Aftercare Instructions
When you visit Pure Smiles, your health, happiness, and satisfaction are our priority. It is our mission to ensure that every procedure is a positive experience from beginning to end. As a part of our commitment to your smooth recovery after dental treatment, we request that you follow all aftercare instructions provided by our team. While detailed information will be provided to you at the time of your visit, we encourage you to review our below resources as well.
Listed below, you will find a collection of videos outlining appropriate aftercare and what to expect from your particular procedure. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are always happy to help!
Post-Operative Instructions for Immediate Dentures (Temporary Dentures)
- Do not remove the denture for the first 24 hours and wear it overnight for the first two or three nights. Removing the appliance during this time may result in swelling—making it difficult or impossible to reinsert the denture.
- Do not smoke or use tobacco products for at least a week while adjusting to the denture.
- For the first ten days, eat soft foods and drink cool liquids to avoid irritation.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Simple Extraction
- Limit physical activity for the first 24 hours.
- For the first hour following extraction, bite down gently on gauze to slow bleeding. If bleeding continues, bite down on fresh gauze for 30 more minutes.
- Drink lots of water, but do not use a straw for the first 48 hours following the extraction. Using a straw may dislodge a blood clot, delaying the healing process.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Single Implant with Temporary Crown
- For minor bleeding, rinse your mouth gently with cool water.
- For the first 24-48 hours, avoid excessive spitting, chewing, rinsing, or physical activity.
- Take an over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication to help with discomfort during healing.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Single Implant with Healing Cap
- For the first hour following placement of the healing cap, bite down gently on gauze to slow bleeding. If bleeding continues, bite down on fresh gauze for 30 more minutes.
- For the first 24-48 hours, avoid excessive spitting, chewing, rinsing, or physical activity.
- Take an over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication to help with discomfort during healing.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Surgical Extraction
- Limit physical activity for the first 24 hours.
- For the first hour following extraction, bite down gently on gauze to slow bleeding. If bleeding continues, bite down on fresh gauze for 30 more minutes.
- Drink lots of water, but do not use a straw for the first 48 hours following the extraction. Using a straw may dislodge a blood clot, delaying the healing process.
Post-Operative Instructions for Dentures
- First-time denture wearers may take several weeks to adjust before adapting to their new prosthetic.
- Strange sensations such as excess saliva, tongue feeling crowded, and dentures feeling bulky will subside with time.
- While adjusting, try to eat soft foods and take small bites. If food gets under the denture, simply remove and rinse the prosthetic with water.
Post-Operative Instructions for Scaling & Root Planing
- Limit physical activity for the first 24 hours.
- Take an over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication to help with discomfort during healing.
- If antibiotics are prescribed, be sure to take them for the indicated amount of time—even if symptoms are no longer present.
Post-Operative Instructions for Root Canal
- Avoid eating or drinking until your anesthesia was worn off. This is to avoid accidentally biting and injuring your tongue, lip, or gum tissue.
- Take an over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication to help with discomfort during healing.
- If antibiotics are prescribed, be sure to take them for the indicated amount of time—even if symptoms are no longer present.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Composite Filling
- Avoid eating or drinking until your anesthesia was worn off. This is to avoid accidentally biting and injuring your tongue, lip, or gum tissue.
- Experiencing a sensitivity to pressure, temperature, or sweet foods is normal for the first several days or weeks following this procedure.
- For sore gums, rinse your mouth with warm salt water up to three times per day, or take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Permanent Onlay
- Avoid eating or drinking until your anesthesia wears off. This is to avoid accidentally biting and injuring your tongue, lip, or gum tissue.
- Experiencing a sensitivity to pressure or temperature is normal for the first several days following this procedure.
- Resume regular brushing and flossing immediately to keep your onlay free from plaque build-up.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Temporary Crown
- Avoid eating or drinking until your anesthesia wears off. This is to avoid accidentally biting and injuring your tongue, lip, or gum tissue.
- Avoid eating hard, crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods until your permanent crown is ready.
- For sore gums, rinse your mouth with warm salt water up to three times per day, or take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Temporary Bridge
- Avoid eating or drinking until your anesthesia wears off. This is to avoid accidentally biting and injuring your tongue, lip, or gum tissue.
- Avoid eating hard, crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods until your permanent bridge is ready.
- For sore gums, rinse your mouth with warm salt water up to three times per day, or take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Crown
- Avoid eating or drinking until your anesthesia wears off. This is to avoid accidentally biting and injuring your tongue, lip, or gum tissue.
- For the first 24 hours following your crown placement, avoid eating hard, crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods.
- For sore gums, rinse your mouth with warm salt water up to three times per day, or take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Post-Operative Instructions for a Bridge
- Avoid eating or drinking until your anesthesia wears off. This is to avoid accidentally biting and injuring your tongue, lip, or gum tissue.
- For the first 24 hours following your bridge placement, avoid eating hard, chewy, or sticky foods.
- For sore gums, rinse your mouth with warm salt water up to three times per day, or take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Orthodontic Home Care for Clear Aligners
- Wear clear aligners for between 20 and 22 hours each day.
- After each meal, brush and rinse your aligners before putting them back into your mouth.
- Clean trays once daily by brushing them thoroughly or soaking them in denture cleaner to remove tartar or plaque build-up.