Post Treatment Recommendations

Post-Op Instructions – After Tooth Extraction

After an extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes after extraction. If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the gauze pad, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another thirty minutes. You may have to do this several times.
After the blood clot forms it is important to protect it, especially for the next 24 hours.
So Don’t:

  • Smoke
  • Suck through a straw
  • Rinse your mouth vigorously
  • Clean the teeth next to the extraction site

These activities will dislodge the clot and slow down healing. Limit yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours, this keeps your blood pressure lower, reduces bleeding, and helps the healing process.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and have some swelling. You can use an ice bag to keep this to a minimum. The swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours.
Use pain medication only as directed, call the office if it doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluid and eat only soft nutritious foods on the day of the extraction. Don’t use alcoholic beverages and avoid hot and spicy foods. You can begin eating normally the next day or as soon as it is comfortable.
Gently rinse your mouth with salt water three times a day as directed by the dentist. When rinsing, place the liquid inside the mouth and slowly move liquid around without swishing. It is very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours; this should include brushing your teeth and tongue and flossing at least once a day. This speeds healing and helps keep your breath and mouth fresh.
Call us right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling after two or three days, or a reaction to the medication. After a few days you will be feeling fine and can resume your normal activities.

Post Op Instructions – Implant Placement

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.

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

Pain:  Some discomfort is normal after surgery.  To minimize pain, take two Tylenol, Nuprin, Advil or similar non-aspirin pain reliever every 3-4 hours until bedtime 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 food or milk will help reduce upset stomach.  Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery when taking pain prescriptions.  Do not drink alcohol while taking prescription pain medications.

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

Swelling:  Applying an ice bag to the face over the treated 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 implant procedure causes residual numbness or tingling for six 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 al rinsing or swishing for 24 hours after your procedure.  After 24 hours you may begin gentle rinsing with a saltwater solution (1/2 tsp salt + ½ tsp soda + 8 oz. warm water). Avoid commercial mouthrinses.  You may be instructed to use a prescription antimicrobial mouthrinse.

Diet: Eat soft foods for the first two days.  Maintain a good, balanced diet.  Return o normal regular meals as soon as you are able after the first two days. Drink plenty of water.  Avoid alcohol for 48 hours and do not mix alcohol with pain medication.

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.

Antibiotics:  If you were given an antibiotic prescription, take all of them as directed until they are gone.  Women:  some antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills.  Use alternative birth control methods for two months.

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

Removable Appliances/Dentures:  Your dentist will give you specific instructions about your prosthesis. To avoid putting any pressure on the new implants before they have healed, your denture might be adjusted or significantly modified. In certain cases, you will need to go without your denture(s) for a period of time (days or weeks) after the implant(s) is placed.  Sometimes a temporary removable appliance is made for cosmetic purposes, until a new non-removable one can be made.

Follow-Up Appointments:  You may need to return to the office within the first 14 days to have sutures removed, or just or a brief follow-up healing check.  You may need to return after the implant has integrated for a small second procedure to expose it in preparation for the final restoration.

Please call us 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

Following these instructions very closely will greatly help your comfort, and promote uneventful healing of the area.  If any of the instructions are not followed, you might have significantly more discomfort and the success of the procedure may be affected.

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Valued Patients:

While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety, as well as the safety of our team that serves you.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued. We do this to make sure that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to or exceed each agencies’ recommendations.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect you and our team.

  • We will communicate with you via text shortly before your appointment to ask some screening questions. We will not see you if you have a fever over 100.4, persistent cough or sneezing.
  • Whenever possible, we request that you come alone to your visit to reduce the number of people in our waiting room. Feel free to call us for exceptions.
  • We do not require that you wait in your vehicle or outside prior to your appointment. If you prefer, just text or call us and let us know that you have arrived and are waiting in your vehicle or are outside.
  • Everyone entering the office is required to wear face masks at all times except during your dental treatment.
  • Our clinical team all wear required PPE for your protection as well as theirs.
  • We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find hand disinfectants in the treatment areas and checkout areas for you to use as needed.
  • We have installed clear barriers in the business area between you and our business team.
  • You may notice that we have reduced the seating capacity in our waiting room, as well as removed all magazines.  The area is sanitized often throughout the day.
  • Each area is equipped with HEPA air purifiers that removes 99.9% of aerosol particulates.
  • Your hygienist or assistant will record your temperature using a contactless thermometer prior to being seated.
  • You will be asked to rinse with a diluted amount of peroxide prior to and after your procedure.

 We look forward to seeing you again soon and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (760) 416-1003 or text us at 760-416-1003.

Thank you for taking the time to read about how we are taking every precaution to keep you and your team safe.  We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming you back. If you are a new patient to our practice, Welcome and thank you for choosing us for your dental needs.

Sincerely,
Drs. Shepherd, Tom and the Entire Palm Springs Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Team