- Bridges
- Crowns
- Onlays
- Esthetic Restorations
- Extractions
- Fillings
- Implants
- Periodontal Surgery
- Root Canal Therapy
Homecare – Temporary Bridges
Now that we’ve placed your temporary bridge, it’s important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success of your final restoration:
Chewing and eating
If we used anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
Avoid chewing for at least one half-hour to allow the temporary cement to set.
To keep your temporary in place, avoid eating hard or sticky foods, especially chewing gum. If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.
Brushing and flossing
Brush normally, but floss very carefully. We may recommend special floss, brushes, or other cleaning aids to keep the area free of bacteria.
If your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure, use desensitizing toothpaste. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days, call us.
Medication and discomfort
Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed.
To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. It’s normal for your gums to be sore for several days.
When to call us
Call us if your temporary bridge comes off. Save the temporary, so we can re-cement it. It’s very important for the proper fit of your final bridge that your temporary stay in place.
Call our office if your bite feels uneven, you have persistent sensitivity or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns.
Homecare – Permanent Bridges
Now that we’ve placed your permanent bridge, it’s important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success:
Chewing and eating
If we used anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
Brushing and flossing
To protect your bridge, carefully follow our instructions for keeping the areas around and under the bridge free of bacteria. We may recommend special floss, brushes, or other cleaning aids.
If your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure, use desensitizing toothpaste. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days, call us.
Medication and discomfort
Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed.
To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. It’s normal for your gums to be sore for several days.
When to call us
Call our office if your bite feels uneven, you have persistent sensitivity or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns.
Homecare – Temporary Crowns
Now that we’ve placed your temporary crown, it’s important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success of your final restoration:
Chewing and eating
If we used anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
Avoid chewing for at least one half-hour to allow the temporary cement to set.
To keep your temporary in place, avoid eating hard or sticky foods, especially chewing gum. If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.
Brushing and flossing
Brush normally, but floss very carefully. Remove floss from the side to prevent removal of the temporary crown.
If your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure, use desensitizing toothpaste. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days, call us.
Medication and discomfort
Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed.
To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. It’s normal for your gums to be sore for several days.
When to call us
Call us if your temporary crown comes off. Save the temporary, so we can re-cement it. It’s very important for the proper fit of your final bridge that your temporary stay in place.
Call our office if your bite feels uneven, you have persistent sensitivity or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns.
Homecare – Permanent Crowns
Now that we’ve placed your permanent crown, it’s important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success:
Chewing and eating
If we used anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
Brushing and flossing
Brush and floss normally, but if your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure, you can use a desensitizing toothpaste. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days, call us.
Medication and discomfort
Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed.
To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. It’s normal for your gums to be sore for several days.
When to call us
Call our office if your bite feels uneven, you have persistent sensitivity or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns.
Homecare – Temporary Onlays
Now that we’ve placed your temporary onlay, it’s important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success of your final restoration:
Chewing and eating
If we used anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
Avoid chewing for at least one half-hour to allow the temporary cement to set.
To keep your temporary in place, avoid eating hard or sticky foods, especially chewing gum. If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.
Brushing and flossing
If your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure, use desensitizing toothpaste. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days, call us.
Medication and discomfort
Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed.
To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. It’s normal for your gums to be sore for several days.
When to call us
It’s common and not a problem for a small portion for a small portion of your temporary onlay to wear away or break off. Call us, though, if most or all of your temporary comes off. Save the temporary, so we can re-cement it. It’s very important for the proper fit of your final bridge that your temporary stay in place.
Call our office if your bite feels uneven, you have persistent sensitivity or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns.
Homecare – Permanent Onlays
Now that we’ve placed your permanent onlay, it’s important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success:
Chewing and eating
If we used anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
To protect your onlay, avoid chewing ice and other hard objects.
Brushing and flossing
Brush and floss normally, but if your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure, you can use a desensitizing toothpaste. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days, call us.
Medication and discomfort
Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed.
To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. It’s normal for your gums to be sore for several days.
When to call us
Call our office if your bite feels uneven, you have persistent sensitivity or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns.
Homecare – Esthetic
Congratulations on your new smile! Here are some steps you can take to make that adjustment comfortable for you, and to ensure the success of your new smile.
Chewing, eating, and talking
To protect restorations, avoid chewing on sticky candies and hard substances like popcorn hulls, peanut brittle, fingernails, pencils, or ice.
It is normal for your speech to be affected slightly for the first few days. You will quickly adapt to the new “feel” in your mouth, and be speaking normally.
Your brain might respond to the new size and shape of your teeth by increasing salivary flow. This should subside to normal flow within a week.
Brushing and Flossing
Brush and floss twice a day to remove plaque. This is critical for the long-term success of your new restorations.
Brush or rinse after consuming red wine, cola, berries, coffee, and tea because they can stain your new restorations and your teeth.
Medication and discomfort
To reduce discomfort or swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water, gently swish, and then spit carefully. You can also use a mild, over-the-counter pain medication.
It’s normal for your teeth to be a bit sensitive to heat, cold, and pressure. That’s because we removed some tooth structure, and then placed new materials on your teeth. The sensitivity should subside after several days.
About Tobacco
Avoid tobacco products, whether smoked or chewed. They will quickly stain your teeth an unattractive yellowish-brown.
When to call us
It is normal for your new dental work to make your bite feel different for a few days. It takes several days for your brain to recognize and adjust to the new conditions in your mouth. However, if you detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call us to schedule an adjustment.
Call us if sensitivity persists beyond a few days.
If you participate in sports, ask us about creating custom mouthguard to protect your new smile.
Homecare – Extractions
Now that you’ve had a tooth extracted, the initial healing period usually takes one to two weeks, and you’ll likely experience some swelling for the first 48 hours. The space left by the tooth will feel a bit strange to you at first, but eventually, new bone and gum tissue will grow into the gap left by the extraction. Here are some instructions to ensure healing.
General Care
Keep your head elevated with pillows to control bleeding. We will give you a supply of gauze sponges to
place over the bleeding area. Change the pad as necessary, and use them until the bleeding stops
completely. If bleeding persists, you can also bite gently but firmly on a moist tea bag for 20 minutes. Be
sure to call our office if bleeding continues or increases.
A blood clot will form on the extraction site, and this clot is vital to the healing process.To keep the clot
intact, avoid touching the extraction site with your tongue or fingers, do not drink liquids through a
straw, and do not spit vigorously.
Avoid blowing your nose or sneezing violently. This can dislodge the blood clot and impair healing. If
you have an upper respiratory infection or suffer from allergies, be sure to have the appropriate sinus
medication on hand.
Relax as much as possible and avoid all strenuous activities for the first 24 hours following surgery.
Chewing and eating
Avoid chewing or eating until the numbness has completely worn off.
Once the numbness has worn off, you should eat, as nourishment is important to the healing process.
Limit your diet to soft foods like yogurt, soft soups, ice cream, or soft-cooked eggs for the first 48 hours.
Chew on the other side of your mouth to keep food particles from getting into the tooth’s socket.
Drink at least eight large glasses of water or fruit juice each day.
Do not drink liquids through a straw. The sucking action can dislodge the blood clot and impair healing.
Brushing and flossing
Brush and floss the other areas of your mouth as you would normally. Do not brush the extraction site in
order to avoid dislodging the blood clot.
Medication and discomfort
Do not rinse your mouth the day of the surgery, but 24 hours following the procedure, you can rinse gently with mouthwash or a warm salt water solution (dissolve one teaspoon of salt with one cup of warm water). Gently swish the solution around the affected area, and spit carefully. You should do this two or three times each day for the week following the extraction.
If antibiotics were prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
To reduce discomfort, use an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. This is usually sufficient, but we can also give you a prescription for a stronger pain reliever if needed. To avoid nausea, do not take pain medication on an empty stomach.
To decrease pain and swelling, apply an ice pack – 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off – for the first six hours following the extraction.
About tobacco
Avoid using tobacco because it will significantly affect the healing process.
When to call us
Call us if pain or bleeding persists, or if you have any questions.
Homecare – Fillings
To keep your mouth comfortable after having a filling, and to ensure that your filling sets properly, follow the tips below.
Chewing and eating
If we used anesthetic, avoid chewing or eating until the numbness has completely worn off.
Don’t chew hard foods – and don’t chew directly on new silver fillings – for 24 hours following the appointment. If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. You may chew right away on white fillings because they set completely on the day of the appointment.
Brushing and flossing
Brush and floss your teeth normally. This is vital for ensuring the success of your new restorations.
Medication and discomfort
To reduce discomfort and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. It’s normal for your gums to be sore for several days.
It’s normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after your appointment.
When to call us
Call us if your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain or sensitivity, or if you have any other concerns.
Homecare – After Implant Surgery
After implants have been placed, it’s important to follow these recommendations during the healing period.
General care
To control minor bleeding after surgery, apply moderate pressure with gauze pads or clean, moist tea bag wrapped in a gauze pad.
If you usually wear removable appliances, such as dentures or partial dentures, we may advise you not to wear them while the implant sites heal.
Chewing and eating
Avoid chewing until the numbness from the anesthetic has completely worn off. If we placed any temporary restorations, avoid chewing for at least one half-hour to allow the temporary cement to set.
Limit your diet to soft foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, soups, soft-cooked eggs, and ground meat for the first several months after surgery. Do not chew hard, crusty foods. Also avoid very hot or spicy foods until your gums are healed.
Brushing and flossing
Brush and floss very gently. We may recommend that you clean implant sites carefully with gauze or a cotton swab. If we have recommended a mouth rinse, use it as directed.
Medication and discomfort
Beginning 24 hours after surgery, rinse your mouth three times a day for two weeks with warm salt water. Use one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Swish very gently so you don’t disturb the implant sites.
Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed
To reduce discomfort or swelling for several days after surgery, use ice packs. It’s normal for your gums to be sore and swollen for a several days.
About tobacco
Do not smoke or use any tobacco products until healing is complete. Using tobacco increases the risk that your body will reject the implants.
When to call us
Call us if the tops of the implants gradually show through the gum. This is usually not a problem, but we should check in.
Call our office if you have persistent numbness, bleeding, or discomfort or if you have any other concerns.
Homecare – After Implant Restorations
After final restorations have been placed, it’s important to follow these recommendations to ensure long-term success:
Chewing and eating
If we used anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing or eating until the numbness has completely worn off.
Avoid hard chewing and grinding because these habits can damage implants and their restorations.If this is a continuing problem, we may need to adjust the restorations or have you wear a night-guard.
Brushing and flossing
Brush and floss around the implants thoroughly but gently. We may also recommend special floss., brushes, mouth rinses, or other cleaning aids to keep the area free of bacteria.
Medication and discomfort
Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed
To reduce discomfort and swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. It’s normal for your gums to be sore and swollen for a few days.
It’s normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after your appointment.
About tobacco
Avoid tobacco products. Ideally, you should quit altogether because using tobacco increases the risk that your body will reject the implants.
When to call us
Call us if your restorations feel loose so that we can tighten them.
Call our office if you have persistent discomfort or if you have any other problems or concerns.
Homecare – Perio Surgery
General care
Keep your fingers and tongue away from the parts of your gums that were affected by the surgery
Relax as much as possible and avoid all strenuous activities for the first 24 hours following surgery.
Keep your head elevated with pillows to control bleeding. We will give you a supply of gauze sponges to place over the bleeding area; change them as necessary, and use them until the bleeding stops completely. You can also bite gently but firmly on a moist tea bag for 20 minutes if bleeding continues.
Chewing and eating
Avoid any chewing for two hours following surgery, or until the numbness has worn off completely.
Once the numbness has worn off, you should eat. Nourishment is important to the healing process. Limit your diet to soft foods like yogurt, soft soups, ice-cream, or soft-cooked eggs for the first 48 hours.
Drink at least eight large glasses of water or fruit juice each day as you would normally.
Brushing and flossing
Continue cleaning the other areas of your mouth, flossing daily and brushing at least twice a day as you would normally.
Medication and discomfort
To reduce discomfort or swelling, apply an ice pack – 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off – for six hours following surgery.
Do not rinse your mouth the day of the surgery. However, 24 hours after surgery, rinses gently with mouthwash or a warm salt water solution three times a day. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water, and gently swish, then carefully spit.
If antibiotics were prescribed, continue to take them for the infected length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
To avoid nausea, don’t take pain medications on an empty stomach.
About tobacco
Do not smoke or use any tobacco products until healing is complete. Using tobacco increases the risk that your body will reject the implants.
When to call us
Call our office if discomfort or bleeding persists or increases, or if you have any concerns.
Homecare – Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy often takes two or more appointments to complete. A temporary filling or crown is placed to protect the tooth between appointments, and then the last step is the placement of a crown on the tooth to cover and protect it.
Here are some instructions to help you protect your tooth and ease any discomfort.
Chewing and eating
If we used anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.
While the temporary filling or crown is in place, avoid eating sticky or hard foods (especially gum), and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.
Brushing and flossing
It’s important to continue to brush normally, but floss very carefully. To prevent removal of a temporary crown, remove the floss by pulling it through the teeth, not down or up from between the space between the teeth.
Medication and discomfort
To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. It’s normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment, especially when chewing.
To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water.
If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
When to call us
It’s common, and not a problem, for a small portion of temporary filling to wear away or break off between appointments. However, if the entire filling falls out, or if a temporary crown comes off, call us so that we can replace it.
After a permanent crown is placed, call our office if your bite feels uneven or if you have persistent swelling or pain.
Call us if you have any questions or concerns.