Your care at Prostho Endo Dental Group doesn’t end when your procedure does. We’re providing these aftercare instructions to keep you comfortable, help you maintain your treatment results, and guide you on when you should reach out to our team. As with most procedures and patients, every individual situation is different, so make sure to follow any specific instructions you are given by your dentist. Our North Bethesda, MD team is here to support your healing progress and to answer any questions you may have.
General Aftercare
After you receive any dental treatment, you may experience some slight tenderness, sensitivity, or some shifting of how your teeth bite together. Avoid biting or chewing while you are still numb and eat softer foods, if necessary. Continue brushing and flossing, as you usually do, but clean your treatment site carefully.
When To Contact Us
Contact our team if you experience anything unexpected or unusual, such as:
- Discomfort that does not start to improve.
- Swelling, fever, drainage, or a bad taste or smell.
- Persistent bleeding (bleeding that continues to occur when applying gentle pressure with gauze).
- A temporary crown, filling, bridge, or veneer that feels loose, falls out, or feels off.
- An unpleasant or uneven bite.
Your gums may be tender after a deep cleaning or any periodontal treatment. You should continue brushing and using a prescribed rinse or other home care regimen as directed and avoid tobacco products to give the treated tissue a chance to heal. A water flosser may be used to support the health of your gums during this time, but should be used with a low-pressure setting unless otherwise instructed.
Don't chew while you're still feeling numb. Slight tooth sensitivity is common for several days after you receive a filling or other dental restoration. If you have a temporary crown, veneer, or bridge in place, avoid sticky or hard foods and floss with care. When a final restoration is placed, reach out to us if your bite feels "high," rough, or uncomfortable in any way.
Slight tenderness is common in the tooth receiving root canal therapy while it heals. You should avoid biting down hard on the area in question until your dentist has informed you that it is safe to do so. Complete any follow-up treatment, such as finalizing a tooth restoration or crown, as this is essential to protect your tooth from any further damage long-term.
To support proper healing after a tooth extraction, avoid sucking on straws, vigorous rinsing or spitting, smoking, or heavy exercise for the first 24 hours. Apply gentle pressure with gauze to the wound as directed by your dentist. Stick to softer foods while the site is healing and contact our team if any bleeding, swelling, or discomfort occurs or intensifies.
Be sure to keep the area with the new dental implant clean as directed and don't eat or bite directly on the implant until your dentist has cleared it. Smoking should be avoided to support the successful healing of the site. Your dentist should make follow-up visits to monitor your healing process and confirm that the new dental implant has integrated properly.
Your dentist may recommend a nightguard to protect your teeth, restorations, and jaw from excessive clenching or nighttime grinding of your teeth. Remove your nightguard after use, rinse it clean, and store it in its case. You can brush or clean your nightguard as directed by your dentist and should bring it with you to your dental appointments so we may assess how it is fitting and functioning.
You should avoid dark foods and drinks, such as coffee, tea, red wine, berries, and dark sauces for 24 to 48 hours after your whitening treatment. Some sensitivity may occur after teeth whitening, but this typically passes with time. If you are using whitening trays to treat your teeth, be sure to use the correct quantity of whitening gel and wear the trays for the recommended amount of time.
If your dentist prescribes sedation or anxiety medication, be sure to arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home, if necessary. Don't drive or operate a vehicle, consume alcohol or any other type of substance, perform heavy tasks, or make important decisions until you are no longer experiencing the effects of the medications.
Follow-Up
It is important to make any follow-up appointments so that we may check on healing, evaluate your bite, and, as necessary, take dental x-rays to assess treatment progress or determine the further course of treatment. At Prostho Endo Dental Group, we believe that aftercare is clear, personalized, and should be accessible for every patient who receives treatment. If you have any questions regarding your procedure or its results, please contact our North Bethesda, MD team for assistance.