Pre & Post Treatment Care

Your skin will feel like a strong sunburn, and the heat sensation can be intense for two to three hours. Cool compresses help. Keep the treated area covered in a healing ointment such as Aquaphor at all times.

This is the single most important rule. Skin that dries out heals slower and risks pigment changes. Reapply ointment every three to four hours, including overnight.

Swelling is normal and usually worst when you first wake up. Sleep with your head elevated on several pillows for the first few nights, and use cold compresses as needed.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is recommended. Avoid ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin for the first 24 hours, as they can interfere with the inflammatory healing response.

Beginning day two, gently cleanse three times daily with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil. Always wash your hands first. Pat face dry with a clean disposable facial towel. No scrubbing, no washcloths, no exfoliants.

Flaking and peeling are expected over the following days. Do not pick, scrub, or pull at loosening skin — let it shed on its own or you risk scarring and pigment change.

Strict sun avoidance. Once your skin has closed, use SPF 30 or higher daily, reapplying outdoors and even in the car. Sun exposure on new skin is the fastest way to undo your result.

Residual pinkness is normal new skin and can last weeks or occasionally months. Generally, longer-lasting pinkness means more collagen is forming — it's a sign of a good result, not a problem.

You develop increasing pain, spreading redness, yellow crusting or drainage, fever, or any sign of a cold sore outbreak.

Expect to look as though you have a moderate sunburn — redness, warmth, and mild swelling. This is the normal inflammatory response that drives collagen production.

Do not wash your face until the following morning. Use only the products we provide or recommend. Sleep on a clean pillowcase — the goal is keeping the skin free of anything that could settle into the micro-channels. Keep face moist with any thermal water face mist.

Strictly avoid sun exposure on day one, since you won't be wearing sunscreen. Resume sunscreen the following day and minimize sun exposure for a week.

No strenuous exercise, sweating, saunas, steam rooms, or hot tubs for 72 hours. Excess blood flow and sweat irritate compromised skin.

Minor redness and swelling last one to two days. Light flaking and dryness can continue up to two weeks. Do not pick at flaking skin and do not use exfoliants.

Mineral makeup only, and not before day two. Avoid regular foundation until the skin has settled.

Return to your regular routine — including retinol and other active ingredients — only once the skin is no longer irritated, usually around day five to seven.

Gradual improvement appears over the following week and continues as cell turnover progresses. Most patients need a series of three to six treatments spaced four to six weeks apart, then periodic maintenance.

Redness or swelling worsens after day two, you develop itching or burning that doesn't settle, or you see any yellow crusting or signs of infection.

There is no recovery whatsoever. The scan is non-invasive and non-contact — you can apply makeup and return to your day immediately.

We review your report with you on screen, showing sun damage, pigmentation, vascular patterns, pore condition, and wrinkle depth mapped across your face and scored against age and skin-type norms.

Findings guide what we recommend — CO2 resurfacing, microneedling, a facial protocol, or an at-home regimen. You'll leave knowing what your skin actually needs rather than guessing.

We recommend repeating the scan every three to six months so you can compare side by side and confirm objectively that your plan is working.

Skin may look slightly flushed for under an hour, then simply appears brighter and smoother. There is no meaningful downtime.

Avoid makeup for the rest of the day if you can. Do not use exfoliants, retinol, or acid-based products.

Skip strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs for the first 24 hours.

Your skin has just been exfoliated and is more photosensitive. Wear SPF 30 or higher daily and limit direct sun for several days.

Occasionally some congestion surfaces in the days after a deep-cleansing treatment. This is normal clearing, not a reaction — don't pick at it.

Return to retinol and active ingredients after two to three days, once any sensitivity has passed.

Monthly treatments maintain results best. Many patients schedule one seven to ten days before a wedding, shoot, or event for peak glow.

Some bleeding or oozing in the saliva is normal. Do not rinse, spit, smoke, or use straws — suction can dislodge the clot that's forming.

Swelling is expected and usually peaks around day two or three. Apply a cold pack wrapped in a towel, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, for the first 24 hours. After 48 hours, switch to moist heat.

Take your first dose of pain medication before the numbness wears off. The ADA recommends an NSAID such as ibuprofen as first-line therapy, alone or combined with acetaminophen. If antibiotics were prescribed, finish the entire bottle.

Soft foods and cool liquids on day one. Chew on the opposite side for about two weeks. Avoid hot foods while numb, and never chew directly on the implant until Dr. Patel confirms it has healed.

Begin gentle brushing the day after surgery, avoiding the surgical site. Starting the day after, rinse with warm salt water (one teaspoon in eight ounces) two to three times daily. Use a wet Q-tip to lightly roll over an implant site to keep it clean and plaque free.

Limit physical activity for 24–48 hours; avoid strenuous exercise for about a week. Keep your head elevated on extra pillows when lying down.

Bleeding is severe or won't stop with pressure, pain increases after day three, swelling worsens after day four, you develop a fever, or you have a reaction to any medication.

Avoid chewing until the anesthetic fully wears off so you don't bite your cheek, lip, or tongue.

Avoid sticky and hard foods — gum, taffy, hard candy, crusty bread. When flossing, slide the floss out sideways rather than pulling up, so you don't dislodge it. If you have a connected temporary crown, use Closys or StellaLife mouthwash, available on Amazon.

Do not bite directly into anything hard with your front teeth — corn on the cob, whole apples, pears, and similar foods. Cut them into pieces and chew with your back teeth instead.

Call us right away. Don't leave it out — neighboring teeth can shift and prevent the permanent crown from seating. Never glue it back yourself.

Hot and cold sensitivity and tender gums for a few days are normal. Warm salt water rinses and over-the-counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen help.

Brush and floss it exactly like a natural tooth. If your bite feels high or uneven at any point, call us for a quick adjustment — don't wait it out.

Your bite feels off, sensitivity worsens rather than improves, or discomfort persists beyond a week.

Leave the denture in place for the first 24–48 hours as directed; it acts as a bandage over the healing tissue. Remove it only when we instruct you to.

Sore spots are expected in the first weeks. Don't adjust the denture yourself — call us and we'll relieve the pressure point precisely.

Start with soft foods cut small. Chew on both sides simultaneously to keep the denture stable. Speaking and eating both improve with practice.

Clean the denture over a folded towel or basin of water so it won't break if dropped. Brush your gums, tongue, and palate daily to stimulate circulation.

Remove dentures at night unless told otherwise, and store them in water or denture solution so they don't dry out and warp.

Extraction sites take about six months to fully heal and reshape, so a reline or permanent denture is usually needed after that period.

A sore spot doesn't improve, the fit changes suddenly, or you have difficulty eating after the adjustment period.

Don't chew anything until the anesthetic wears off. Gum tissue at the injection site may be sore for 24–48 hours.

The tooth may feel tender for several days to a week, particularly if there was pain or infection beforehand. Over-the-counter ibuprofen usually manages it well.

Do not chew on the treated tooth until the permanent crown or filling is placed. A root-canal-treated tooth is brittle and can fracture without full coverage.

Rinse with warm salt water after meals to soothe the gum tissue.

If antibiotics were prescribed, finish the full course even once you feel better.

Pain increases instead of decreasing, swelling develops, the temporary filling comes out, or your bite feels uneven.

Temporaries are far less sturdy than the final restorations. Do not bite with your front teeth. Avoid chewy, sticky, and hard foods entirely while they're in.

You will not be able to floss. It is recommended to rinse twice daily with Closys or StellaLife mouthwash, which can be found on Amazon.

Some irritation and sensitivity during the temporary phase and after final placement is normal, and settles once the soft tissue heals fully.

New veneers may feel slightly awkward for several days. Your mouth typically adapts within a week.

Brush and floss normally. Avoid biting nails, ice, or using teeth as tools. A night guard is strongly recommended if you clench or grind.

Your bite feels abnormal, a temporary comes loose, or sensitivity continues beyond a week after final placement.

Bite firmly on the gauze pad for 45–60 minutes. If bleeding continues, replace with fresh moistened gauze — a damp tea bag also works well.

Do not spit, rinse vigorously, smoke, or use a straw for the first week. Dislodging the clot causes dry socket, which is painful and delays healing.

Cold pack 20 minutes on, 20 off, for the first 24 hours. Take pain medication before the anesthetic wears off.

Soft, cool foods for the first week. Avoid hot liquids and chewing near the site. For the first week, also avoid all spicy foods and anything crunchy, and do not sip through a straw when drinking. Return to a normal diet as comfort allows.

Starting the day after, rinse gently with warm salt water several times daily, especially after meals.

Sharp edges you feel may be small bone fragments working out — this is normal. Dissolving sutures typically disappear within three to five days.

Bleeding is heavy after several hours, you develop worsening pain around day three (possible dry socket), or you have fever or swelling that increases.

Grogginess is normal for the rest of the day. Rest at home with someone available to check on you.

Drive, operate machinery, drink alcohol, or make important decisions for 24 hours.

Start with clear liquids, then progress to soft foods as you feel steady. Take medications with a little food to reduce nausea.

If nausea occurs it's usually from narcotic pain medication. Take a smaller dose next interval, and eat something small beforehand.

You experience persistent vomiting, difficulty breathing, or unusual confusion.

If local anesthetic was used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may stay numb for several hours. Do not chew anything until feeling fully returns, so you don't bite your cheek or tongue. Wait at least two hours before eating.

Choose a soft diet for the first 48 to 72 hours. Avoid spicy foods and anything extremely hot or cold for several days. Drink plenty of water.

Gum tenderness for several days is normal. Ibuprofen (Advil) taken before the anesthetic wears off works well — generally 400 to 800mg every six hours is sufficient. If you can't take NSAIDs, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is fine.

This is the most common complaint after SRP and happens because tartar has been removed from the root surfaces. It usually fades over a few weeks. Use a desensitizing toothpaste such as Sensodyne and avoid tartar-control formulas.

Rinse two or three times daily with 1 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of warm water. Rinse as often as you find it soothing.

Resume home care right away but be gentle. Use a soft-bristled brush around the treated areas — an electric brush is strongly recommended. Some light bleeding while brushing for a few days is normal and expected.

Avoid tobacco for at least 24 to 48 hours, as it directly delays tissue healing. Periodontal disease is significantly harder to control in smokers.

Periodontal disease is controllable rather than curable. The success of this treatment depends heavily on daily home care and keeping your periodontal maintenance appointments.

Discomfort or swelling persists or worsens after several days, bleeding becomes heavy, or sensitivity doesn't begin improving after a few weeks.

Expect an adjustment period. Excess saliva, mild jaw soreness, or tooth tenderness in the morning are common in the first one to two weeks as your muscles adapt. Most patients acclimate quickly.

Insert the appliance after brushing and flossing. If you use mouthwash, rinse thoroughly first. Wear it every night — consistency is what produces results.

The QuietNite uses two lateral connectors that gently advance your lower jaw. These are adjustable at home, but advance gradually and only as directed. Moving too far too fast causes jaw soreness.

Your bite may feel slightly off for a few minutes after removing the appliance. Gentle jaw exercises or biting on the provided aligner helps your bite settle back. If it doesn't normalize within about 30 minutes, let us know.

Rinse with cool water after each use and clean with a peroxide-based appliance cleaner. Never use hot water — heat will warp the trays. Air dry completely, then store in its case.

Always keep it in the case when not worn. Pets are drawn to these devices, and a chewed appliance means a full remake.

We'll see you back to confirm fit, verify the advancement is effective, and check that your bite and jaw joints remain healthy. Ongoing periodic checks are part of appliance therapy.

Jaw pain persists through the day, your bite feels permanently changed, teeth become loose or shift, or the appliance cracks, doesn't fit, or stops controlling your snoring.