🦷 Dental Aftercare
Inlay / Onlay Aftercare Instructions
A day-by-day recovery guide for inlay / onlay: what to expect, how to care for yourself, and when to call. Free to read and print.
Typical recovery: about 14 daysDental
Inlay / Onlay recovery, day by day
Day 0 (Preparation Day)
Numbness & Temporary
- Numbness lasts 2-4 hours; avoid chewing until it wears off
- A temporary filling or inlay has been placed
- Avoid sticky and hard foods that could dislodge the temporary
Sensitivity
- Some temperature sensitivity is normal
- Avoid very hot or very cold foods and drinks
- OTC pain medication if needed for mild discomfort
Day 1-7
Temporary Care
- Chew on the opposite side when possible
- Brush gently around the temporary
- If the temporary falls out, call us; keep it and bring it in
Day 8-14
Permanent Placement
- After cementing, check your bite and report any high spots
- Mild sensitivity for 1-2 weeks is normal
- Brush and floss normally
- Avoid very hard foods (ice, hard candy) for the first week
When to call your provider or 911
- •Sharp, persistent pain when biting (may indicate a crack)
- •Temporary or permanent restoration falls out
- •Throbbing pain that wakes you at night
- •Sensitivity that worsens instead of improves after placement
When in doubt, call your clinic. For a medical emergency, call 911.
Recovery milestones
- Day 3
Adjust to temporary
Getting used to the temporary inlay/onlay
- Day 14
Permanent placement
Return for permanent inlay/onlay cementation
For clinics
Stop photocopying aftercare sheets.
QR Rx sends this exact inlay / onlay recovery plan to every patient, branded to your practice, opened by a QR code. It checks in automatically, answers post-op questions, asks for a review at the right moment, and brings patients back for their next visit. The aftercare you already owe every patient, doing the work of keeping them.
HIPAA compliant. No credit card. Cancel anytime.