The following instructions are to be used as a guide following treatment. If you are experiencing any unusual or extreme symptoms, please contact our office.
COMPOSITE (TOOTH COLORED) FILLINGS
It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue.
Sensitivity
: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.
For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an Advil or Tylenol if the discomfort persists.
If, after several days the new filling seems "tall", please call our office for a slight adjustment.
Home Care : It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.
CROWNS AND BRIDGES
It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue.
Temporary
: Please be careful when cleaning around the temporary restoration. Do not pull up on the temporary when flossing this area. Make sure to brush this area gently and not to chew any hard foods on the restoration.
If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you.
Sensitivity
: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.
For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages.
It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an Advil or Tylenol if the discomfort persists.
Permanent Crown/Bridge : When the final restoration is placed, your bite may feel a little different. This is just your mouth adjusting to the new addition. If it still feels off in a few days, please call the office for a slight adjustment.
Home Care
: It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately.
A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.
PORCELAIN VENEERS AND CROWNS
It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue.
Temporary : Please be careful when cleaning around the temporary restorations. Do not pull up on the temporary when flossing this area. Make sure to brush this area gently and not to chew any hard foods on the restoration.
If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you.
Sensitivity
: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.
For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an Advil or Tylenol if the discomfort persists.
Permanent Veneers : When the final restoration is placed, your bite may feel a little different. This is just your mouth adjusting to the new addition. If it still feels off in a few days, please call the office for a slight adjustment.
Home Care : It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. It is very important to thoroughly clean the area between the veneer and the tooth at the gumline. A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.
SCALING AND ROOT PLANING (DEEP CLEANING)
After your scaling or root planning, it is best to rinse your mouth 2-3 times per day with warm salt water. One teaspoon salt / 8 oz. water. You should start home care immediately, although you should be extremely gentle with the treated areas.
If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue where you had treatment, an Advil or Tylenol may be taken to relieve this feeling. The treated areas will probably be sensitive to hot and cold.
It is best to refrain from eating any hard or chewy foods for the next 48-72 hours while the treated area begins to heal.
You may also experience some swelling or jaw stiffness. If this does occur, you can place a cold compress on the swelling or a hot towel on the stiffness.
Smoking should be terminated for a period of 48-72 hours following these procedures. Please contact the office if the pain or swelling persists.
TOOTH WHITENING
Often patients experience increased sensitivity to cold and gum irritation during the whitening process, which dissipates within one to three days after interruption or completion of treatment. If you experience any extreme sensitivity or gum soreness, call our office.
Sensitivity
: Usage of floride gel or sensitivity toothpaste can help relieve symptoms, however, this may slow the whitening process. If teeth are highly sensitive, delay the next application a day or two (or wait until sensitivity subsides before continuing treatment).
Gum Soreness:
Make sure there is the appropriate amount of whitnening gel in the tray, as too much will cause gel to express out of the tray and onto the gums. If this occurs, use a tooth brush or a Q-tip to remove excess gel so as to not irritate the gums.
If the whitening gel gets on the gums it is common that the gums will turn a white color. The pink color of the gums will slowly return once the gel is removed.
ROOT CANAL THERAPY
It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue. This will also allow the temporary restorative material to harden.
You will most likely feel soreness in the area as well as pressure when you bite down. For this reason, you should avoid hard and chewy foods. Do not eat on the treated side of your mouth for at least 24 hours. The soreness should decrease within a week.
Take any antibiotic medication prescribed to you by the doctor as this will eliminate any remaining infection in the tooth.
If you notice any of the following symptoms please contact our office:
- Increasing tenderness or swelling in the area surrounding the tooth
- A reaction to the medication
- Loss of the temporary filling material
-Tooth fracture
TOOTH EXTRACTION
Do not smoke for 48-72 hours after surgery. Smoking increases the incidence of a dry socket and also delays healing of the surgical site.
Bleeding
:
It is normal for minor bleeding to occur for the first 24 hours following surgery If slightly heavier bleeding occurs:
1. Place a piece of gauze over the surgery site.
2. Bite firmly on the gauze for at least 30 minutes. DO NOT chew on it.
3. If the bleeding continues, call the office
4. Do not suck on area where surgery occurred or drink through a straw during the first 48 hours.
Rinsing
:
1. Don t spit or rinse the surgical area on the day of the surgery..
2. The day after surgery you may gently rinse with warm salt water.
3. You may brush your teeth and your tongue after the surgery. Be careful of the surgical site.
Eating
:
You should start with liquids and very soft foods for the first 24-48 hours following the surgery. If the area feels a little better, you can then move on to a normal diet. Be careful of chewing on hard foods near the surgical area. Also refrain from consuming carbonated beverages and alcohol for 48 hours.
Pain & Swelling
:
It is normal to experience some degree of swelling.
If you do experience swelling, you can place ice over your face for 20-30 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours. This should help to reduce pain and swelling. Do not ice after the first 36 hours.
If you feel discomfort, it is recommended that you take an Advil, Tylenol or the prescription given to you to ease the pain. If the pain persists, please contact the office.
NEW DENTURES AND PARTIAL DENTURES
Your new denture may be a little loose for the first couple of days, however, the gums will adapt to the new denture giving the denture better retention.
The development of sore spots is normal with a new denture, please call our office for an adjustment.
Speaking and chewing with a new denture can be a learning process and will take practice. Chewing with food on both sides of your mouth is important to keep the denture stable.
Remember to always take your denture out at night time, clean it, and soak in room temperature water over night. Removing the denture is important for proper gum health and hygiene.
