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, and pressure
sensitivity after your appointment. Injection sites may
also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or aspirin (two
tablets 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.
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.
After crown and bridge appointments
Crowns and bridges usually take two to four 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 your 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 restoration may come off. Call
us if this happens place it carefully back on your teeth
and see if it will re-adhere itself. If not, bring the temporary
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 the floss back through
the contact space which may dislodge the temporary, but
pull the floss out to the side of the temporary restoration.
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.
Post Op Instructions for Tooth Extraction
One of the main goals of modern dentistry is the prevention
of tooth loss. All possible measures should be taken to
preserve and maintain your teeth because the loss of a single
tooth can have a major impact upon your dental health and
appearance. However, it is still sometimes necessary to
remove a tooth. Here are some of the reasons a tooth may
need to be extracted.
* Severe Decay
* Advanced periodontal disease
* Infection or abcess
* Orthodontic correction
* Malpositioned teeth
* Fractured teeth or roots
* Impacted teeth
If you've just had a tooth extracted or your dentist has
recommended that a tooth be extracted, the following information
will help you get through the first few days after your
extraction. Should anything occur that seems out of the
normal, do not hesitate to call your dentist.
POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
* DO NOT DISTURB THE WOUND: In doing so you may invite irritation,
infection and/or bleeding. Be sure to chew on the opposite
side for 24 hours and keep anything sharp from entering
the wound (i.e. eating utensils etc. ).
* DO NOT SMOKE FOR 12 HOURS:: Smoking will promote bleeding
and interfere with healing.
* BRUSHING: Do not brush your teeth for the first 8 hours
after surgery. After, you may brush your teeth gently, but
avoid the area of surgery.
* MOUTH WASH: Avoid all rinsing for 24 hours after extraction.
This is to insure the formation of a healing blood clot
which is essential to proper wound healing. Disturbance
of this clot can lead to increased bleeding or the loss
of the blood clot. If the clot is lost, a painful condition
called dry socket may occur. You may use warm salt water
or mild antiseptic rinses after 24 hours only if prescribed.
* DO NOT SPIT OR SUCK THROUGH A STRAW: This will promote
bleeding and may dislodge the blood clot causing a dry socket.
* BLEEDING: When you leave the office, you will be given
verbal instructions regarding the control of postoperative
bleeding. A rolled up gauze pad will be placed on the extraction
site and you will be asked to change this dressing every
20 minutes or so depending on the amount of bleeding that
is occurring. It is normal for some blood to ooze from the
area of surgery. We will also give you a package of gauze
to take with you to use at home if the bleeding should continue.
Should you need to use the gauze at home, remember to roll
it into a ball large enough to cover the wound. Hold firmly
in place, by biting or with finger pressure, for about 20-30
minutes. If bleeding still continues, you may fold a tea
bag in half and bite down on it. Tea contains Tannic Acid
, a styptic, which may help to reduce the bleeding.
* PAIN: Some discomfort is normal after surgery. Analgesic
tablets ( i.e. Aspirin, Tylenol etc. ) may be taken under
your dentist's direction. Prescription medication, which
may have been given to you, should also be taken as directed.
If pain continues, call your dentist.
* SWELLING: To prevent swelling, apply an ice pack or a
cold towel to the outside of your face in the area of the
extraction during the first 12 hours. Apply alternately,
20 minutes on then 20 minutes off, for an hour or longer
if necessary.
* DIET: Eat normal regular meals as soon as you are able
after surgery. Cold, soft food such as ice cream or yogurt
may be the most comfortable for the first day. It is also
important to drink plenty of fluids.
REPORT ANY UNUSUAL OCCURRENCES IMMEDIATELY!
Post Op Instructions for Implants and Bone Grafts
* No smoking for the next 5-7 days. If you so, your implant or graft will fail!
* Do not lift up your lip or pull on your cheek to look at the sutures (stitches). This can tear open the surgical sight.
* Do not apply pressure with your tongue or fingers. The material is movable during the initial healing period.
* You can expect to find small particles (bone graft material) in your mouth for the first several weeks.
* Do not brush your teeth for the first month. Instead, dip your toothbrush in chlorhexidine when brushing your teeth.
* No heavy exercise for the first two weeks.
* No hot, spic, or acidic foods for the first week-i.e. orange juice, tomato juice or Mexican salsa.
* No alcohol for one week.
* No spitting, sneezing, blowing your nose vigorously, drinking from a straw or vigorously rinsing (swishing) your mouth. If your nose is congested, use Afrin.
* Keep the chlorhexidine gauze on the surgical area for 30 minutes following surgery
* Place an ice pack on your face for 20 minutes, remove for 20 minutes then reapply for another 20 minutes. Repeat this every other hour for the first 24 hours.
* For the first 24 hours try to lay still.
* Place chlorhexidine gauze in the surgical areas for 10 minutes after eating for the next 2 weeks.
* After 24 hours, place and hold chlorhexidine in your mouth for 1 minute, then let it flow out of your mouth. Do not spit it out or rinse with it! Repeat the prescribed number of times per day-i.e. 2 times a day.
* Please sleep in an elevated position for the first few days. Use an extra pillow of two behind your back and neck.
* Take all prescriptions as directed. These should be called in for the patient before they’re due to start.
* Oozing of blood is normal for the next 24 hours and after eating.
* Notify the office if:
o A suture falls out in the first 3 days.
o If a membrane that has been placed should loosen within the first 2 weeks.
o If a large amount of particles are lost from the surgical site.
o If your medications do not relieve your discomfort.
o If you start having a bad taste or bad smell in your mouth or unusual swelling.
