Dental Treatment Care

After a Tooth Extraction

1. Firmly bite the gauze placed over the wound for one hour (1/2 hour for a baby tooth) to help the bleeding stop. If bleeding persists, change to a new gauze and continue biting firmly for another 1/2 to one hour or until the bleeding stops.
2. Do not rinse your mouth vigorously for 24 hours after the treatment. Keep your teeth and mouth clean by brushing gently after meals, but avoid touching the wound.
3. During the first week after treatment, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt with 1 glass of warm water) several times a day to help heal the wound.
4. Take medications as prescribed by the dentist
   • Pain relief medication: Take 1-2 tablets only when necessary.
   • Antibiotics (prescribed in some cases): Please take the complete dosage prescribed.

After Oral Surgery

Follow the same procedures as for a tooth extraction, but with the following additional recommendations:

1. On the first day after the surgery, even if there is no swelling, apply a cold pack (or ice wrapped in a small towel) to the area of the face closest to the wound to help reduce swelling.
2. The swelling usually starts on the second day after the surgery and continues throughout the first week. During this time, limit strenuous exercise and water sports.
3. Maintain a soft food diet during the first week.
4. If indicated by your dentist, return to the dentist at the end of the first week for suture removal.

Following Root Canal Treatment

1. Pain may persist for the first few days after the treatment. Pain relief medication can be taken if necessary.
2. During the first week after the root canal treatment, avoid chewing any kind of food in the treated area of the mouth. After the first week and until the treated tooth is fully restored, avoid using that tooth to chew hard food in order to avoid a tooth fracture.\
3. Contact us if the pain persists for more than a few days after treatment or if gum swelling occurs.

After Scaling or Periodontal Surgery

1. Teeth sensitivity and slight discomfort of the gums are common symptoms during the first few days after scaling. Avoid sour tasting food and extremely cold or hot food during this period.
2. Maintain a soft food diet for the first week after gum surgery. During this period, limit strenuous exercise and water sports.
3. Do not rinse your mouth vigorously after gum surgery for 24 hours. Keep your teeth and mouth clean by brushing gently after meals, but avoid touching the wound.
4. Take medications as prescribed
   • Pain relief medication: Take 1-2 tablets only when necessary.
   • Antibiotics (prescribed in some cases): Must take the complete dosage prescribed.
   • Use special mouth-rinse as recommended by your dentist.

Local Anesthesia

Following local anesthesia, special attention is required for young children, elderly patients and medically compromised patients

1. To avoid injury to the inside of the mouth, there should be no chewing or biting of lips, cheeks or tongue while the area is still numb. The numbness will gradually wear off in 2-3 hours.
2. During the first 24 hours, chew food by using teeth on the side of the mouth that did not receive treatment.
3. If lips or tongue have been accidentally bitten, the wound may be swollen with white or yellowish plaque covering it. Do not rub or apply any medication to the wound. The wound will disappear by itself in approximately 7-10 days without scar. Pain relief medication can be taken if necessary.

Oral Sedation

Pre-operation Instructions:

1. Do not eat or drink anything (except plain water) for at least four hours prior to the appointment.
2. If you develop a fever or cold before the appointment, please contact Bangkok Dental Center. If your child is the patient and he or she develops a fever or cold, contact the pediatric surgeon at the Center.
3. After taking oral sedation medication, children may appear agitated and cry before being completely sedated.

Post-operation Instructions:

1. There should be more than one adult accompanying a child home so that the non driver can care for him/her during the trip. If you are the patient, be sure you have arranged for transportation.
2. Patients are placed in a comfortable position until fully awake after an operation.
3. Upon awakening, patients may drink and eat, but only a soft food diet is recommended during the first day.
4. It is common for some patients to remain asleep almost the entire day. To prevent dehydration, the patient should be awakened within 4 hours after the treatment to be given liquid or soft food.

General Anesthesia/Intramuscular (IM) or Intravenous (IV) Sedation

Pre-operation Instructions:

1. Patients must have a complete physical examination (including lab work if indicated) within 7 days of the operation.
2. If the patient develops a cold, fever or any other reasons that would defer the appointment, please contact us immediately to consult the dentist. If it is necessary to re-schedule, our staff will notify all doctors and personnel involved.
3. For patient safety, please strictly follow these instructions:
   • If the patient is less than four years old, he/she should not eat or drink for six hours (four hours for water) prior to the appointment.
   • If the patient is more than four years old, he or she should not eat or drink for eight hours (six hours for water) prior to the appointment.

Post-operation Instructions:

1. In most cases, patients will be able to return home after becoming fully alert (usually takes approximately one hour after the procedure). There should be more than one adult accompanying the patient home so that the non-driver can care for the patient during the trip.
2. Common side effects include:
   • Nausea and Vomiting: This is common during the first 1-2 hours after the procedure. Avoid eating or drinking excessive amounts of water or food during this period.
   • Fever: A small child may develop a slight fever from dehydration. In this case, frequent consumption of liquid is recommended along with fever relief medication.
   • Sore Throat: Small sips of water are allowed after awakening. A soft food diet is recommended during the first day.
   • Discomfort and Pain: If the procedure includes oral surgery or the removal of several teeth, please follow the instructions of the oral surgeon. Take pain relief medication as necessary.
3. Keep the mouth clean by brushing with a soft toothbrush after meals.
4. Patients can go back to normal activities the day following surgery unless notified otherwise by the oral surgeon.

For more information, please contact
Bangkok Dental Center
Tel. (662) 310 3336, (662) 755 1336
Email : info@bangkokhospital.com