After Crown and Bridge Appointments
Crowns and bridges
usually take two or three appointments to complete. In the first visit,
the teeth are prepared and molds of the mouth are taken. Temporary crowns or bridges
are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being
made. Since the teeth will be anesthetized, the tongue, lips and roof of
the mouth may be numb. Please refrain from eating and drinking hot
beverages until the numbness is completely worn off.
Occasionally a temporary crown may come off. Call us at (623)476-8100 if this happens and bring the temporary crown with you
so we can re-cement it. It is very important for the temporary to stay
in place, as it will prevent other teeth from moving and compromising
the fit of your final restoration.
To keep your temporaries in place, avoid eating sticky
foods (gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew on the opposite side of
your mouth. It is important to brush normally, but floss carefully and
don’t pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary but pull the
floss out from the side of the temporary crown.
It is normal to experience some temperature and
pressure sensitivity after each appointment. The sensitivity should
subside a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration. Mild
pain medications may also be used as directed by our office.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain,
or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office
at (623)476-8100.
After Composite Fillings (white fillings)
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 aspirin (one tablet every 3-4
hours as needed for pain) work well to alleviate the tenderness. If
pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to
hot or cold increases, contact our office at (623)476-8100.
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.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent
pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our
office at (623)476-8100.
After Root Canal Therapy
Please do
not chew or attempt to eat on the side of your mouth that has been worked on
while this area is still numb. You
may want to put an ice pack over area where the procedure
was done for 1/2 hour when you first get home to minimize
swelling. Apply the ice pack (or use frozen vegetables
like peas) every hour for 10-15 minutes during the first 4-6
minutes.Sleep
with your head in an elevated position for the first few
nights if you do not have any physical limitations.Eat
a soft diet for at least two days and remember not to chew
on the treated side. Avoid very hot or cold foods
during the healing process. We recommend
you take something for pain-relief within one hour of leaving our office, to get
the medication into your blood system before the anesthesia we administered
begins to subside. Generally, only
one dose is needed. We recommend
ibuprofen (Nuprin, Advil, Motrin)-800 mg (four tablets). Two to four tables may
be taken four times a day for the next 3-4 days to help control the sensitivity
in this area. If you have a medical
condition or gastrointestinal disorder which precludes ibuprofen, acetaminophen
(Tylenol, Excedrin) is a substitute, although it does not contain
anti-inflammatory properties, Aspirin and aspirin-containing products are NOT
advisable, as they tend to increase bleeding from the area that was treated.
Please take
prescribed medication (antibiotics and /or pain medication) as directed. If
you are given PenicillinVK take 2 pills every 4 hours for 48-72 hours, then
complete prescription taking 1 pill very 6 hours. Please take the full course of antibiotic medication.
If you were given a prescription for pain, it is meant to help you with
more serious discomfort only for a couple of days. Refer to pain
control article
Whenever
possible, try to chew on the opposite side from the tooth we have just treated,
until you have a crown place.
Until that time, your tooth still is weakened and could fracture.
Do
not smoke during the first 24 hours and
minimize the number of times you smoke
during the remaining healing process
because smoking delays the healing
process. Avoid drinking alcoholic
beverages. Avoid strenuous
exercise for 24 hours.Please avoid
crunchy or hard foods which could
cause the tooth without a crown to
fracture.
Frequent rinsing with warm salt water for the next two daysWe recommend you take something for the increased sensitivity in
this area within one hour of leaving our office, to get the
medication into your blood system before the anesthesia we
administered begins to subside. Generally, only one dose is needed.
We recommend ibuprofen (Nuprin, Advil, Motrin)-two to four tablets,
which may be taken four times a day if needed. If you have a medical
condition or gastrointestinal disorder, which precludes ibuprofen,
acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin) can be a good substitute, although
it does not contain anti-inflammatory properties.
After Tooth ExtractionAfter 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 72 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 at (623)476-8100 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 at (623)476-8100.
After Scaling & Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
Refrain from chewing until after the
local anesthetic (numbness) has gone away to prevent biting your
cheeks , lips or tongue. You may have something to drink. A straw may
help you to prevent spilling. Yogurt, pudding and other soft foods may
work as well. Refrain from Citrus Acid containing drinks and spicy
foods for the first 24 hours following the procedure as they may sting
the area.
Take pain medication before the
anesthesia wears off. Generally, for adult patients, 3 tablets of 200mg
Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) are recommended every 6-8 hours. If you
cannot take Ibuprofen because of a medical condition or stomach
disorder, acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be taken instead. Generally in
adult patients, 2 tablets of 500mg are recommended every 4 to 6 hours.
Aspirin and aspirin containing products are not advisable, as they tend
to increase bleeding from the area that was treated. Try to eat a soft
food before taking medication to avoid stomach sensitivity.
Continue oral hygiene (brushing twice a
day, flossing once daily and any other hygiene aids that were shown at
your appointment. It is very important to keep up with good home care
to achieve optimal results.
24 hours after procedure rinse with warm
salt water (8oz. warm water with 1 teaspoon salt) for one to two
weeks after appointment.
Temperature sensitivity (especially to
cold) often is experienced following root planing. This is not severe
and should leave as soon as the cold is removed from the teeth. Use
Sensodyne toothpaste to help reduce this sensitivity more quickly.
Please keep in mind that Sensodyne does not give immediate relief and
must be used repeatedly to get results (use daily).
Severe pain is usually not expected following root planing, if so please contact our office.
If Local Antibiotics were placed,
refrain from electric toothbrush for 12 hours and do not floss the area
for 10 days. Avoid sharp foods such as chips, seed, crackers for one
week.
After Cosmetic Reconstruction
Remember that it will take time to adjust to the feel
of your new bite. When the bite is altered or the position of the teeth
is changed it takes several days for the brain to recognize the new
position of your teeth or their thickness as normal. If you continue to
detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call our office at (623)476-8100 so we can schedule an adjustment appointment.
It is normal to experience some hot and cold
sensitivity. The teeth require some time to heal after removal of tooth
structure and will be sensitive in the interim. Your gums may also be
sore for a few days. Warm salt water rinses (a teaspoon of salt in a cup
of warm water) three times a day will reduce pain and swelling. A mild
pain medication (one tablet of Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin) every 3-4
hours) should ease any residual discomfort.
Don’t be concerned if your speech is affected for the
first few days. You’ll quickly adapt and be speaking normally. You may
notice increased salivation. This is because your brain is responding to
the new size and shape of your teeth. This should subside to normal in
about a week.
Daily brushing and flossing
are a must for your new dental work. Daily plaque removal is critical
for the long-term success of your new teeth, as are regular cleaning
appointments.
Any food that can crack, chip or damage a natural
tooth can do the same to your new teeth. Avoid hard foods and substances
(such as beer nuts, peanut brittle, ice, fingernails, or pencils) and
sticky candies. Smoking will stain your new teeth. Minimize or avoid
foods that stain such as coffee, red wine, tea and berries.
If you engage in sports let us know so we can make a
custom mouthguard. If you grind your teeth at night, wear the night
guard we have provided for you. Adjusting to the look and feel of your
new smile will take time. If you have any problems or concerns, please
let us know. We always welcome your questions.
