Patient Resources

To make your initial appointment at The Center For Oral Health as smooth and efficient as possible, we encourage you to review and complete the necessary forms and instructions beforehand.


Please read the following documents prior to your scheduled visit or procedure. Having these completed allows Dr. Hersh and our team to focus entirely on your specialized care during your appointment.

Forms for Your Initial Visit

For your initial consultation, please download and complete our Medical History Form. Bringing this with you, along with a list of your current medications and any dental plan information (if applicable), will save time at check-in.

Insurance Handling

All completed dental services will be promptly submitted to the insurance company for payment with all benefits sent directly to the patient. Payment for all services are expected at the time treatment is rendered. On request, a pre-treatment estimate for any proposed care will be sent to the insurance provider. 


Instructions for Procedures

If you have a specialized procedure scheduled with Dr. Hersh, please review the appropriate instructions to ensure the best possible outcome.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

 

  • If the time of the scheduled appointment is preceded by a mealtime, eat lightly.

  • Wear comfortable clothing. When possible, wear a short sleeved garment or a sleeved garment which can be rolled up. This will facilitate taking blood pressure.

  • Take all medications as prescribed. Typically, patients are requested to take 400mg of Ibuprofen (ADVIL, MOTRIN) 30 minutes prior to the scheduled appointment. If you have been advised to avoid aspirin, aspirin-like products or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), take 500-650mg of acetaminophen (TYLENOL) instead.

  • When possible, obtain all of your prescribed medications in advance. This will permit you to return home without added delay. Try to arrange your schedule so that following the procedure, you can return home and relax for the remainder of the day. Avoid going to work, or returning to work when possible. Do not engage in any physical activity for 48 hours following the procedure.

Always check with your doctor to be sure that these instructions are appropriate for you.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Place ice on the surgically treated area, 15 minutes on, then 15 minutes off. Continue the ice applications for at least 6 hours.

  • Avoid exercise for 48 hours (running, aerobics, swimming, weights).

  • Avoid smoking for 24 hours.

  • Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing products (Anacin, Bufferin, Excedrin) for 48 hours.

  • For mild discomfort, Tylenol (325mg-650mg) is recommended every 4 to 6 hours. For moderate discomfort, Motrin or Advil (200mg-600mg) every 4 to 6 hours is suggested. For extreme pain, Tylenol and Codeine (Tylenol #3 or Tylenol #4), Percocet, or an alternate prescribed medication should be taken as directed. Remember, when taking any of the strong narcotic pain medications, avoid driving, operating heavy machinery or any other activity which will require fast reaction time.

  • Maintain a soft diet (soup, eggs, Jello) for the first 24 hours. Thereafter, resume a diet which is tolerable. For the first 48 hours, drink lots of fluids (juices and water). Since nutrition may be compromised during the week following the surgical procedure, a daily multiple vitamin is recommended.

  • Clean the non-surgically treated areas as usual. Do not rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours, since this action may cause some bleeding. For the first week, gently clean the surgical site four times daily with soft sponge applicators or cotton-tipped applicators dipped in Peridex. By the second week, resume gentle tooth brushing in the surgically treated site.

SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXTRACTION PROCEDURE

 

  • If you have been requested to bite on a gauze pad, keep the pressure on for at least 1 hour.
  • Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours. This will prevent premature break-down of the clot.

SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GRAFT PROCEDURE

 

  • If donor tissue has been taken from the palate, do not disturb this site by attempting to clean it for the first 24 hours. This may cause unnecessary bleeding.
  • Whether or not the graft site is covered by a hard dressing, this site should still be kept as clean as possible by applying Peridex Solution. Clean this site gently to avoid dislodging the dressing.

SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLANT PROCEDURE

 

  • Apply Peridex solution with sponge applicators, cotton-tipped applicators or a soft toothbrush for the two weeks after implant placement.
  • When possible, it is preferable to avoid wearing your denture over the implant insertion site for the first two weeks. This will prevent undesirable pressure on the healing tissue.

If you have any problems or questions during the post-surgical phase, do not hesitate to call the office. Always check with your doctor to be sure that these instructions are appropriate for you.