HOME CARE

TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

Do not rince or spit for 24 hours after surgery

Keep fingers and tongue away from socket or surgical area

Use ice packs on surgical area (side of face) for first 24 hours, apply ace 20 minutes on – 10 minutes off. Bags of f work well.

For mild discomfort take Tylenol or Iburpofen every three to four hours.

For severe pain use the prescription given to you.

Drink plenty of fluids. (Do not use a straw)

If the muscles of the jaw become stiff, chewing gum at intervals will help relax the muscles, as well as the use moist heat to the outside of your face over these muscles.

After the first post-operative day. use a warm salt-water rinse following meals for the first week to flush out partic and debris, which may lodge in the surgical area. ( 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Mouthwash car for better taste.)

ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Though 50% of the root canals we perform are completed in one appointment, root canal therapy may take more than one appointment to complete. Since anesthetic has been used, your lips, tongue and the roof of your mouth may be numb for several hours after your appointment. Avoid chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has worn off.
Between appointments until the tooth is fully restored, 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 fall out or if a temporary crown comes off, call our office to arrange a time so it can be replaced. It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment. To control discomfort, take the pain medication prescribed by the doctor as recommended. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as directed, even if all signs and symptoms of infection are gone.
To protect the tooth and keep the temporary in place, avoid eating hard and sticky foods (gum) and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. Continue to brush and floss normally. Usually, the last step in root canal treatment is the placement of a crown on the tooth.
A crown will protect the tooth from breaking in the future. If your bite feels uneven, if you have any signs of swelling or increasing pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office.

Temporaries are not strong. They may break or come off occasionally. If so, slip it back on the tooth with some Fixodent™ (Denture Adhesive) and call us for an appointment. Please do not leave the temporary out of your mouth because the teeth will move and the final restoration will not fit. Please floss as directed. The size, shape, and color of the temporary does not resemble the final restoration.

Permanent Crowns   

Temporary restorations may leak saliva or food onto the tooth. Sensitivity to hot, cold, pressure, or sweets is not if you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, please call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.

After the final cementation of your restoration, it may take a few days to get used to the new crown or bridge. Hot and cold sensitivity is possible for a few weeks and occasionally lasts for several months. As with the temporary, if the bite doesn’t feel balanced please call us.
Do not chew hard or sticky foods on the restoration for 24 hours from the time they were cemented. The cement must set up during this time to have optimum strength

Proper brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings are required to help you retain your final restoration. The only area that a crowned tooth can decay is at the edge of the crown at the gum line. Often, small problems that develop around the restorations can be found at an early stage and corrected easily, but waiting for a longer time may require replacing the entire restoration.

Approximately 1 out of every 100 porcelain crowns chip and may need replacement

DENTURES / PARTIALS

Sore Spots: Usually, your mouth will have a few “sore spots” after wearing the denture/partial for 24 hours. These areas can be relieved with very little effort during your next appointment. Chewing: The new bite may not feel completely comfortable for several weeks. We can adjust the contacting surfaces of your teeth after the dentures/partials have settled into place. Cleaning the Dentures/Partials and your Mouth: Your denture/partials can be cleaned easily by using a denture brush and a mild toothpaste. Periodic denture soaks are also very useful (ex: Polident). We recommend leaving your partials out of your mouth at night and soaking in water.

Dentures only: Brush your gums with a regular toothbrush once per day to toughen and clean them. Partials only: Use special care to clean parts of the partial that contact any natural teeth. Both the partial and the natural teeth must be kept very clean on a daily basis to reduce the chance of new dental decay starting. We have done our best to provide you with well-fitted, functional, and esthetic dentures/partials. We feel confident that after a few weeks of becoming adjusted to the new dentures/partials, you will have years of satisfaction from them. Over time, your jawbone and gums shrink when there are teeth missing. When this occurs, your dentures/partials will feel loose and may require relining. Wearing ill-fitting dentures/partials for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease. Please call our office if these symptoms occur.