• Your anesthesia will wear off in approximately 1 to 3 hours after the procedure. It is very important not to chew on the numb side (to prevent biting tongue, lip, etc.) until the anesthesia wears off.
• Children should be observed until the anesthesia has worn off. Due to the strange feeling of the anesthetic, many children chew on the inside of their cheeks, lips and tongue which can cause serious damage.
• Your tooth (or teeth) may be sensitive to hot, cold or pressure from this procedure. This is completely normal. The possible symptoms of hot, cold or pressure sensitivity will cease within a few days to a couple of weeks. In very few instances, this sensitivity could last longer than a couple of weeks. As long as your teeth or gums are continuing to feel better, (not staying the same, or getting worse) everything is fine, and there is no need for concern.
• Once the anesthesia has worn off, if you feel as though any of the teeth we have worked on are hitting first when you bite down, please give our office a call immediately. This imbalance with your bite may cause further discomfort and should be adjusted.
• The gum tissue could have been irritated during the procedure and may be sore for a few days. The anesthetic injection site may also feel sore or bruised.
• With silver fillings, you should not chew hard foods or chew directly on the new fillings for the first 24 hours. If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. Composite (white) fillings set up right away and can be chewed on as soon as the anesthetic wears off.
• If you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office.

1. Rinse the denture/partial and brush away plaque and food debris regularly (once to twice a day). Place denture/partial into container of cleaning solution to continue the cleansing and disinfection process. Denture tablets for soaking are available at many stores and any brand will work, does not have to be expensive. (follow directions on container)

CAUTION: Dentures/Partials may be slippery and can fall onto a hard surface and break the pink acrylic and / or the denture teeth. Always clean dentures over a soft towel or over the sink with the basin half full of water.

CAUTION: Using a stiff or hard bristle brush on the denture can wear grooves in the acrylic and over time may cause the dentures to fit poorly. Be sure to use a soft bristle brush and wet the brush in warm water to soften the bristles prior to use.

2. While denture is soaking, use a dampened washcloth or very soft toothbrush, dampened with warm water (or salt water solution) to wipe the inside of the mouth. Making sure to wipe the ridges (where dentures sit), tongue, lips, cheeks and roof of the mouth. If you wear a partial, use a soft toothbrush and make sure to clean all the teeth and tissues in your mouth thoroughly. This should be done at least once or twice each day.

3. After denture/partial soaking, remove from solution. Using a moistened denture brush or regular soft bristled toothbrush with toothpaste, gently clean inside of denture, outside of denture and teeth. Use a mouthwash to give fresh taste and clean feeling.

4. Next, thoroughly rinse the denture/partial with water and re-insert into the mouth.

5. At night, we recommend that you remove the denture/partial. This allows the tissue to breathe and heal by removing the pressure that is placed on the gums and tissues. Dentures/partials should be kept in water or mouthwash when out of the mouth to prevent drying out of the materials, which can cause distortion. We understand that some are uncomfortable leaving them out at night. In those instances, making sure to keep the mouth and denture/partial extremely clean is very important to maintain healthy tissue.

Remember that the gum tissue is in constant state of change, but the dentures are not. Over time your dentures may loosen and need to be professionally adjusted or relined. We recommend that you have a dentist check your dentures annually, as well as having an oral cancer screening examination.

• Scaling and root planning is an extensive procedure to remove calculus from below the gum line, and to smooth any rough root surfaces.
• After each appointment where anesthetic has been used, your lips, cheeks and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
• Your gums will likely be tender for a few days and should improve over the next couple of weeks.
• If there is discomfort, you can use over the counter pain relievers like ibuprofen.
• The key to successful treatment is your homecare. It is important to floss daily and brush 2-3 times per day.
• We will check your tissues for improvement at your next cleaning appointment (usually in 6-8 weeks). At this appointment we will also clean any debris that may have been hidden under swelled tissues or that re-formed after the initial procedure.
• Once the scaling and root planning is complete, it is recommended to stay current on your regular cleaning appointments.
• If anything feels strange, or if you have any problems or questions, please contact our office.

• Though some of the root canal procedures we perform are completed in 1 appointment, root canal therapy may take more than 1 appointment to complete.
• Since anesthetic has been used, parts of your mouth may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has worn off.
• Between appointments, a temporary filling is placed to protect the tooth. It is common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out, please call our office and set up a time to come in and have it replaced.
• It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal procedure. To control discomfort, take any pain medication prescribed by the dentist as recommended. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as directed, even if all signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Taking ibuprofen before the numbness wears off can greatly reduce post-operative pain.
• To protect the tooth and keep the temporary filling in place, avoid eating hard or sticky food (such as gum), and try to chew on the other side of your mouth. Continue to brush and floss normally. Usually, the last step in a root canal is the placement of a crown or permanent filling in the tooth. A crown will protect the tooth from breaking in the future.
• If you have signs of swelling or increasing pain, or if you have any further questions or concerns, please contact our office.

Post-operative care is important following oral surgery and recovery may be delayed if this care is neglected. Some swelling, stiffness, oozing of blood and discomfort is expected after surgery. It is helpful to have the patient observed by a responsible adult for the duration of the day of the surgery. The following includes our post-operative instructions and events, which may take place following this kind of surgery.

Bleeding: The gauze pad which was placed after surgery acts as a protective dressing and should be left in place 2-3 hours with gentle pressure applied. Some oozing is to be expected. If excessive bleeding is noticed, this is not normal. Most often, however, this can be controlled by the use of clean gauze placed directly over the surgical site and held with firm pressure for approximately 1 hour until the bleeding is controlled. If bleeding continues, call the office number at any time (218)444-9646 or 1-888-678-3033, or report to the emergency room.

Pain: If it is necessary, you will be provided with a prescription for medication. This can be filled at any drugstore and should be used as directed. Pain may be expected soon after the surgery and will reach its maximum during the first few hours. It is recommended that the prescription be started approximately 1-2 hours after the surgery and continued as directed.

Nausea: If nausea is encountered in the immediate post-operative period, it is often increased by taking the pain medication. Remember not to take the pain medication without something in your stomach. The post-operative nausea may be relieved by taking 1oz. of a carbonated drink such as Ginger Ale every hour for 5-6 hours. This can be followed with mild tea, broth, and soft foods before resuming your regular diet.

Swelling: Swelling and stiffness are to be expected. This swelling may increase over the first 2 days, and then it should start to subside. Swelling can be somewhat controlled by the use of ice and heat as follows:
Ice: Use ice for the first 12-24 hours applying it to the cheeks for 20 minutes and removing it for 20 minutes alternately.
Heat: Swelling and stiffness may be relieved by warm, moist heat applied to the jaws on the 2nd and 3rd days following the surgery.

The stiffness which can sometimes occur will usually be relieved by the heat application, the use of chewing gum at intervals, and gentle stretching exercises beginning the day after surgery.

Nourishment: Nourishment should not be neglected. On the day of surgery, a light diet is recommended (instant breakfast, Jell-O, soups, shakes, ect.). The following day, a soft diet to a regular diet as tolerated may be started. The patient should not use a straw for several, since this may dislodge the blood clot.

Oral Hygiene: Rinsing, spitting, and tooth brushing should be avoided on the day of surgery. Starting on the day after surgery, frequent gentle rinsing with mile, warm salt water is encouraged. Brushing should also be resumed, being careful to avoid the surgical site for the first two days. Good oral hygiene is important to normal wound healing.

Activities: Activities for the first 24 hours should be minimal. Rest quietly with your head elevated. Smoking should be discontinued for at least 3 days. Do not expect to return to work or normal activities immediately. Two to three days rest is recommended and subsequently resuming activities as they are tolerated. Vigorous physical activities and sports should not be resumed until the surgical areas are comfortable, swelling is resolved and a normal diet is possible. Usually contact sports should not be resumed for approximately 1 week post-operatively. Musical wind instruments should not be played for at least 7-10 days after most oral surgery.

Bruising: Depending on the nature of the surgery which was performed and the nature of the person, some discoloration on the face may be seen for 3-5 days after the surgery. If this happens, do not be alarmed.

Numbness: Many times the roots of the lower teeth are adjacent to the nerve in the lower jaw. When the tooth is removed, the nerve may be slightly disturbed which may lead to a numbness of your chin, lower lip, and your lower teeth on that side. No one can determine exactly how long this will remain, but it is rarely permanent.

Taste and Odor: After the surgery, a bad taste or odor may occur. This is usually secondary to a lack of appropriate cleaning in the area. Commercial mouthwash may be used along with normal rinsing and brushing.

Uncommon Problems: Many people fear the possibility of a dry socket, which is a very unusual complication. If you have pain, however, that is not relieved by the pain medication or aspirin, this may be the case. If possible, you should return to our office or if the distance is too great, see your local dentist. Pain in the ear, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty opening and closing the jaws are symptoms which can occur with varying frequency, and usually are not significant. Swelling at a later date is uncommon, but if the swelling increases after 5-7 days, please contact our office at (218)444–9646.

Emergency: If there is any difficulty in breathing, fever, excessive bleeding or any other disturbing problems following the surgery, you should call the office immediately or go to the emergency room.

Women please note: Some antibiotics may interfere with the effectiveness of your birth control pills. Please check with your pharmacist.