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General dentistry aftercare guide for London patients

This guide explains how to look after your mouth after routine dental treatment, what is normal in the first days, and when to call us. It covers the treatments we provide most often: fillings, cleaning, crowns, extractions and dentures.

Our team, led by Dr Ope Sodeinde, gives you written aftercare instructions specific to your treatment at our Primrose Hill practice. This page is the general version.

What to expect, and how to protect the result

Flossing demonstrated on a dental model
  • Primrose Hill, London NW1

Why aftercare matters

Most dental work fails for one of two reasons: plaque builds up around the restoration, or it is overloaded before it has settled. Both are avoidable with the right care in the first days and the right habits afterwards. Aftercare is part of the general and family dentistry in London we provide, not an afterthought.

Between treatments, prevention keeps the work you have paid for intact: ultrasonic cleaning removes the plaque and tartar that gather at the edges of fillings and crowns, fluoride strengthens enamel that is starting to weaken, and dental sealants protect the grooves of back teeth.

Electric toothbrush technique demonstrated on a dental model

Aftercare planned with your treatment

Instructions differ by treatment and by patient. A patient with gum disease needs a different cleaning routine from one with a new crown, so we tailor the advice when we plan the treatment, and you receive it in writing before you leave.

The plan includes the follow-up care your treatment needs: professional teeth cleaning at an interval set by your gum measurements, and where grinding is damaging your teeth, TMJ and jaw pain treatment to protect the restorations.

A woman flossing her teeth
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Who this guide is for

Anyone who has had treatment with us, and anyone returning to routine care after time away. If anxiety has kept you from the dentist, following a clear routine at home makes each visit shorter and simpler.

Some patients need additional support, such as sleep apnoea devices for night-time breathing, or periodic dental x-rays to check beneath restorations. Your consultation establishes what applies to you.

A woman brushing her teeth

Looking after your mouth after treatment

The first few hours

If you have had local anaesthetic, avoid hot drinks and chewing until the numbness has gone, so you do not bite your cheek or lip. After an extraction, do not rinse or spit for the first day so the clot stays in place. Everyone heals at a different pace, and we tell you what to expect for your treatment.

Sensitivity and discomfort

Mild sensitivity to cold for a few days is normal after dental fillings and crowns. If a filling feels high when you bite, or sensitivity is getting worse rather than better, contact us and we will adjust it.

Daily hygiene

Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between the teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes, including around restorations and under bridges. Where the gums need treatment, we also provide laser dentistry.

Watching for complications

Complications are uncommon. Call us if you have swelling, pain that is increasing after the second day, bleeding that does not stop, or a restoration that has come loose. We give you the practice number so you can report a problem straight away.

Follow-up review

A review confirms the treatment has settled and lets us adjust anything that needs it.

Clinical standards

Our aftercare advice is set by Dr Ope Sodeinde, GDC-registered specialist periodontist (GDC No. 104071). Because most restorations are lost to gum disease rather than to the restoration itself, the routine we give you is designed around the gums.

Patient evidence

Patient experiences in Primrose Hill

Patients tell us they value an unhurried manner and honest options. Good aftercare starts before treatment, with thorough dental examinations so the plan is right from the beginning.

“I highly recommend Dr Ope and London Dental Specislists I had an implant and replaced two crowns that were 15 years old He did a splendid job grafting me some fresh gum and performing the various steps over 8 visits.”

Valentina Becker · Google review

“Had gum grafts, implants, and temporary (and now permanent) crowns placed skilfully by Dr Ope.”

LK K · Google review

Common questions about aftercare

Does aftercare cost extra?

Written aftercare instructions are part of your treatment. Follow-up visits such as cleaning are quoted separately, and our page on general and family dentistry costs in London explains how fees are set.

How long does recovery take?

That depends on the procedure. A filling or cleaning needs no recovery time; an extraction or gum surgery takes days to settle. We tell you the expected timeframe for your treatment.

Will it hurt afterwards?

Mild discomfort for a day or two is normal after some procedures and is managed with ordinary painkillers. Tell us if you have had a bad experience before and we will plan around it.

How long do results last?

That depends on your home care and on keeping your review appointments. Professional dental hygiene visits and routine check-ups are what keep restorations and gums healthy long term.

Maintain your oral health

Your aftercare plan is set at the same visit as your treatment plan. To understand what happens at your new patient consultation and how to book, read our consultation page or call us.

020 7589 7792

Related pages
  • Dental examinations.
  • Professional teeth cleaning.
  • General and family dentistry costs in London.
  • Laser dentistry.
  • TMJ and jaw pain treatment.
  • Sleep apnoea devices.

You will receive a written plan and itemised quote from Dr Sodeinde, which is yours to keep and use at any other practice. Arrange your assessment with Dr Sodeinde to plan your treatment and its aftercare.

020 7589 7792

Patient reviews

What our patients say

Real, verified Google reviews from patients of London Dental Specialists.

“The hygienist also wanted to make me feel reassured and confident and I left much less anxious.”

Fran · Google review

“Also before by extraction, I had a hygienist appointment with Florentina who made me feel at ease and comfortable throughout, she also explained proper teeth hygiene techniques to help prevent plaque and gum disease which I will be carrying on from now on.”

Tinu O · Google review

“excellent service with a smile..I had braces,crowns ,implants and whitening am thoroughly happy with everything and have never had to return for anymore treatment except quarterly visits for the hygienist could not be happier and my smile is great and white”

Gritz Ray · Google review

“I had a consultation with Dr Ope yesterday and he was so informative and I left with better knowledge about dental hygiene.”

Simmy Adey · Google review

“The hygienist, Florentina, was so professional and on point with all her directions about my dental care.”

Alexandra · Google review

“Hygienist Florentina combines the deep technical knowledge with great care for her patients, together with a unique gift for patience in dealing with patients’ concerns and preferences, and an artist’s hand in making sure any work she does is second to none.”

Antonina Zelonca · Google review

“Follow up hygienist appointment by Miss O'Keefe and root canal by Dr Patel were the same excellent high standards.”

C Skerritt · Google review

“I had specialist gum surgery which has been a success and now I visit the hygienist Florentina every three months.”

Lee Washington · Google review

“I always dread going for a hygienist appointment as my teeth are so sensitive, but after seeing Florentina yesterday I am positively looking forward to the next one!”

Juliet Ellis · Google review

“Ope was incredibly skilled and made me feel at ease from the moment I arrived.”

Halima Diallo · Google review

“The procedure took quite some time but I felt that Dr Patel was thorough and I left feeling confident that she had solved the issue.”

Abigail Grace · Google review

“Even from my very first consultations Ope made me feel at ease and confident in his treatment plans and execution.”

Rory Hinde · Google review

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NW1

Where we are

111 Regent's Park Road, Primrose Hill, London NW1 8UR

Tel

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020 7589 7792

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