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ORAL HEALTH RESOURCES >> After Treatment Care

Please read the instructions below to find out about after treatment care for any of the following procedures: local anesthetic, non-surgical periodontal therapy, cosmetic procedures and crowns and bridges, fillings, and root canal therapy.

Local Anesthetic

If you have had a local anesthetic for a procedure, you may experience soreness in the injected area for several days. Numbness caused by the local anesthetic generally fades within two hours although this varies from patient to patient, and in some cases can take up to four hours. Please call us at (404) 264-0002 if you have questions or concerns following your procedure. 

Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy

After the anesthetic has worn off, your gums may feel sore, and the root surfaces of your teeth may feel sensitive. Continue to brush and floss and follow any instructions we may have given you. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt-water solution may give you some relief. The sensitivity should disappear within a couple of days. If it persists, please call us at (404) 264-0002.

Cosmetic Procedures, Crowns and Bridges

After your anesthetic has worn off, you may experience soreness along your gumline and in your tooth. The soreness is not unusual and should subside within a couple of days. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt-water solution may give you some relief.

• Temporary restorations may feel rougher than your natural teeth, but your final restorations will be much smoother and finely contoured.
• Please contact us immediately at (404) 264-0002 if your bite does not feel normal.
• Continue to brush and floss gently, as directed.
• Avoid sticky foods if you have temporary restorations such as crowns.   

Amalgam and Composite Resin Fillings

Please contact us immediately at (404) 264-0002 if your bite does not feel normal after your procedure. New fillings, especially composite resin fillings, may be sensitive to cold, and the sensitivity may last for several weeks. Please inform us if the sensitivity persists or if you have difficulty flossing. Continue to brush, floss, and follow any instructions we may have given during your visit.

If you have had composite resin fillings, you may eat immediately after the procedure. Silver amalgam fillings take longer to reach their maximum hardness than composite resin fillings do. If you have had silver amalgam fillings, avoid hard, crunchy foods for 24 hours.    

Root Canal Therapy

If you have had root canal therapy, you may feel soreness after your anesthesia has worn off, which is normal. Continue to brush, floss, and follow any instructions we may have given you regarding medication. Avoid chewing hard foods on the treated tooth until the final restoration is completed. If you experience outright pain or swelling, please contact our office at (404) 264-0002.