Post Appointment Instructions

Composite (Tooth-Colored) Filling:

Eating: You may eat once numbness wears off. If you are hungry, you may eat any food that does not require chewing such as yogurt, smoothie, protein shakes, soup (not hot), any drink (not hot).
Sensitivity: Mild sensitivity to pressure, cold, or heat is normal for a few days. Your gum may be tender and sore as well. If your symptoms get better every day incrementally, keep monitoring. Otherwise, contact us.
Bite: If your bite feels uneven after the numbness wears off, please call us for a quick adjustment immediately.
9Oral Hygiene: Brush and floss normally. Avoid sticky or hard foods for 24 hours as you may be sore. This soreness may last for few days; monitor for improvement of symptoms.

Bioclear Restorations:

Eating: You may eat once numbness wears off. If you are hungry, you may eat any food that does not require chewing such as yogurt, smoothie, protein shakes, soup (not hot), any drink (not hot).
Sensitivity: Mild sensitivity to pressure, cold, or heat is normal for a few days. Your gum may be tender and sore as well. If your symptoms get better every day incrementally, keep monitoring. Otherwise, contact us.
Bite: If your bite feels uneven after the numbness wears off, please call us for a quick adjustment immediately.
Oral Hygiene: Brush and floss normally. Avoid sticky or hard foods for 24 hours as you may be sore. This soreness may last for few days; monitor for improvement of symptoms.
Diet: Please note that Bioclear restorations can permanently stain due to smoking and/or heavy consumption of coffee, dark juices, red wine, turmeric drink, or anything else that stains a natural tooth.

Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planning):

Sensitivity: Your gums and teeth may feel sensitive and tender for a few days. Use desensitizing toothpaste if needed.
Gums: Some bleeding is normal for a few days when you chew food, brush and floss.
Rinse: Use warm salt water rinses (1 tsp salt in 8 oz water) 2–3 times/day.
Oral Hygiene: Brush and floss gently but thoroughly. Use soft-bristled brush and if possible electric toothbrush.

Teeth Whitening:

Some patients may never need to repeat the whitening process again. However, to maintain results at home or further enhance whitening results, you may touch up with the take-home or an in-office whitening systems.

If you have existing tooth sensitivity, the in-office whitening procedure may cause such sensitivity to flare up a bit. In most cases, it is transient and is usually treated with over-the-counter pain medications. You may also use over-the-counter non-whitening Sensodyne toothpaste.

Please do not drink or eat anything that has dark colors such as red wine, black tea, coffee, berries, soy sauce, mustard or ketchup, cola, red sauces. Also avoid red lipstick, smoking, chewing tobacco, colorful mouth rinses. All of the above will stain your teeth darker for the first few days post treatment. If you must indulge, rinse your mouth with water immediately.

It is recommended that you have the following for the next 48 to 72 hours: milk, water, clear soda, bananas, apples (no peel), white bread, flour tortillas, oatmeal, cream of wheat, white rice, baked potato, plain pasta and white sauce, turkey, chicken, white fish, plain yogurt, white cheese, sour cream, and cottage cheese.

Additional ways to maintain your sparkling smile is to avoid staining-related habits, use an electric toothbrush, seek regular professional dental hygiene care to maintain oral health, keep staining to a minimum and determine the need for whitening touch-ups. In addition, continue to practice good oral hygiene including thorough tooth brushing, flossing, and tongue cleaning to remove debris/plaque from your mouth.

Final and Temporary Crowns Placement:

Eating: * If you are numb, do not chew any food until anesthetic wears off. If you are hungry, you may eat any food that does not require chewing such as yogurt, smoothie, protein shakes, soup (not hot), any drink (not hot). * If you are not numb, wait at least 1 hour before chewing any food. If you are hungry, you may eat any food that does not require chewing such as yogurt, smoothie, protein shakes, soup, any drink. * Avoid sticky or hard foods altogether for 24 hours.

Sensitivity: Sensitivity to temperature and pressure is common for a few days. Monitor incremental improvement over time; if there is no improvement in your symptoms and/or symptoms become worse, contact our office.
Bite Check: If the crown feels high or your bite feels off, call for an adjustment immediately.
Oral Hygiene: For the first 24 hours after your crown is placed, brush very gently around the crown using a manual toothbrush. If you use an electric toothbrush, turn it off when you brush around the crown. Floss into gum pockets gently as you normally do using floss string (do not use a floss stick), but pull the floss out on the side; we will show you this temporary method of flossing while you are in our office.

If you have a temporary crown on your tooth, follow the above instructions until final crown is placed on your tooth. If your temporary crown breaks and/or come off your tooth while you are waiting for your final crown to be fabricated, please contact us immediately.

Tooth Extractions:

Bleeding: Bite firmly on gauze for 30–60 minutes. Slight oozing is normal for 24–48 hours.
Avoid: No smoking, drinking through a straw, spitting, or vigorous rinsing for the first 48 hours to prevent dry socket.
Pain Management: Take pain medications as directed. Use ice packs for swelling. Should pain medications not work effectively, please contact our office or your oral surgeon as you may have a dry socket and further treatment may be needed to ease the pain.
Hygiene: Avoid brushing the extraction site for the first 24 hours. Gently rinse with warm salt water starting the next day, 2–3 times/day.
Eating: Avoid eating any food that is very small/grainy like rice, lentils, tomatoes as grains/small pieces of food can become lodged in at the extraction site. Avoid having hard/chewing and hot food and alcoholic beverages as they can delay your healing.

Implant Placement:

Bleeding/Swelling: Mild bleeding and swelling are normal. Use gauze and cold compresses as needed.
Diet: Soft foods only for 3–5 days. Avoid hot, spicy, hard foods and alcoholic beverages.
Medications: Take antibiotics and pain medications as prescribed.
Hygiene: Keep the surgical site clean but avoid direct brushing for a few days. Use soft manual toothbrush; if you are using an electric toothbrush, turn it off while brushing at the site.
Avoid: No smoking at all as this may lead to your implant not integrating with the bone.

Implant Restoration (Crown on Implant Abutment):

Sensitivity: You may feel mild pressure as you adjust to the new crown.
Bite: Call us immediately, if bite feels off.
Cleaning: Use floss, interdental brushes, and water flossers daily. Brush as normal using soft manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush.

Root Canal Treatment:

Pain: Some soreness around the treatment site is normal. Take medications as needed and directed. In addition to general soreness, it is normal to feel slight soreness when you bite into food. Monitor all symptoms for improvement; if there’s no change, please contact our office.
Temporary Filling: If you received a temporary filling, avoid chewing on that side until your permanent restoration is placed.
Eating: If you are numb, do not chew any food until anesthetic wears off. If you are hungry, you may eat any food that does not require chewing such as yogurt, smoothie, protein shakes, soup (not hot), any drink (not hot). If you received a temporary filling, avoid chewing on that side until your permanent restoration is placed.
Crown: A crown or a Bioclear restoration is usually needed afterward—schedule as soon as advised and possible.
Oral Hygiene: Brush and floss normally unless otherwise instructed.

LASER Periodontal Pocket Treatment:

Discomfort: Mild soreness for 24–48 hours is normal.
Diet: Stick to soft, cool foods for the first 24 hours.
Hygiene: Avoid brushing/flossing the treated area for 24 hours or as instructed. Use antimicrobial rinse if prescribed.
Avoid: No smoking or alcohol for 48 hours to promote healing.

Orthodontic Treatment (Braces or Clear Aligners):

Soreness: Mild to moderate soreness is expected after placement or adjustments of orthodontic wires, brackets, or Invisalign attachment and aligners. Use over-the-counter pain relief if needed.
Diet (Braces): Avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods. Cut food into smaller pieces.
Diet (Invisalign): Avoid chewing food or drinking anything other than cold water with your aligners on your teeth.
Cleaning: Brush and floss daily. Use interdental brushes and a water flosser, in addition to your electric toothbrush and floss string. If you have Invisalign, clean your aligners daily with a soft toothbrush and a gently toothpaste.
Invisalign Aligners: Wear aligners at least 20-22 hours/day. If you lose an attachment, an aligner, or retainers, please contact us as soon as possible.