The following post-op instructions are intended to give you some general guidelines to follow after your appointment or treatment with Dr. Misha Susoeff from Avalon Dental in Edmonton . If you have any questions which are not answered here, feel free to call Dr. Misha Susoeff.???

Crown & Bridge Appointments
Remember that it will take time to adjust to the feel of your new bite. When the bite is altered or the position of the teeth is changed it takes several days for the brain to recognize the new position of your teeth or their thickness as normal. If you continue to detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call Dr. Misha Susoeff from Avalon Dental in Edmonton to schedule an adjustment appointment.

It is normal to experience some hot and cold sensitivity. The teeth require some time to heal after removal of tooth structure and will be sensitive in the interim. Your gums may also be sore for a few days. Warm salt water rinses (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) three times a day will reduce pain and swelling. A mild pain medication (One tablet of Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin) every 3-4 hours) should ease any residual discomfort.

Don’t be concerned if your speech is affected for the first few days. You’ll quickly adapt and be speaking normally. You may notice an increase in salivary flow. Your brain may respond to the new size and shape of your teeth by increasing salivary flow. This should subside to normal within a week or so.

Daily brushing and flossing is a must for your new dental work. Daily plaque removal is critical for the long-term success of your new teeth, as are regular cleaning appointments.

Any food that can crack, chip or damage a natural tooth can do the same to your new teeth. Avoid hard foods and substances (such as beer nuts, peanut brittle, ice …) and sticky candies. Smoking will stain your new teeth. Minimize or avoid your use of foods that stain such as coffee, red wine, tea and berries.

If you engage in sports let Dr. Misha Susoeff from Avalon Dental in Edmonton know so he/she can make a custom mouthguard. If you grind your teeth at night, wear the night guard the dental office has provided for you. Adjusting to the look and feel of your new smile will take time.

Tooth Extractions
After tooth extraction, it is important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why the Dr. Misha Susoeff from Avalon Dental in Edmonton will ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.

After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing.

Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for next 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and retard the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours as it will increase blood pressure and increase bleeding from the extraction site.

After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.

Use the pain medication as directed. Call the dental office if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluid and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.

It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.

After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling two or three days, or a reaction to the medication, call Dr. Misha Susoeff from Avalon Dental in Edmonton immediately.

Composite Fillings
When an anesthetic has been used, your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off. It is very easy to bite or burn your tongue or lip while you are numb.

It is normal to experience some hot, cold & pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Injection sites may also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or aspirin (one tablet every 3 to 4 hours as needed for pain) work well to alleviate the tenderness.

If pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to cold or hot increases, contact Dr. Misha Susoeff from Avalon Dental in Edmonton .

You may chew on your composite fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off since they are fully set when you leave the dental office.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, call your dental office.

Cosmetic Reconstruction
Remember that it will take time to adjust to the feel of your new bite. When the bite is altered or the position of the teeth is changed it takes several days for the brain to recognize the new position of your teeth or their thickness as normal. If you continue to detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call your dental office.

It is normal to experience some hot and cold sensitivity. The teeth require some time to heal after removal of tooth structure and will be sensitive in the interim. Your gums may also be sore for a few days. Warm salt water rinses (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) three times a day will reduce pain and swelling. A mild pain medication (I tablet of Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin) every 3-4 hours) should ease any residual discomfort.

Don’t be concerned if your speech is affected for the first few days. You’ll quickly adapt and be speaking normally. You may notice an increase in salivary flow. Your brain may respond to the new size and shape of your teeth by increasing salivary flow. This should subside to normal within a week or so.

Daily brushing and flossing is a must for your new dental work. Daily plaque removal is critical for the long-term success of your new teeth, as are regular cleaning appointments.

Any food that can crack, chip or damage a natural tooth can do the same to your new teeth. Avoid hard foods and substances (such as beer nuts, peanut brittle, ice ….) and sticky candies. Smoking will stain your new teeth. Minimize or avoid your use of foods that stain such as coffee, red wine, tea and berries.

If you engage in sports let Dr. Misha Susoeff know so he/she can make a custom mouthguard. If you grind your teeth at night, wear the night guard.

Adjusting to the look and feel of your new smile will take time.

Root Canals
Though 90% of the root canals we perform are completed in one appointment, root canal therapy may take more than one appointment to complete. Since anesthetic has been used, your lips, tongue and the roof of your mouth may be numb for several hours after your appointment.

Avoid chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has worn off.

Between appointments until the tooth is fully restored, it is common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling fall out or if a temporary crown comes off, call your dental office to arrange a time so it can be replaced.

It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment. To control discomfort, take the pain medication prescribed by Dr. Misha Susoeff as recommended.

If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as directed, even if all signs and symptoms of infection are gone. To protect the tooth and keep the temporary in place, avoid eating hard and sticky foods (gum) and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. Continue to brush and floss normally.

Usually, the last step in root canal treatment is the placement of a crown on the tooth. A crown will protect the tooth from breaking in the future. If your bite feels uneven, if you have any signs of swelling or increasing pain, or if you have any concerns, contact Dr. Misha Susoeff from Avalon Dental in Edmonton .

Call Avalon Dental at 780-465-0994 to book your appointment with Dr. Misha Susoeff. We are conveniently located at 4910 Roper Road in Edmonton, AB.