Rinsing gently will dislodge any bits of food from the socket.

Swelling Control

Swelling after surgery is a normal body reaction. Swelling reaches its worse approximately 48 hours after surgery, and normally lasts 4-6 days.Applying ice packs over the area for the first 24 hours (no longer than 20 minutes at a time) helps reduce swelling and may make you feel less uncomfortable. Never use heat to treat swelling.

Dental Bleeding Control

Dental bleeding can occur anytime for several hours immediately following a procedure. Do not panic, it is normal. Here are some steps you can take to manage dental bleeding.

• Bite the gauze pack firmly over the surgical area for, at least, half an hour; then remove it gently.
• Do not spit or use a drinking straw because this will promote bleeding.
• When bleeding continues at home, place a gauze pad or a cold wet teabag over the area and bite firmly for half an hour.
• Avoid touching the area with your tongue.
• Keep your head elevated on several pillows.
• Do not smoke for at least 24 hours after surgery because this will cause bleeding, pain and will prolong the healing time.

Invisalign Pain

Invisalign pain can from case to case depending on the severity of tooth movement a patient needs, but is usually worst during the first days of a new set of aligners. Some recommendations include:

• Changing aligner sets at night so your teeth will adjust to initial shock while you sleep.
• Take two over-the-counter pain relief medicines, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, ever 4-6 hours for the first few days.
• Look at pictures of people with beautiful teeth to remind you of your ultimate goal by wearing Invisalign braces.

For more Invisalign information, visit our Invisalign Information page.

Pain After Tooth Extraction

Pain after tooth extraction is a common condition. In most cases over-the-counter painkillers can provide adequate pain relief, and should be taken as directed on the package. In some cases your dentist will prescribe something stronger for pain after tooth extraction, particularly if there were any compplications or mitigating factors. Here are a few other recommendations for how to manage pain after tooth extraction:

• Take pain medication as prescribed. Begin taking your pain relievers before the numbing medication has worn off.
• Stay away from extremes in temperature and spices.
• Keep to a softer diet for at least 24 hours.
• Take a pain reliever with an eight ounce glass of water and/or a small amount of food to prevent nausea.

Gum Pain After Tooth Extraction

It is normal to continue to feel some gum pain after tooth extraction for a few weeks after the procedure. Over the counter pain medications should relive the pressure, but call your dentist if you have bleeding or excessive swelling (impairs your ability to eat) after the first week .

Pain After Dental Implant Surgery

Pain after dental implant surgery is commonly accompanied by some bleeding. Bleeding may be minimized using an ice pack. Gums are usually sore after both surgeries for seven to ten days. You may be prescribed antibiotics during the period immediately after dental implant surgery. Make sure to take any and all medications prescribed by your dentist.

Looking for more information about dental implants and dental implant surgery? Visit our Dental Implants Information page.