• Numbness: Avoid chewing or hot liquids until numbness wears off to prevent accidentally biting your lip or cheek.
• Bite adjustments: New fillings or crowns may feel high — if biting is uneven or painful, contact us for adjustment.
• Sensitivity: Mild temperature or pressure sensitivity is common for a few days to a few weeks. Use sensitive toothpaste and avoid extreme temperature changes. If discomfort persists, call us to follow up.
• Oral hygiene: Resume normal brushing and flossing immediately.
• Temporary crowns: If you have a temporary crown, avoid sticky or hard foods and floss by pulling the floss out to the side (not lifting up). If the temporary loosens or falls out, save it and contact us.
• When to call: Persistent or worsening sensitivity beyond 2–3 weeks, bite problems, loose crown or filling, swelling, or signs of infection.

• Expect: Soreness and mild swelling; the tooth may feel tender to bite or touch.
• Pain control: Take your usual pain relief as prescribed by us or your GP.
• Bite sensitivity: Avoid chewing hard foods on the treated tooth until the final restoration (crown or filling) is placed.
• Swelling: Apply a heat pack for 10 minutes on/off, or call us for advice.
• Oral hygiene: Brush and floss as you would any other tooth.
• Antibiotics: Take exactly as prescribed, only if given. Always complete the full course.
• When to call: Severe or increasing pain after 48–72 hours, persistent swelling, fever, bad taste or odour that does not improve, or an allergic reaction to medications.

It is important not to disturb the blood clot, so:

• Do not eat or drink for the first hour after the extraction.
• Do not rinse vigorously during the first 24 hours.
• Do not take aspirin or disprin — these can increase bleeding. Use the pain reliever recommended by your dentist or GP.
• Apply an ice pack to the cheek 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off during the first 24 hours to reduce swelling and bruising.

After the first hour:

• You may eat and drink, but avoid hot foods and drinks, hard foods (e.g. apples), sharp foods (e.g. potato chips), and alcohol.
• Avoid grainy foods (e.g. rice) that can get stuck in the socket.

If bleeding starts:

• Place a damp gauze pad over the socket and bite firmly for 30 minutes (or until bleeding stops). Repeat once if needed. If heavy bleeding continues after 2 hours of firm pressure, contact us.

Precautions:

• Do not bite or chew while your lip, tongue, or cheek is numb — you may injure them. Caregivers and parents should supervise children until numbness wears off.
• Take medications exactly as prescribed or recommended by your dentist.

Starting the day after extraction:

• Gently rinse the mouth with warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt in a glass of lukewarm water) several times daily, or use a prescribed mouthwash such as Savacol or Difflam Plus (2% chlorhexidine gluconate).

For problems during office hours call: 4228 9205