Periodontal Therapy Post-Operative Instructions

Post-Operative Instructions Following Periodontal Therapy

1. Following non-surgical periodontal therapy, you can expect to notice less redness, less bleeding, and less swelling of your gum tissues. Your teeth may feel smoother and your mouth will taste and feel better.
2. When anesthesia has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
3. Mild post-treatment discomfort is normal. Over-the-counter analgesic pain medications are recommended to manage your discomfort. Motrin or Advil every 3-4 hours, and warm salt water rinses may help.
4. Your teeth may be more sensitive to hot or cold. This occurs when the gum tissue heals and there is a decrease in inflammation. Prescription-level fluoride treatments may be recommended to help strengthen root surfaces, prevent decay, and help alleviate sensitivity.
5. Consistent and thorough daily oral hygiene is essential to the proper healing of your gum tissues. For the first 48 hours after treatment avoid flossing and only lightly brush the treated area. After 48 hours resume oral hygiene with daily flossing and use of Oracare 2x daily.
6. Oracare is a prescription strength mouth rinse that will help your tissue heal and stay healthier. Follow the instructions on the packaging and also make sure that you use rinse within a couple of minutes or it will lose effectiveness. Also, make sure to AVOID rinsing your mouth for 30 minutes following the use of this mouth rinse.
7. Be sensitive to the treatment area by avoiding foods that commonly get stuck in gum tissue (red meat, popcorn, etc.) for a week, and also try to avoid chewing on the treated side of the mouth.
8. Periodontal disease does not typically hurt, so it’s important to remember you may still have persistent disease but have no symptoms. 4-6 weeks after your periodontal therapy, we will schedule a re-evaluation to ensure the infection has been treated effectively.
9. It is vital to attend scheduled periodontal maintenance visits with your hygienist for proper healing.

As always, if you have any questions about your oral health, please call us immediately. Our commitment is to take the very best care of you. It is our pleasure to assist in any way we can.

Maintenance Regimen Following Periodontal Therapy

Congratulations on the completion of your non-surgical periodontal therapy. Our goal is to maintain your health status so you are able to keep your teeth and avoid relapse. In order to ensure future success, it is important to remember the following:

An oral hygiene program that removes disease-causing bacteria must be followed conscientiously every day. Please call our office if you need additional instructions, or have questions about the directions you were given regarding daily homecare.

Regular periodontal maintenance visits to our office are necessary to measure the pockets and monitor the gum disease. Each visit will include one or more of the following services:

• Medical history updates( please bring a list of your current meds to each visit)
• Oral cancer screening
• Necessary X-rays to observe bone levels
• Complete periodontal evaluation
• Oral cleaning/self-care evaluation and instructions
• Tarter/plaque removal (scaling and polishing to remove stains)
• Gum pocket disinfection/laser bacterial reduction
• Fluoride treatment to protect tooth roots
• Desensitizing procedures
• Treatment plan evaluation

It must be emphasized that this treatment is not a cure for periodontal disease, but rather a means to control and arrest it. Periodontal maintenance visits are the minimum requirement to help keep your mouth in a disease-free state.

Your commitment and dedication to your health, combined with our professional effort and expertise will help you keep your smile for a lifetime. We are committed to taking the very best care of you.