Post-Implant Surgery Care Instructions
Please follow these guidelines, organized by stage, from surgery day through full recovery
1Bleeding
- Keep the gauze pad in place for 2 hours after surgery, then remove it.
Pressing gauze against the wound lets platelets gather and form a stable clot. Removing it too soon releases that pressure and bleeding can start again.
- Please avoid talking while biting on the gauze.
Talking moves your jaw and cheek muscles, which shifts the gauze out of position and breaks the steady pressure needed to stop bleeding.
- Please swallow saliva and blood rather than spitting, and avoid rinsing your mouth vigorously for the first day.
Spitting or rinsing creates suction in your mouth that can dislodge the newly formed clot. If the clot comes loose, bleeding can restart and healing slows down.
2Compress
- Apply a cold compress for 5 minutes at a time, repeated over 48 hours.
Cold narrows the blood vessels, reducing early bleeding and swelling. Holding it on continuously can damage the tissue, so applying it in 5-minute intervals works best.
- From day 3 onward, switch to a warm compress.
After a few days, widening the blood vessels instead improves circulation, helping remaining swelling and bruising absorb faster. Using heat too early can increase bleeding or swelling, so the timing matters.
3Meals & Medication
- Eat only after the local anesthesia has worn off (about 2–3 hours after surgery).
Chewing while still numb means you may not notice biting your cheek or tongue, and you may not feel a burn from hot food either.
- For about a week, avoid spicy, salty, or hot food, and chew soft foods on the opposite side.
Spicy, salty, or hot food can irritate the wound and increase pain and inflammation, and chewing on the surgical side can dislodge the clot or open the stitches.
- To reduce pain and prevent infection, take your prescribed medication exactly as directed until finished.
Stopping antibiotics early lets the remaining bacteria develop resistance, making the infection harder to treat, and taking the pain/anti-inflammatory medication consistently is what keeps inflammation from getting worse.
4Day of Surgery & Daily Care
- Do not touch the surgical site with your tongue or fingers. Visiting the next day for a disinfection treatment will help recovery.
The mouth carries a lot of bacteria, so touching the site with your tongue or fingers raises the risk of infection and can irritate the healing wound, slowing recovery.
- Gently brush and rinse 2–3 times a day using the prescribed oral rinse (Hexamedine).
Gentle brushing plus an antiseptic rinse removes food and bacteria without directly irritating the surgical site, keeping it clean safely.
- Avoid strenuous exercise or heavy work on the day of surgery, and rest sufficiently.
Physical activity raises your blood pressure and heart rate, which can restart bleeding at the site where clotting has just occurred.
- Please avoid smoking, drinking, saunas, and intense exercise for 1 week after surgery.
Smoking narrows blood vessels and reduces oxygen and nutrients reaching the wound, slowing recovery, while alcohol, saunas, and intense exercise raise circulation and body temperature and can trigger bleeding and swelling again.
- Please stop using straws for 1 week.
The suction created when using a straw can dislodge the clot, just like spitting or rinsing can.
- Sutures are removed after 1–2 weeks, depending on your healing progress.
5Sinus & Bone Graft
- If a bone graft was performed, do not press on the surgical site at all.
The grafted bone particles haven't fully settled into the jawbone yet, so pressure can shift them out of place or cause them to leak out.
- If sinus surgery was performed, do not blow your nose forcefully; if you need to sneeze, do so with your mouth open.
The sinus surgery site is separated from the nasal cavity by only a thin membrane, so blowing your nose hard sends pressure through it and can tear the membrane or reopen the wound.
- Avoid activities that raise pressure inside the mouth or sinuses — blowing your nose, using straws, air travel — for about 1–2 weeks.
A large pressure difference inside and outside the mouth strains the sinus membrane and surgical site, which can re-damage tissue that's still healing.
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated.
Lying flat lets blood pool at the surgical site, worsening swelling and pressure. Keeping your head elevated helps venous blood drain more easily, reducing swelling.
6Temporary Tooth & Denture
- If you have an existing prosthesis, the timing for wearing it on the day of surgery will be decided during consultation.
- Temporary teeth may come loose or chip, so please avoid hard or chewy foods.
Temporary teeth are made weaker than the final restoration, so strong force can crack or dislodge them.
- If you wear a denture, keep it in for the full 24 hours on the day of surgery, and bring it with you to every visit.
Right after surgery, the denture acts like a compression bandage on the swollen gums, helping control swelling and bleeding. Removing it on your own cancels that effect, and bringing it with you lets us adjust it as needed during your visit.
- Dentures may fit less precisely over time as the gums heal. Please let us know if discomfort remains.
- Until the implant fully fuses with the bone, avoid biting down hard and stick to soft foods.
It takes several months for the implant to fully fuse with the bone. Strong force during this period can interfere with that fusion and lead to implant failure.
- A dull, numb sensation, as if the anesthesia hasn't fully worn off, may remain at the surgical site for several days. Please let us know if it lasts longer than expected.
Post-Extraction & Minor Surgery Care Instructions
Please review these while the extraction site heals
1Bleeding
- Keep the gauze pad in place for 2 hours after surgery, then remove it.
Pressing gauze against the wound lets platelets gather and form a stable clot. Removing it too soon, before bleeding has fully stopped, can let it start again.
- Some ongoing discomfort is normal (a dull, throbbing ache) as part of healing.
- To reduce pain and prevent infection, take your medication exactly as directed until finished.
An extraction site exposes bone and is vulnerable to bacterial infection. Stopping antibiotics early lets remaining bacteria develop resistance, and the infection can flare up again.
2Compress
- To control bleeding and reduce swelling and bruising, apply a cold compress for 48 hours (2 days).
Cold narrows the blood vessels, reducing early bleeding and swelling.
- From day 3 onward, switch to a warm compress to support recovery from swelling and bruising.
Widening the blood vessels again improves circulation, helping remaining swelling and bruising absorb faster.
3Meals & Medication
- Eat only after the anesthesia has worn off (about 2–3 hours after surgery).
Chewing while still numb means you may not notice biting your cheek or tongue.
- If pain continues, taking the prescribed pain reliever can help manage it.
Pain right after extraction is worst for the first few days due to the initial inflammatory response — taking the medication before it peaks makes pain easier to manage.
- To reduce pain and prevent infection, take your medication exactly as directed until finished.
4Day of Surgery & Daily Care
- Do not touch the surgical site with your tongue or hands. Visiting the next day for a disinfection treatment will help recovery.
The mouth carries a lot of bacteria, so touching the site with your tongue or hands raises the risk of infection and can slow recovery.
- Gently brush and rinse 2–3 times a day using the oral rinse (Hexamedine).
This removes food and bacteria and keeps the area clean without directly irritating the extraction site.
- Avoid strenuous exercise or heavy work on the day of surgery, and rest sufficiently.
- Please avoid smoking, drinking, saunas, and intense exercise for 1 week after surgery.
Smoking narrows blood vessels and slows recovery, while alcohol, saunas, and intense exercise raise circulation and body temperature and can trigger bleeding and swelling again.
- Sutures are removed after 1–2 weeks, depending on your healing progress.
5Possible Side Effects
- Inflammation at the extraction site can occasionally lead to dry socket.
- You may experience sudden sharp pain, a spreading dull ache, or swelling.
- You may have difficulty opening your mouth fully, or a stiff jaw or neck.
- If the lower tooth's roots were close to the nerve canal, a dull or tingling sensation, as if the anesthesia hasn't fully worn off, may remain. This usually resolves, but can rarely persist longer.
- If an upper tooth's root was close to the sinus cavity, the two spaces may temporarily connect — it's best to avoid blowing your nose forcefully.
6Non-covered Medication
- In cases of significant inflammation, we may recommend a non-covered healing accelerant (Teruplasmin) to speed up recovery.
Root Canal Treatment Care Instructions
Guidance for all three stages, from start to completion
1Starting Treatment
- Root canal treatment typically takes 3–6 visits, depending on your symptoms.
It's difficult to fully clear the inflammation and bacteria inside the root canal in a single visit, so disinfecting and replacing the medication multiple times ensures the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned.
- Because this treatment removes and disinfects the nerve, you may feel some pain once the anesthesia wears off.
- If you have pain, an over-the-counter pain reliever can help manage it.
Removing the nerve and disinfecting all the way to the root tip irritates the surrounding tissue and causes a temporary inflammatory response — pain medication helps calm that response.
2During Treatment
- The tooth being treated is weakened, so biting down on something hard may cause it to crack or chip — please be careful.
- The temporary filling may partially come loose; this isn't a major issue as long as it hasn't fully come out. If it comes out completely, please contact us and come in right away.
If it comes out completely, the disinfected inside of the canal is exposed directly to bacteria and saliva in your mouth, which can recontaminate the area we worked to clean.
3Completing Treatment
- Right after root canal treatment, you may feel discomfort or pain while chewing.
- A tooth that has had root canal treatment is weaker, so it needs to be protected with a crown or other restoration.
Once the nerve is removed, the tooth loses its blood supply and no longer receives moisture or nutrients, so it becomes weaker and more prone to breaking over time — protecting it with a crown or similar restoration lets it last.
- There's no need for serious concern. However, because microscopic nerve fibers can remain, any residual pain may take some time to fully resolve after treatment.
Q&A
Q.Why does it still hurt after root canal treatment?
A.Nerve endings branch out into fine, root-like structures, much like a tree's roots. Current dental instruments have limits in reaching every one of these microscopic branches, so some nerve tissue may remain. As a result, any lingering symptoms typically improve gradually over time.
IV Sedation Care Instructions
Please be sure to follow these before and after treatment
Before TreatmentBefore IV Sedation
- If your surgery will be performed under IV sedation, you must fast for 6 hours beforehand.
Sedation dulls your body's reflexes, so if there's food in your stomach and vomiting occurs during the procedure, it could enter your airway and cause aspiration pneumonia or choking.
- Certain medications may need to be paused under your doctor's guidance — please be sure to tell us about any medications you are currently taking.
Blood thinners like aspirin or warfarin interfere with normal clotting and can make post-surgical bleeding hard to stop, so if needed, a plan to pause them should be made in advance.
- Please tell us in advance about any medical conditions you're aware of. It's especially important to mention any history of hemophilia, heart, lung, or liver disease, asthma, or similar conditions.
Sedatives can affect breathing and circulation. Heart or lung conditions make you more sensitive to changes in blood pressure and oxygen levels, and hemophilia can make bleeding harder to control — knowing in advance lets us prepare properly.
- We recommend coming with a guardian or companion; if none is available, driving yourself home afterward is not permitted.
It takes several hours for the sedative to fully clear your system, so your judgment and reflexes remain impaired after the procedure — driving yourself carries a real risk of an accident.
- If you have high blood pressure, or a cold with heavy phlegm or coughing, your surgery may need to be postponed. Please let us know in advance if you have cold or flu symptoms.
Giving sedatives while blood pressure is unstable or an infection is present puts more strain on the respiratory and circulatory systems, raising the risk of complications.
- Please wear comfortable clothing and remove accessories such as rings, earrings, and hairpins. (We are not responsible for lost valuables.) Please also remove nail polish, as it's needed for oxygen saturation monitoring.
A pulse oximeter is clipped to your finger during the procedure to monitor blood oxygen in real time, and nail polish or accessories can interfere with the reading.
- We recommend avoiding smoking and alcohol for 1–2 weeks before surgery.
Smoking affects lung function and oxygen levels, and alcohol can interact with the sedative to raise the risk of side effects like slowed breathing.
After TreatmentAfter IV Sedation
- On the day of treatment, avoid driving, memorizing things, signing contracts, or anything requiring careful judgment. (Watch for slippery floors when walking, and accept support if it's available.)
Until the sedative is fully metabolized, your judgment and memory can be temporarily impaired — even if you feel fine, you may not actually be able to think clearly.
- Rest well for the remainder of the day and avoid driving or activities that involve standing for long periods.
The lingering effects of the medication reduce your reflexes and balance, raising the risk of a fall or accident.
- Eating right after treatment is not recommended — please wait about 3 hours before your next meal.
Your swallowing reflex is still dulled while sedated, so eating too soon carries a risk of food going into your airway.
- You may feel dizzy or nauseated, or experience vomiting, on your way home.
- Please do not go home alone — travel with a guardian or use public transportation for a safe return home.
Your judgment and balance haven't fully recovered yet, so traveling alone carries a risk of accident.
Orthodontic Treatment Care Instructions
Please review this guidance from bracket placement through daily care
1Appointments & Early Discomfort
- Please keep your appointment date and time. If you need to reschedule, please contact the clinic in advance.
Missing appointments not only extends your expected treatment time but can also make the treatment itself more difficult.
- For about 3–4 days after a new wire is placed, you may feel tightness or discomfort in your teeth. This resolves naturally after a few days.
As the new wire gradually shifts your teeth, the surrounding tissue is stimulated — this is a normal part of the process.
- An over-the-counter pain reliever is fine if you're uncomfortable. If the discomfort is severe or something feels wrong with the appliance, please contact the clinic.
- If a separator ring has been placed between your molars, chewing may feel slightly uncomfortable. If it comes out before your next appointment, please contact the clinic and come in so it can be replaced.
2Meals & Oral Hygiene
- Sticky, hard, or chewy foods — dried squid, gum, taffy, hard candy, ice, cartilage — can damage or dislodge the appliance, so please avoid them. Cutting food into small pieces also helps.
For the first 24 hours after the appliance is placed especially, it's still settling into position and is more easily damaged, so extra care is needed.
- Braces trap food more easily than usual, so brushing after every meal is essential. Carry an orthodontic toothbrush with you, and brush after lunch at school or work as well.
Skipping brushing lets cavities form around the brackets and causes gum inflammation, which can disrupt your orthodontic treatment and leave unsightly marks even after treatment ends.
- Using floss or a water flosser in addition is even better.
3Sore Care
- The appliance can rub against your lips or inner cheeks and cause sores. Dry the area where it touches and cover it with the white orthodontic wax provided — this reduces irritation and eases pain. Reapply until the sore heals, and remove the wax before eating.
The wax is harmless to the body, so you can reapply it as often as needed until the sore heals.
- An oral ointment can also help the sore heal.
Post-Whitening Care Instructions
Here's what to expect before and after treatment, and how to manage it
1Before Whitening
- If you have tartar buildup or gum inflammation, the whitening agent touching your gums can cause irritation. It's best to clear up any inflammation first, for example with a scaling.
Whitening gel that touches damaged gum tissue causes far more irritation than it would on healthy gums.
2During the Procedure
- As the whitening gel is applied and cured under the special light, it may feel slightly tight as it dries. This doesn't put any strain on your gums, so there's no need to worry.
- Your gums may briefly turn white, or your lips may feel slightly swollen or stinging from the light. These are temporary — there's no need for alarm, and a pain reliever is fine if it's uncomfortable. If this happens, avoid brushing too vigorously.
3Right After Whitening
- Right after the procedure, the tooth surface absorbs pigment more easily, so eating too soon can reduce the whitening effect — avoid eating for 2 hours.
Right after the procedure, the tooth surface absorbs pigment more easily, so eating too soon can reduce the whitening effect.
- A brief zinging sensitivity can occur as the gel penetrates into the tooth — it's temporary and fades within a few days, so there's no need to worry.
- Your teeth may feel a bit rough right after the procedure. This is also temporary and goes away within a week.
- Sensitivity to the whitening agent can cause tooth sensitivity, but it usually resolves within a few days. If it's significant or painful, a pain reliever like Tylenol or a desensitizing toothpaste like Sensodyne can help.
- Avoid irritating foods, and hold off on very hot or cold food for a while too. This won't reduce the whitening effect, but it can worsen sensitivity.
4The High-Staining Window (Days 3–4)
- For 3–4 days after the procedure, the gel that has penetrated the tooth stays active and continues brightening your teeth. This is also when staining from food and smoking sets in most easily, so avoid anything that could stain — coffee, green tea, cola, black tea, fruit juice, wine, dark-colored drinks, chocolate, curry, herbal medicine, tobacco, and similar items.
During this period, the tooth surface absorbs pigment more easily. If you do consume something staining, rinsing your mouth right away can help reduce discoloration.
- Avoid toothpaste with high fluoride content, as it can neutralize the whitening agent — keep your mouth clean by brushing and flossing as usual.
5Temporary Changes You May Notice
- You may notice temporary white spots on your teeth during whitening. These come from differences in tooth density that cause uneven whitening speed, and they fade as treatment continues. Pre-existing white spots, however, will not disappear.
- How quickly whitening takes effect varies by person — some see results fast, others more gradually — so please stay with the full course of treatment.