What to Expect after a Composite Filling

When an anesthetic has been used, your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off. It is very easy to bite or burn your tongue or lip while you are numb. It is normal to experience some hot, cold & pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Injection sites may also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or Aleve work well to reduce tenderness. If pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to hot or cold increases, contact our office. You may chew with your composite fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off, since they are fully set when you leave the office.

What to Expect with Crowns and Bridges

Crowns and Bridges are usually completed in two appointments. First your teeth are prepared for a permanent crown/bridge and a temporary crown/bridge is placed on the teeth for protection. A temporary crown/bridge is easily removed; therefore care must be taken not to dislodge it before your permanent crown/bridge is placed. Do not chew sticky foods such as caramel. When flossing, slide the floss down between the teeth, but pull the floss out from the side; do not pop it up as this may dislodge the temporary.  If your temporary crown/bridge comes off, you can place some toothpaste or denture adhesive inside it and put it back on, then call our office during normal business hours and we will re-cement it for you. It will take about 15 minutes. Do not forget to bring the temporary with you to the appointment! Do not leave your temporary off, even if you have no discomfort. Without a temporary crown/bridge to hold your teeth in place, your teeth can move causing your new crown or bridge not to fit. If that occurs, the entire process would need to be started over from the beginning. Your gums may be sore. Warm salt water rinses will speed healing.  You may have sensitivity to hot or cold. This is common and normal.  If you feel like you are biting first or harder on your temporary or permanent crown/bridge, call us for an adjustment or you may develop a sore tooth. Be sure to brush and floss your new crown bridge. With a bridge, you will need a special floss threader or other aids to reach and clean all areas properly.  It is important to keep your teeth and gums exceptionally clean while wearing your temporary crown/bridge.  This will allow for proper cementation of the final restoration.

What to Expect after a Root Canal

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’s normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment, 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 (a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit). If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as prescribed, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone. To protect the tooth and help keep you temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. It’s important to continue to brush and floss normally. Usually, the last step after 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 our office.

What to Expect After an Extraction

After tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times. After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 48 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and retard the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours as this will increase blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site. After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours. Use the pain medication as directed. Call the office if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluid and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.  It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.  After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately. What to do: Drink lots of fluids. Eat only soft, nutritious foods on the day of the extraction.  Don’t use alcoholic beverages and avoid hot and spicy foods. What NOT to do: Do not drink through a straw, rinse your mouth vigorously or smoke.

What to Expect With Your New Dentures

It is common for new dentures to need several adjustments.  When you get a new pair of shoes, they can rub blisters on your feet. Usually, shoes will stretch and the blisters will go away. Your new denture will not stretch and must be adjusted. You may salivate more when you first get your denture. This is normal and usually stops anywhere from within the first few minutes to a few days. It is important that you practice talking. Talk to yourself, read aloud and sing. You should sound normal within a very short time. You will also need to practice eating. Do not plan to eat your first meal in public. Cut your food into small bites, eat easy to chew foods and chew slowly. Some people feel more comfortable wearing adhesives under their dentures (particularly full dentures). You can experiment with over the counter adhesives. It is important to make sure you remove all of the adhesive each day when you clean your dentures. The removable partial or full denture must be removed at least 8 hours each day, preferably at bedtime. Letting the denture stay in the mouth 24 hours a day will cause you to develop sores and fungus under it. It should also be removed and cleaned after meals. When you take it out at bedtime, clean it with a brush and soak it in water, mouthwash or a denture cleaner. Do not let the denture dry out, as this can cause it to warp. When rinsing and brushing your denture over the sink, it is best to place a wash cloth in the basin with some water to cushion the denture should you drop it. The acrylic will break if dropped. Learning to wear your new dentures (particularly full dentures) is much like learning a new sport. It takes practice and patience. Try not to become discouraged at first. Even if you wear a full denture, it is still important to see your dentist regularly. Your dentures should be checked routinely, along with both the fit and the bite. A poorly fitting denture can cause problems with the underlying tissues and bone loss. You will also be checked for oral cancer and other diseases that can show up in the mouth.

Post-Sedation Instructions

MEDICATIONS/PRESCRIPTIONS:

• If an antibiotic is prescribed, take it until finished
• All medications are to be taken as instructed on the bottle
• No driving when taking pain medication
• Take pain medication prior to getting discomfort
• You must eat to prevent nausea and or vomiting
• If you develop a rash or itching, then STOP taking all medications and call your office immediately.
• If you experience breathing problems, wheezing, swelling around eyes not related to surgery CALL 911!!
• Attention patients utilizing birth control pills:  Please be advised that if the doctor prescribed antibiotics, an alternative form of birth control must be utilized during that period of time.

ACTIVITY:

• Avoid excessive physical exertion during the first 24 hours following sedation.  Be sure to get adequate sleep.

SEDATIVE AGENTS:

• There can be residual effects from the sedative agents lasting up to 12 hours.  During this time your reflexes and judgment may be altered.  DO NOT drive an automobile or operate any machinery the day of the surgery or while taking narcotic pain medications.
• You may experience light-headedness, dizziness, etc.  Please do not try to walk without assistance for the next several hours following surgery.

EATING AND DRINKING:

1. Drink plenty of COOL fluids following sedation, such as water and apple juice.
2. Do not chew until after the local anesthetic has worn off as you may unknowingly bite yourself.
3. Start with a small meal and gradually resume your normal diet as long as there is no nausea.
4. Food supplements such as Carnation Instant Breakfast, Enrich, and Ensure are recommended and may be helpful.

Post-Surgical Instructions

MEDICATIONS/PRESCRIPTIONS:

• If an antibiotic is prescribed, take it until finished
• All medications are to be taken as instructed
• No driving when taking pain medication
• Take pain medication prior to getting discomfort
• You must eat to prevent nausea and or vomiting
• If you develop a rash or itching, then STOP taking all medications and call your office immediately.
• If you experience breathing problems, wheezing, swelling around eyes not related to surgery CALL 911!!
• Please be advised that if the doctor prescribed antibiotics, an alternative form of birth control must be utilized during that period of time.

BLEEDING:

• If gauze is placed over the surgical site it serves as a pressure bandage then please leave it in place for 30 minutes or as directed by the office.
• Remove gauze when eating or taking medications
• A small amount of oozing is normal.  Blood tinged saliva may be present for 24-48 hours.  You may wish to cover your pillow with a towel to avoid staining.
• Rest with your head above your heart; meaning rest with head elevated on 2 or more pillows for the first day.
• Excessive bleeding can be controlled by placing a tea bag over the surgical site for 30 minutes while applying light digital pressure.

SWELLING:

• Swelling for the 72 hours after surgery is normal
• Ice packs should only be applied for the first 24 hours after surgery. *Plastic bags filled with crushed ice and wrapped in a towel or a commercial ice bag are a good mode of application.
• Apply ice for 20 minutes and then leave off for 10 minutes
• AFTER 24 hours only, you may use warm moist heat.   This can be applied by taking a hot shower or with a wash cloth moistened with warm water and then applied to the outside of the face, cheek, and or chin.

RINSING:

• Avoid rinsing, spitting, drinking through a straw and mouth rinses containing alcohol for the first 24 hours as it may prematurely dissolve the blood clot.
• Rinsing gently with warm salt water (use one teaspoon of table salt in 8 oz of warm water), after meals and at bedtime for the next 14 days is important.  After 72 hours, a more vigorous rinsing is encouraged after meals and at bedtime for the next ten days.