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Post Operative Instructions
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When anesthetia has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
It is normal to experience some hot, cold and pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Your gums may be sore for several days. Rinse your mouth three times a day with warn salt water (put a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse and spit) to reduce pain and swelling.
It has been found that approximately six percent of teeth that require extensive fillings actually have very sick or dead nerves. Most of these teeth may have a problem with the nerve even if the tooth has not been bothering you before. That is why it is important to continue taking care of the tooth and trying to keep the swelling down in the nerve, to ensure that if enough life is left in the nerve, it may heal after the restorative treatment. For this to occur, the ibuprofen tablets should be continued every eight hours for two or three days after treatment unless you cannot take that medicine.
You may chew on new white fillings, since they set completely on the day of your appointment but use caution.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office immediately to obtain help or advice.
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POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS AFTER COSMETIC RECONSTRUCTION:
Remember that it will take time to adjust to the feel of your new bite. When the bite is altered, or the position of the teeth is changed, it takes several days for the brain to recognize the new position of your teeth or their thickness as normal. If you continue to detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call us so we can schedule an adjustment appointment. It’s normal to experience some hot, cold and pressure sensitivity. Removing tooth structure and placement of new materials may result in a period of adjustment. Your gums may also be sore for several days. Rinse three times a day with warm salt water (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish and spit) to reduce pain and swelling.
Mild pain medication should ease your discomfort during the adjustment period. Don’t be concerned if your speech is affected for the first few days. You’ll quickly adapt and be speaking normally. You may notice increased salivary flow, as your brain sometimes responds to the new size and shape of your teeth by increasing salivary flow This should subside to normal within a week or so. Daily plaque removal is critical for the long-term success of your dental work. Maintain a regular oral hygiene routine. Daily brushing and flossing is a must. Regular cleaning appointments in our office are also critically important.
We’ll use the appropriate cleaning abrasives and techniques for your specific cosmetic work. It is important to change habits to protect your new teeth. Any food that could chip, crack, or damage your natural teeth can do the same to your new cosmetic restorations. Avoid sticky candies, any unusually hard foods or substances such as peanut brittle, fingernails, pencils or ice. Avoid or minimize your use of foods that stain, such as tea, coffee, red wine and berries. Smoking will quickly yellow your teeth. Let us know if you grind your teeth at night or engage in sports so we can make you a custom mouth guard. Adjusting to the look and feel of your new smile will take time. If you have any problems or concerns, you’re always welcome to contact us. |
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Tooth extraction is a surgical procedure. Therefore, it is natural that temporary changes will occur in the mouth afterward. You will be functioning normally within a few days. In the meantime, you should follow a few simple guidelines to help promote healing, prevent complications, and make yourself more comfortable. Your mouth will still be numb for a few hours after the extraction so you will want to be careful not to bite your cheek, lip or tongue. After an extraction, it is important to allow a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. This is why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes after the procedure.
If bleeding or oozing continues after you remove the gauze pad, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another thirty minutes. A small amount of bleeding is not uncommon. It is often helpful to place a towel over your pillowcase while resting or sleeping.
You may have to do this several times. After the blood clot forms, it is important to protect it, especially for the next 24 hours. Do not smoke, suck through a straw, rinse you mouth vigorously, or clean the teeth next to the extraction site. These activities will dislodge the clot and slow down healing. Limit yourself to calm activities for the first 24 hours. This keeps your blood pressure lower, reduces bleeding and helps the healing process. After the tooth is extracted, you may feel some pain and have some swelling. You can use an ice bag to keep this to a minimum. The swelling usually starts to go down after 48 hours. Use pain medication only as directed. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
Drink lots of fluids and eat only soft nutritious foods on the day of the extraction. Don’t use alcoholic beverages and avoid hot and spicy foods. You can begin eating normally the next day, or as soon as it is comfortable. Gently rinse your mouth with salt water three times a day (mix one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit). Make sure to gently brush your teeth to help keep bacteria levels down. Also, rinse gently after meals-it helps to keep food out of the extraction site. It is very important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours, which should include brushing your teeth and tongue frequently and flossing at least once a day. This speeds healing and helps keep your breath and mouth fresh. Call the office right away if you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling after two or three days, or a reaction to the medication. After a few days you will be feeling fine and can resume your normal activities.
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Root canal therapy often takes two or more appointments to complete. A temporary filling or crown is placed to protect the tooth between appointments. After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. Between appointments it is common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out, or if a temporary crown comes off, call us so that it can be replaced. It is normal to experience mild discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment depending on the severity of the previous tooth infection, especially when chewing.
To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water very gently (mix one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit). DO NOT SMOKE! If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as instructed even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone. You may also use an ice pack, on and off with caution. To protect the tooth and help keep your temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods, especially gum, hard foods, and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to continue to brush and floss normally. Usually, the last step after a root canal treatment is the placement of a crown on the tooth. A crown covers and protects the tooth from breaking in the future. If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent swelling or pain, or you have any other questions or concerns, please call the office.
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New dentures ,whether full or partial, will always require a period of adjustment. We are confident that we have done our best to provide you with a prosthesis that is well fitting , functional, and esthetic. Since they may cover areas of your mouth that are not normally covered, your speech may be altered and require adaptation of the tongue and lips for proper speech. This may feel strange initially, and in a few weeks, you will become accustomed to wearing them.
Usually your mouth may develop a few sore spots after the first day of wearing your new prosthesis. These areas can be relieved easily at your follow-up appointments. Subsequent sore spots can be relieved at regular appointments or whenever necessary. Removable dentures do not have the same chewing efficiency as natural teeth. The stability and retention of dentures depends on many factors. Your bite will not feel comfortable for a period of days. We will adjust the way the teeth contact at your follow-up appointments to obtain the most stable and efficient chewing process as your new dentures settle into place. Dentures can affect the taste of food and acquire stains and odor. Proper cleaning is required. Please follow the cleaning instructions presented to you in the office and review the care instructions in your new denture kit. Removable prostheses may retain food in certain spots. This is unavoidable and requires that you practice meticulous home care.
Do not wear your dentures to bed. You gum tissue and jaw bones need the rest in order to prevent further tissue irritation, infection, and future shrinkage. Dentures are subject to wear as are all fabricated appliances and restorations. Worn portions may need to be replaced or the entire prosthesis may require replacing. With time, gum tissue and the bone underneath change. When your natural teeth are missing, this shrinkage can be about 0.03 inches a year. Relines may be necessary to achieve a snug fit again. Since these changes should be monitored, an annual check-up of your tissues and dentures is recommended.
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Your tooth or teeth have been prepared for a porcelain restoration. While we are waiting for the final restoration to arrive from the laboratory, a temporary restoration has been placed to help cover your tooth and protect it from sensitivity and to keep it from drifting in its position in your mouth. Your tooth may feel sensitive to cold, sweet, and biting. Don’t worry, this is normal and should subside in a few days. If this sensitivity is severe and does not dissipate, please call the office immediately for an evaluation.Do not eat anything sticky, hard or chewy as this may pull the temporary off or break it. Be careful brushing and avoid flossing adjacent to the temporary as this may cause it to be dislodged.
Once the permanent restoration is placed, you may brush and floss normally. Your temporary may feel rough to your tongue and does not look as nice as the final restoration will. You can feel confident that your new restoration is being made using state-of-the-art materials by the finest laboratories and technicians. We realize that temporaries may be at times inconvenient and look forward with you to delivering the final restoration. Please call the office with questions, concerns, or anything that seems out of the ordinary.
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Following scaling and root planning, you can expect to notice less redness, less bleeding and less swelling of your gum tissue. Your mouth will taste better and feel better. Your gum health can then be maintained with proper homecare and regular professional care.
DISCOMFORT: Discomfort or pain should not be severe and should subside in a few hours, definitely within a few days. Discomfort immediately after treatment is usually associated with slight tingling or aching and occasionally may be uncomfortable. This discomfort usually dissipates with four hours.
TOOTH SENSITIVITY: Teeth may be sensitive to temperature changes and /or sweets. The sensitivity to temperature may be noticeable during the first several days and usually diminishes quickly. Application of a desensitizing fluoride may be recommended.
BLEEDING: Some slight gum bleeding may occur during the next several brushings but the bleeding should steadily decrease.
APPEARANCE: As the gums heal they may change their shape around the teeth. This is normal as they tighten with decreased inflammation.
INSTRUCTIONS TO MINIMIZE SYMPTOMS:
DIET/EATING
If extensive root planning was performed, chewing hard foods, such as meat or raw vegetables may be uncomfortable; this should last no longer than a few days. A diet of a softer consistency would be advised until chewing becomes more comfortable. It is best to avoid spicy foods.
DISCOMFORT/SENSITIVITY
If local anesthesia was used, avoid chewing foods until feeling returns to avoid injury to the tongue or cheeks. Acetaminophen or a non-aspirin analgesic should be taken as recommended to reduce discomfort. If tooth sensitivity is severe and prolonged, professional application of a desensitizing agent may be required.
ORAL HYGIENE
If gum tissues are tender, brush your teeth gently but thoroughly; this may take a little more time than normal. By the third or fourth day, normal oral hygiene techniques may be resumed. Mouth rinsing is recommended with either of the following solutions:
1. an antimicrobial rinse such as Chlorhexidine or Listerine
2. a warm salt-water rinse. Use of either of these rinses should be limited to one to two consecutive weeks.
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