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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
followinf the extraction.
About tobacco
Avoid using tobacco becauseit will significantly affect
the healing process.
When to call us
Call us if pain or bleeding persists, or if you have
any questions.
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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.
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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.
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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 nightguard.
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.
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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.
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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 toothe between appointments, and then
the last step is the placement of a crown on the tooth
to cover ans 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 temorary 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.
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