Post-Op Instructions

When you or a family member has a dental surgery scheduled at Chestnut Family Dentistry, our dentists will provide detailed pre- and post-op instructions in Asheville, North Carolina, to help ensure a smooth healing period and successful treatment. We have also included some of these tips below for your convenience. Feel free to call 828-255-0936 with any questions you may still have or to schedule a post-op check-up with Dr. Wendy Willoughby or Dr. Teresa Bare.

After your treatment, you can expect your anesthesia to wear off in about one to three hours. During this period, it is important to stay aware of the numb section of your mouth and to prevent biting or chewing the numb tongue, lips or cheek.

The affected gum tissue and tooth (or teeth) may be more sensitive to heat, cold or pressure than usual. This is normal, and the sensitivity may vary depending on how invasive your procedure was. You can expect these symptoms to dissipate in a few days to a couple of weeks, though in some rare cases, the sensitivity could last up to six months. As long as your teeth and gums are healing and are not getting worse, everything is going as planned and there is no need to worry.

We also recommend taking ibuprofen (Motrin) as directed to address inflammation in the affected area of operation. This is not used to reduce pain, but it may alleviate the sensitivity to heat, cold and pressure. If you do experience lingering pain, you may take Tylenol or rinse your mouth with warm salt water.

Do not take any over-the-counter drugs you are allergic to.

If, after the anesthesia has worn off, you feel like the teeth that were worked on are biting down before the surrounding teeth, give our team a call as soon as possible. We can help make sure your bite is balanced to avoid future discomfort or bite issues.

For patients who are using a temporary crown until their permanent crown is placed:

  • Please avoid chewy or hard candies or foods, as these can dislodge the temporary crown.
  • Please remember to floss your temporary by pulling floss thru teeth, releasing one end of the floss and pulling it through the side of the tooth.

If you have any questions or concerns that were not addressed here, please feel free to call our office. We are always happy to help.