Home Care Instructions
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 Pleasant Hill Dentistry Phone Number (925)685-8587 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 the 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 mouth guard. 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: Pleasant Hill Dentistry Phone Number (925)685-8587
AFTER DENTAL 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 Pleasant Hill Dentistry Phone Number (925)685-8587 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 compromise the fit of your final restoration.
To keep your temporaries in place, avoid eating sticky foods (gum), and 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: Pleasant Hill Dentistry Phone Number (925)685-8587.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at Pleasant Hill Dentistry Phone Number (925)685-8587.
AFTER TOOTH 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 in healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush your 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 Pleasant Hill Dentistry Phone Number (925)685-8587. 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 fluids 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 Pleasant Hill Dentistry Phone Number (925)685-8587.
AFTER WHITE FILLINGS
When an anesthetic has been used for a composite dental filling appointment, 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 Pleasant Hill Dentistry Phone Number (925)685-8587.
You may chew with your composite fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off, as 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 Pleasant Hill Dentistry Phone Number (925)685-8587.
AFTER PERIODONTAL THERAPY (SRP)
After Periodontal therapy, it is important to remember that your gums may persist for for about 30 minutes after the appointment. If bleeding persists longer than one hour you may place a wet, black tea bag over the gums where bleeding is as to assist in stopping the bleeding. You may notice slight blood clotting immediately after your appointment today, at the gum line, which is normal and part of the healing process. Once the numbing wears off, the gums may feel tender for the next 1-3 days.
If local anesthetic was used, please wait until the numbing agent has worn off completely before eating/drinking in order to avoid biting your lip, tongue, or cheek. Since everyone is different, expect the numbing agent to last 1-2 hours after your appointment. If only topical anesthetic was used, you may eat or drink immediately afterwards although the gums may be tender.
For the next 1-3 days, you may want to avoid spicy, acidic,hard and crunchy food should your gums feel tender. It is advised to rinse with warm salt water twice a day as needed to assist the gums in healing. If needed, you may take over the counter pain medications that YOU would usually take such as Tylenol or Advil.
The most important thing you can do, after your periodontal therapy is complete, is maintain the health of the gums with proper flossing once a day and brushing twice a day. Your hygienist may recommend you to come in for your hygiene appointments on a more frequent basis, every 3 to 4 months, and/or mat recommend Periodontal Maintenance visits in order to maintain you specific stage of Periodontal Disease. What's most important is to remember that Periodontal Disease is a chronic disease. Meaning, it never goes away! We can treat Periodontal Disease when it is active. We must do our due diligence to maintain the Periodontal health after treatment is complete with good home care, and working with your dentist and hygienist to periodically check periodontal health and maintain with regular hygiene visits.