Post Treatment Care Cary, NC

No matter the procedure, Dr. Zhang wants you to recover quickly and return to your life. We’ve put together some post-treatment care recommendations to help make your recovery from your dental procedure fast and easy. If you would like more information on Kildaire Family & Cosmetic Dentistry’s patient services, please visit For patients.

post treatment dental care

Post Operation Aftercare

Tooth Extraction Aftercare

  • Let the blood clot by biting on the gauze for 30-45 minutes after the procedure.
  • Avoid strenuous activity for the first 24-72 hours after the extraction.
  • Some swelling should be expected, but you can lessen it with cold packs or even bags of frozen peas.
  • You may experience a sore throat and cracked lips.
  • If desired, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water, but avoid excessive rinsing or frequent spitting.
  • Drink plenty of water, but do not use a straw.
  • Eat high-calorie and high-protein foods, but only chew using teeth that are away from the extraction site.
  • For pain, take your prescribed medication as directed.
    • Pain medication can impair your judgment. When taking pain medication, do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or care for small children without assistance.

Tooth Removal DON’Ts

  • Do not consume liquids that are too hot or too cold.
  • Do not rinse your mouth vigorously or spit frequently.
  • Do not smoke or drink alcohol.
  • Do not drink through a straw.
  • Do not brush the teeth next to the extraction site for the first 24 hours. Brush gently when brushing resumes.
  • If you experience nausea or vomiting, do not eat anything or take medications for an hour.

Root Canal Aftercare

  • Tenderness in the immediate area and jaw may occur but should be temporary. Take ibuprofen after your treatment if you experience discomfort.
  • Resume normal brushing and flossing routine immediately.

Root Canal DON’Ts

  • Do not eat anything until the numbness wears off.
  • Do not chew or bite using the tooth until you have a restoration, such as a crown, placed.

Periodontal (Gum) Scaling Aftercare

  • Tenderness and swelling of the gums, and soreness in the jaw, are expected. Ibuprofen/anti-inflammatory medications are recommended to treat this discomfort.
  • You may notice “spacing” between your teeth that wasn’t there before. This is because we cleaned away calculus and debris.
  • Call our office if you have any questions.

Dental Implant Placement Aftercare

  • Start your prescribed medications immediately.
    • Pain medication can impair your judgment. When taking pain medication, do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or care for small children without assistance.
  • Start the Peridex rinse 24 hours after your procedure, and take as prescribed.
  • Apply alternating cold and warm compresses intermittently to the side of your face where the implant was placed. Continue this for the first 48 hours after your procedure.
  • Avoid strenuous activity for the first 24-72 hours after surgery.
  • Avoid spicy and crunchy foods.
  • Avoid brushing the implant area for the first 24 hours after surgery.

Crown Placement Aftercare

  • Your gums may feel irritated; rinse with warm salt water to help them to heal.
  • When flossing, pull the floss through instead of pulling down and out – floss could take your crown out with it.
  • Call us immediately if your temporary crown comes off.

When to Contact Us

Some pain and swelling are to be expected with most of these procedures. But if you notice any visible swelling, call our office. Other signs of problems include the return of original symptoms or signs of an allergic reaction.

If your bite feels uneven, call us, and we’ll get you back into the office for an adjustment. We are always available for you to call us, and an emergency number will be provided as part of your post-treatment care information.