POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOCAL ANESTHETIC PLACEMENT

If local anesthetic injections were used as pain management during your treatment, certain areas of your mouth will be numb or asleep. In some cases, the jaw may become sore or a bruise may develop. Below are some helpful suggestions that will increase your comfort for the following conditions.

Please do not hesitate to call our office if there are any questions.

MANAGEMENT OF SORENESS

Soreness is a condition which can occur following some dental injections. This condition is temporary, but may cause pain and soreness of the jaw muscles. You may experience temporary difficulty with opening and closing.

• Apply heat (hot, moist towels) to the jaw for 20 minutes every hour.
• Use warm saline rinses several times per day (1 tsp salt to 12 oz. of warm water)
• Use over the counter pain medication to alleviate the discomfort.
• Exercise the jaw for 5 minutes every 3-4 hours. Chew sugarless gum to exercise the jaw.
• After following these instructions, you should see improvement within 48-72 hours. If you do not see improvement, contact us to schedule an appointment.

MANAGEMENT OF BRUISING

• Place ice packs immediately on cheek for the first 4-6 hours
• 24 hours after the appointment, apply warm, moist towels to the bruised area for 20 minutes every hour.
• Upon opening and closing, pain may occur. Take over the counter pain reliver and exercise the jaw for 5 minutes every 3-4 hours. Chew sugarless gum to exercise the jaw.