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Please select from the list of procedures below for instructions
on continued care once you have left our office. If you have
questions or concerns that are not addressed here, please
do not hesitate to contact us.
FILLINGS:
If we used a local anesthetic, your mouth (including lips
and tongue) may be numb for several hours following your appointment.
If you are supervising children who had fillings done, make
sure they don't bite on their numb lips or tongue (it may
cause injury to their soft tissue).
Do not bite or chew directly on your newly filled tooth for
24 hours. If possible, try to chew on the opposite side of
your mouth.
It is normal to experience some sensitivity to hot, cold,
air, pressure, or sweet foods for up to 4-6 weeks following
your appointment. There should be improvement as time progresses.
Sensitivity toothpastes such as Sensodyne or Pronamel can
reduce sensitivity significantly. If sensitivity persists
or increases, call our office.
Your gums may be sore for several days. This will subside
with time. Rinse three times a day with salt water (one teaspoon
of salt in a cup of warm water) to reduce pain and swelling.
Some patients experience referred pain. With this type of
pain, you experience pain or sensitivity in other teeth besides
the one that received the filling. There is likely nothing
wrong with your teeth and the pain will go away on its own.
Please be aware that if the decay was very deep to the pulp
of the tooth, the tissue may no longer be healthy and a root
canal may be necessary.
Call our office is you are experiencing continuous aching,
throbbing, or if it is keeping you up at night.
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TEMPORARY FILLINGS:
It may have been necessary to use a temporary filling if:
- Your treatment requires more than one appointment
- Your tooth needs a short period of time to heal
- You have a deep cavity in which the pulp of the tooth
became exposed
- You need emergency dental treatment
Please follow all the instructions listed above for fillings.
Most importantly, remember that temporary fillings are exactly
that. Temporary. They are not meant to last. They will typically
fall out or fracture within a few months or less. If you have
a temporary filling, it is critical that you return for a
follow up appointment to get permanent treatment. Failure
to do so, could result in infection, a broken tooth or other
complications.
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TOOTH EXTRACTIONS:
Following the extraction, some bleeding is normal. Keep a
steady, even pressure on the gauze sponge, placed by the doctor,
for 1/2 hour. If bleeding continues, place a moist gauze pad
(or a moist tea bag) directly over the socket and apply biting
pressure for another 30 minutes. Repeat as necessary. Expect
blood to weep for the first 4 hours. Keep your head elevated
with pillows to help control bleeding. Remember, when blood
mixes with saliva, it appears that you are bleeding more than
you really are. Bleeding that persists or increases is reason
to call our office.
A blood clot will form on the extraction site and this is
vital to the healing process. Do not do anything to
disturb the first clot. Avoid touching the area with
your tongue or fingers. Do not rinse your mouth on the first
day or spit vigorously. Do not smoke. Do not drink through
a straw or drink carbonated beverages (Coke, Sprite, Club
Soda etc). All these things done during the first 24-48 hours
after an extraction may dislodge the clot and cause a very
painful dry socket.
For the first 48 hours after the extraction, a light diet
is advised. Eat soft foods that do not require a lot of chewing
(jello, mashed potatoes, ice cream etc). As the wounds heal,
you will be able to advance your diet.
Drink plenty of fluids - at least 6 glasses of liquid the
first day. Water or diluted fruit juice is recommended. If
many teeth have been extracted, the blood lost at this time
needs to be replaced.
You may notice some minor swelling. If swelling occurs use
an ice pack wrapped in a towel or a frozen bag of peas for
the first 6 hours -- alternating 15 minutes on and 15 minutes
off.
Some discomfort is to be expected after the extraction. Usually
an over the counter pain reliever (such as Motrin, Tylenol
or Aleeve) is sufficient. We can also give you a prescription
for a stronger pain medication if needed. To avoid nausea,
do not take pain medication on an empty stomach.
If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for
the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs
of infection are gone. If a rash develops, please discontinue
use and call our office.
Do not rinse your mouth for the first 24 hours following
the procedure. After that, use a warm salt water rinse (1
teaspoon of salt in a cup of lukewarm water) every 4 hours
or following meals to rinse out food particles and debris.
Gently swish the solution around the affected area and spit
carefully. Continue for 3-4 days.
Be sure to brush and floss the other areas of your mouth
as you would normally. A clean mouth heals better and faster.
If the extraction required sutures, please be careful not
to disturb them. Keep your tongue away from the area. Stretching
or pulling on the mouth to look at the extraction site, could
result in tearing the sutures. If a suture does become dislodged,
this is no cause for alarm, just remove the suture from your
mouth and discard it. The sutures placed are resorbable and
an additional appointment is not required to remove them.
Occasionally you may notice or feel a bone fragment working
its way up through the extraction site. These fragments are
not roots, but tiny fragments of bone. If left alone, they
typically migrate out on their own. You may choose to return
to the office for a simple removal. In addition, patients
may feel hard projections which are actually the bony walls
that support the tooth. These also will gradually become smooth
over time.
The space left by the tooth will feel a bit strange to you
at first. Eventually, new bone and gum tissue will grow into
the gap left by the extraction.
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ROOT CANAL TREATMENT:
For the first few days after treatment, the treated tooth
may feel sensitive - especially if there was pain or infection
before the procedure. Discomfort arising from a root canal
can usually be relieved with over the counter medications
such as Advil, Tylenol or Aleeve. The healing process may
take several days, but the pain and discomfort will gradually
subside.
If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for
the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs
of infection are gone. If a rash develops, please discontinue
use and call our office.
Continue regular brushing and flossing.
If we placed a temporary filling in your tooth, please avoid
chewing on the area. Chew on the other side of your mouth
until the soreness settles down. Often a small portion of
the filling wears away or brushes off, but if the entire filling
appears to be missing, call our office for replacement.
If your bite feels high, this can lead to increased discomfort
and sensitivity. Please call our office for an adjustment.
Occasionally an infection will persist even after root canal
therapy and an additional surgical procedure or extraction
may be necessary to remove all infection.
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ROOT PLANING AND SCALING (DEEP CLEANING):
Tooth sensitivity can follow root planing and scaling when
tissue shrinkage and recession expose root surfaces of the
teeth. These teeth may be quite sensitive to cold, hot or
sweets. The following may help minimize the discomfort.
- Avoid extreme temperatures (hot and cold)
- Avoid sweet and acidic foods.
- Practice thorough plaque control. Bacteria in the plaque
forms acid and this acid will promote sensitivity.
- Please understand that this is a common and unavoidable
side effect of this procedure, but it should diminish
quickly. Desensitizing toothpaste, such as Sensodyne and
Crest Sensitivity, may also be used.
- Use a home fluoride rinse like Act or Flourogard.
Most patients experience a minor degree of gingival (gum)
soreness after scaling and root planing. In any case, this
discomfort should only be temporary. It usually subsides in
a matter of a few hours to a couple of days at the most. The
following may help minimize this discomfort.
- Before the numbing is completely gone, take an anti-inflammatory
like Advil or Motrin to help with the discomfort.
- Rinse with a warm salt water solution every two hours
or as needed. The solution should consist of 1 level teaspoon
of salt and 8 ounces of warm water.
- Avoid strong, spicy or acidic seasonings.
- Good oral hygiene is a must! The removal of plaque deposits
will promote healing and also reduce the tenderness of
your gums.
Effective plaque control is essential for rapid and complete
healing. Remember, if bleeding occurs it is a sign of gum
inflammation. You are to continue with oral hygiene measures
(toothbrushing and flossing) even if you encounter some bleeding.
As healing progresses, the bleeding will gradually reduce
or disappear altogether.
Root planing and scaling removes calculus (tartar) and toxins
from the root, leaving a smooth surface. This enables reattachment
of the tissue to the root surface. To get full benefit from
this procedure, it is imperative to continue with good oral
hygiene at home.
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CROWNS AND BRIDGES:
While the permanent crown is being made, we have protected
your tooth with a temporary crown. Please follow these recommendations
to ensure the success of your final restoration. AVOID EATING
ON THE TEMPORARY. DO NOT FLOSS THE TEMPORARY. You should continue
to follow your normal brushing routine. It is important that
you keep the temporary in place to avoid shifting of teeth
and proper fit of the permanent crown or bridge. If the temporary
comes off, save it and call our office to have it recemented.
Crowns and bridges protect teeth that are very broken down,
and have had extensive fillings done on them. Often times
these teeth have multiple fracture lines present and, if left
untreated, can result in the tooth needing to be extracted.
Root canals are often needed after temporaries and permanent
crowns are placed.
Sensitivity to hot, cold, and pressure is common, and it
can be helpful to use a densensitizing toothpaste, such as
Sensodyne or Crest Sensitive.
Expect the gum tissues around your crown to be sore.
Upon cementation of your new permanent crown or bridge,
please avoid chewing or flossing for 24 hours to allow adequate
time for the cement to reach its maximum strength. If you
chew or floss too early, the crown or bridge may come off.
Avoid chewing on ice or other hard substances on a porcelain
crown or bridge to prevent fracturing of the porcelain.
Please call our office if your bite feels uneven, you have
persistent sensitivity, or your discomfort increases.
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DENTURES:
After receiving your new dentures, wear them as much as possible.
It is very common to feel some initial discomfort. New dentures
typically need several adjustments to feel completely comfortable.
Accurate adjustments can only be accomplished if sore spots
are visible when you come in for adjustments. It's very important
to call our office for an adjustment time.
Once you are comfortable with your new dentures, it is necessary
to take them out at night to rest your gums.
When out of your mouth, keep your dentures in water or a
denture cleaning solution, such as Efferdent or Polident.
Clean your denture with a brush and water prior to placing
in mouth. Also, continue to brush your tongue, gums, and palate
which will stimulate circulation in the tissue and remove
plaque.
At first, it may be hard to enunciate, but within a few days
your muscles will adapt and you will be talking normally.
Denture adhesives are very popular and can be used to give
you extra security with your denture. Lower dentures have
no retention and often require adhesives.
You must allow a sufficient period of time (often many months)
to break in a new denture. Resist the temptation to go back
to your old set of dentures.
Dogs love to chew on and eat dentures. Keep you denture in
a safe spot.
Please call our office if you experience pain or discomfort
or have any questions.
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