AFTERCARE

Looking after yourself, afterwards.

Dr Dineo's instructions, by treatment. If something doesn't feel right, call or WhatsApp us.

Local anaesthetic and numbness

Scaling and polishing, deep cleaning

Your gums may feel tender or bleed slightly for a short while.
Sensitivity to cold and hot foods may happen for a short time.
Brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and keep cleaning between your teeth.
Avoid smoking and vaping, particularly while your gums are healing.
After a deep cleaning, follow any extra instructions your dentist gives you.
If bleeding, pain or swelling is severe or doesn't settle, contact the clinic.

Fillings

Wait until the numbness has completely worn off before eating, so you don't bite your cheek, tongue or lips.
Avoid hard or sticky foods until it feels comfortable, particularly if the filling is large.
Mild sensitivity to cold, heat or biting may happen for a short time.
Brush and floss as normal, taking care around the treated tooth.
Contact the clinic if your bite feels uneven, the filling breaks, or sensitivity carries on or gets worse.

Tooth extraction

Bite firmly on the gauze provided for 30 minutes, or as instructed.
For the first 24 hours, avoid rinsing, spitting forcefully or drinking through a straw.
Eat soft, cool or lukewarm foods and chew on the other side.
Avoid smoking, vaping, alcohol and strenuous exercise for at least 24 to 72 hours.
Don't touch the extraction site with your fingers or tongue.
Brush gently, avoiding the socket itself on the first day.
Mild pain, swelling and slight bleeding may happen.
Take any prescribed medicine as directed.
Contact the clinic if bleeding doesn't stop with firm pressure, pain gets worse after a few days, or you develop a fever or more swelling.

Surgical extraction and wisdom teeth

Hold an ice pack against the outside of your face for 15 to 20 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours.
Rest, and keep your head raised when lying down.
Avoid vigorous rinsing, smoking, vaping and strenuous activity.
Start gentle warm salt-water rinses after 24 hours, especially after meals.
Brush carefully around the area and keep your other teeth clean.
Take medicine exactly as prescribed, and come to your follow-up appointment if one is booked.
Some swelling, bruising and difficulty opening your mouth may happen.
Get urgent help if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling that grows quickly, or bleeding that won't stop.

Root canal treatment

Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until it has its final restoration, especially if it has a temporary filling.
Avoid hard or sticky foods on that tooth.
Mild tenderness for a few days may happen.
Keep the area clean and take any prescribed medicine as directed.
Come to your next appointment to complete the treatment and arrange the recommended final restoration.
Important: a root-treated tooth can break more easily. Don't delay the permanent restoration.
Contact the clinic if you have more pain, swelling, a lost temporary filling or difficulty biting.

Crowns, bridges and temporary crowns

Avoid hard, crunchy or sticky foods, especially with a temporary crown.
Chew on the other side until the permanent restoration is fitted.
Brush gently around the restoration and clean between your teeth every day.
Floss around a bridge carefully, using a floss threader if you were advised to.
If a temporary crown comes loose, keep it safe and contact the clinic.
Don't try to glue a crown back on yourself.
Contact the clinic if your bite feels high, the restoration comes loose or you have pain that doesn't go away.

Professional teeth whitening

Your teeth may feel sensitive and your gums slightly irritated for a short time.
Avoid very hot or cold foods and drinks if your teeth are sensitive.
For the first 24 to 48 hours, cut down on strongly coloured foods and drinks, such as coffee, tea, red wine, beetroot and dark sauces.
Avoid smoking and vaping.
Brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Don't repeat whitening sooner than recommended.
Contact the clinic if you have significant pain, gum irritation that doesn't settle, or peeling lips or gums, and stop any whitening products until we advise otherwise.
Please tell your dentist about all your medicines and medical conditions before whitening.

Clear aligners

Wear your aligners for the number of hours you were given each day, usually 20 to 22 hours.
Take them out to eat or drink anything other than plain water.
Brush and floss before putting your aligners back in.
Clean your aligners every day with a suitable cleaner and cool or lukewarm water.
Avoid hot water, which can bend the plastic out of shape.
Keep your aligners in their case when you're not wearing them.
Come to your review appointments, and contact the clinic if an aligner cracks, is lost or no longer fits properly.

New dentures and adjustments

Take your denture out at night and keep it in water overnight. Don't sleep with it in.
Start with soft foods and small bites while you get used to it.
Practise speaking and chewing a little at a time.
Clean your denture every day with Sunlight dishwashing liquid and a soft brush, and clean your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth.
Don't adjust or repair the denture yourself.
Contact the clinic if you get sore spots or ulcers that don't go away, or find the denture hard to wear.
New to dentures? Be patient with yourself: wear it for a few hours a day at first, then gradually longer. Getting used to a denture takes time.

After a children's procedure

Most children recover quickly. Some numbness, mild discomfort or sensitivity is normal.
Keep an eye on your child until the numbness has worn off, so they don't bite their lip, cheek or tongue.
Offer soft foods and plenty of fluids, and avoid very hot or hard foods for the rest of the day.
Encourage gentle brushing, avoiding the treated area if we've advised it.
Give any prescribed or recommended medicine exactly as instructed.
Dr Dineo will give you personal instructions for your child's specific treatment.

If bleeding or pain doesn't settle, call or WhatsApp us on 071 525 3328.