Post Operative Care

If you have recently been treated at Mint Family Dental, by our Dentist in Pottstown, and Phoenixville area, please read home instructions and precautions that are related to your treatment below. Please feel free to call us if you continue to have problems for more than the timeline given to you. 

If you received local anesthetic

• Most procedures use local anesthetic due to which your tongue or your lips or both may remain partially numb for several hours afterwards. It is very important to avoid chewing or eating until numbness wears off. Otherwise, you could bite your lip or tongue without realizing.
• Muscle and tissue soreness can last for a few days
• Children who have received numbing need to be watched by their caregiver for a few hours until the numbing wears off. This is important to prevent children from stretching, biting or otherwise hurting themselves since they can’t feel their lips and tongue. Allow them to eat only after numbness or tingling wears off.

Composite fillings

• Depending on how deep decay was prior to being filled, the tooth can respond in different ways to fillings. Most teeth may experience hot or cold sensations for a few days.

Tooth extractions

• Do not rinse mouth today. Tomorrow rinse the mouth gently every three to four hours using one quarter teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Continue rinses for a few days.

Bleeding

• If given gauze, change it as directed every 20-30 minutes until active bleeding has subsided (usually not longer than 2-3 hours). It is normal to experience light bleeding for up to 24 hours. Consult our office in case of severe bleeding.
• If persistent bleeding occurs place gauze pads over the bleeding area and bite down firmly for 20 minutes. Repeat if necessary.

Swelling

• Using an ice bag or chopped ice wrapped inside a paper towel can be applied from the outside to the operated area. 10 seconds on and 10 seconds off, for 30 mins. This can be repeated after a 30 min gap, for up to 4 hours.