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Patient Aftercare Guides

The written instructions we give patients after treatment, all in one place — so you can find them again at 9pm when the surgery is shut.

These are the aftercare instructions we hand out at the practice. If something is not going the way this page describes — bleeding that will not stop, swelling that is getting worse rather than better, or pain that is climbing after the third day — do not wait it out. Call us on 02 8789 2177, or see our emergency dental page.

After a procedure

  • After a tooth extraction — Ice, gauze and painkillers for the first day, what you can eat, and how long to keep rinsing while the socket heals.
  • After wisdom teeth removal — Managing pain and swelling after wisdom teeth come out, what you can eat, and what pericoronitis is if it comes back.
  • During and after root canal treatment — Root canal treatment runs over several visits. This is the order they happen in, and why the tooth is not finished when the pain stops.
  • Crowns, bridges and implants — Looking after a temporary restoration while the permanent one is made, and what to do if it comes loose.

Looking after appliances and results

  • Clear aligners — The 22-hour rule, using your chewies so the trays seat properly, and cleaning aligners without wrecking them.
  • Retainers — How many hours a day to wear it, how to clean it, and why teeth drift back faster than most people expect.
  • Dentures — Daily cleaning, overnight soaking, and filling the basin with water first so a dropped denture survives the fall.
  • Take-home whitening — How long to wear your whitening trays, what sensitivity is normal, and when it is time for a top-up.

Still not sure? Get in touch, or book an appointment.