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Caring For Your Bridge
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Brush and floss your teeth normally after each
meal to keep your mouth healthy.
Make sure to brush and floss the abutment
teeth carefully to keep them strong and healthy.
Superfloss
Use superfloss hasw a stiff end that helps you
pass it through the tight areas.
It also has aq fuzzy, tufted segment that
removes plaque and particles from your gums and
the bridge asw you floss.
Just insert the superfloss between the
bridge and your gums, and floss the area
completely.
Floss
threader
A
floss threader has one stiff end and a loop
through which you can thread dental floss.
To use a floss threader, pull about 18
inches of floss through the floss threader, and
then insert the threader into the tight spots
between the bridge and your gums.
Pull the threader until the floss is
under your bridge, remove the threader from your
mouth, and then use the dental floss as you
normally would.
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Caring
For Your Dentures
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CHEWING AND EATING
To protect your denture, avoid chewing ice or other hard
objects.
If small pieces of food work their
way under your denture while youy eat, simply remove
your denture and rinse it with water.
BRUSHING AND FLOSSING
Brush your tongue, gums, palate, and any remaining teeth
at least twice a day to keep them free from plaque and
bacteria.
CLEANING YOUR DENTURE
Clean your denture over a sink full of water to prevent
your denture from breaking if it is accidentally
dropped.
Use a denture brush and a denture cleaning product at
least once daily.
Also soak your denture periodically in a
commercial denture soaking solution.
SLEEPING
Unless we tell you otherwise, remove your denture for
sleeping.
Store your denture in water or a soaking solution, so it
does not dry out.
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Crown Post Op
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Please avoid chewing anything sticky or hard on the
crown 24 hours after cementation to allow the cement
to set without placing any tensile or compressive
forces on the crown.
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The tooth underneath the crown may be sensitive for
a few days to a few weeks.
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It is very important to floss around the permanent
crowns because plaque tends to accumulate where the
crown and tooth meet. Permanent crowns are
susceptible to cavities, so please keep them
hygienic with daily brushing and flossing
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If the permanent crown feels high, please call the
office to schedule a simple adjustment.
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HOME CARE: Although crowns and bridges are often the
most durable of all restorations, the underlying
tooth is still vulnerable to decay, especially at
the interface between the tooth and crown. It is
important to resume regular brushing and flossing
immediately. Daily home care and regulating your
intake of sugar-containing foods will increase the
longevity of your new restorations.
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Implant
Surgery Post-op
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Avoid rinsing your mouth or spitting today. Beginning
tomorrow you may rinse with warm salt water (1/2
teaspoon salt to 1 cup warm water) every 2 to 3 hours
for the first couple of days, then rinse after meals and
at bedtime for the next two weeks. If you have been
prescribed Peridex rinse, use as directed on the bottle.
You may begin brushing your teeth today, staying away
from the surgical site for the first few days.
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Please do not wear your dentures or partial until
your doctor gives you permission to do so.
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You may resume a regular diet as soon as you feel
comfortable.
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In some cases, swelling may occur and usually
reaches its peak in 48 -72 hours (2-3 days). Apply
an ice bag to the side of the face 15 minutes on
then 15 minutes off as often as possible for the
first 48 hours (2 days). Then change to a heating
pad or hot water bottle, 15 minutes on then 15
minutes off until swelling has receded.
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You may have mild discomfort following surgery.
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Take the prescribed medication as directed with
food.
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Allow 45 minutes for the medication to work.
Therefore, take the medication before the pain
becomes too severe.
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Take Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Advil) for minor
discomfort.
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Our office usually uses stitches that dissolve and
fall out. Depending on the type used, this may occur
within the first week.
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Bruising may occur. This is not uncommon and should
disappear soon.
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Keep lips moist with cream or Vaseline to prevent
them from cracking.
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NO SMOKING. Smoking is known to cause failure of
implants.
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NO DRIVING or operating machinery for 24 hours
following IV anesthesia.
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If any unusual symptoms occur do not hesitate to
call the office.
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If you have been prescribed an antibiotic and are
currently on oral contraceptives, you should use an
alternate method of birth control for the remainder
of this cycle
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New Filling - What to Expect?
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Now that your new filling or fillings have been
placed there are a few directions you need to follow.
First, be sure that the local anesthetic has completely
worn off. This is to prevent you from biting or injuring
your lip, cheeks or tongue. Also, refrain from drinking
anything hot in temperature or smoking to prevent
burning. Sometimes patients also find it difficult to
swallow while still they are still numb, so please be
careful. Our office only places tooth colored resin type
fillings. These fillings are complexly hardened when you
leave the office. You can eat on them as soon as the
numbness wears off. Although the fillings are polished
before you leave, they may feel slightly gritty at
first. This should go away after a couple of days. If
not please call back.
Immediate post operative cold sensitivity is
also possible!
This is usually from a normal reaction of the nerve
following the procedure. Give it a couple of days and
try a sensitivity protection toothpaste (i.e. Sensodyne)
until it subsides. If it persist beyond a week or seems
to worsen please call our office. Discontinue the use of
any whitening toothpaste or other whitening products
until the sensitivity subsides.
Finally, if your bite seems off or if you cannot bite
normally please call the office to have your filling
adjusted. Do not wait for it to wear down on its own as
the tooth may become tender.
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Root Canal Therapy Post-op
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The canals inside the roots have been cleaned,
irrigated, medicated and permanently sealed. The opening
in the tooth through which root canal treatment was done
has been sealed with a filling.
WHAT TO EXPECT
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It is not uncommon for a tooth to be
uncomfortable or even exhibit a dull ache
immediately after receiving root-canal therapy.
This should subside within a few days (or
even weeks)
This occurs because of conditions, which existed
before treatment was started. Experience
shows that if there was pain prior to treatment
there may be a degree of pain that will continue
for a few days after the procedure.
Remember that pain radiates. You may feel
sensations of discomfort that are not related to
the treated area during the healing process.
This can be created by inflammation in this area
and/or due to increase in blood volume that
natural occurs in the healing process.
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Your tooth will be sensitive to biting pressure
and may even appear to feel loose.
This feeling is a result of the
sensitivity of nerve-ending in the tissue just
outside the end of the root, where we cleaned,
irrigated and placed filler and sealer material.
Discomfort in this area for a few days to a
couple of weeks is common.
Warm salt-water rinses for the next two days
will help, and avoid chewing on this side until
all tenderness is gone.
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The gums may be sore and the tooth may be tender
when biting or chewing. These conditions exist
because the nerves around the tooth have been
inflamed because of the conditions that existed
before treatment was started and due to the
manipulation of the tooth during treatment.
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WHAT TO DO
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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.
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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.
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Sleep with your head in an elevated position for
the first few nights if you do not have any
physical limitations.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Please take prescribed medication (antibiotics
and /or pain medication) as directed.
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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.
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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.
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Please avoid crunchy or hard foods which could
cause the tooth without a crown to fracture.
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Frequent rinsing with warm salt water for the
next two days
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We 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.
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Delay in obtaining final restoration (crown) may
result in fracture and/or possible loss of the tooth
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Post-Op Scaling and Root Planning
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PATIENT INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING SCALING AND ROOT PLANING
Following scale and root planning you can expect to
notice less redness, less bleeding and less swelling of
your gum tissue. Your mouth will taste better and feel
better. Your gum health can be maintained with proper
homecare and regular professional care.
DISCOMFORT
Discomfort or pain should not be acute and should
subside in a few hours, definitely within a few days.
Discomfort immediately after treatment is usually
associated with slight aching and occasional may be
uncomfortable. This discomfort usually subsides in about
four hours. (For discomfort you may take Advil, Motrin,
and Aleve.) Avoid Aspirin containing compounds as they
may increase the amount of initial bleeding.
TOOTH SENSITIVITY
Teeth may be sensitive to temperature changes and/or
sweets. Sensitivity to temperature may be noticeable the
first several days and usually diminishes quickly. Use
of Sensodyne is recommended.
BLEEDING
Some slight bleeding may occur during the next several
brushings but should steadily decrease.
APPEARANCE
As the gums heal they might change their shape around
the teeth. This is normal as they tighten up and shrink
during healing.
INSTUCTIONS TO MINIMIZE SYMPTOMS
DIET/EATING
If extensive root planning was performed, chewing hard
foods such as meet or raw vegetables may be
uncomfortable; this should last no longer than a few
days. A diet of softer consistency would be advised
until chewing becomes more comfortable.
ORAL HYGIENE
For the first few days, brush and floss the areas
lightly. By the end of the week, normal intensity of
brushing and flossing should resume.
HEALING WILL NOT OCCUR IF PLAQUE AND BACTERIA ARE NOT
REMOVED FROM TEETH ON A DAILY BASIS.
Some bleeding and tenderness may be noted when cleaning
your teeth during this period. This is a part of the
normal healing process and should diminish within a few
days.
HYGIENE AIDS
Special hygiene aids were given to you at your first
scaling and root planning visit. It is important to
follow the instructions regarding use of these aids. We
would be happy to review with you their proper usage at
any time.
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