After Your Treatment
After Fillings
Do not eat on your new white filling for one hour and until your numbness is gone. Do not bite hard or chew on silver amalgam fillings for 24 hours. You may experience cold and heat sensitivity and some gum soreness; this usually subsides within a few days. If it does not, then the tooth may need further evaluation.
Supervising children who had fillings done, make sure they don’t bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue). Call our office if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few days after the fillings or if you have any questions.
After Root Canal Treatment
Discomfort is sometimes experienced after a treatment visit. This is due to irritation of the bone surrounding the tooth and may range from mild discomfort to an occasional episode of considerable pain. This discomfort will usually maximize in approximately 48-72 hours and then subside. Avoid chewing with the treated tooth for a few days.
After Crowns and Bridges
You may experience sensitivity, gum soreness, and slight discomfort on the tooth/teeth; it should subside after the permanent crown placement (s). Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing on your teeth until the numbness has worn off. A temporary crown is usually made of plastic-based material or soft metal. The temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth and prevent other teeth from moving. It can break if too much pressure is placed on it. If the temporary comes off, save the crown, and call our office. It should be replaced as soon as possible. Do not chew on sticky or hard food (chewing gum, ice) to avoid losing your temporary. Try to chew on the opposite side of the quick as much as possible.
Continue your normal brushing but be careful while flossing around the temporaries (remove the floss gently from the side). If it is difficult to get the floss between the temporary and surrounding teeth, refrain from flossing until you receive your permanent crown. After the permanent restoration is placed, you may feel slight pressure for a few days. Also, the bite may feel different for a day or two. But if after 2-3 days the edge still feels uneven or if you feel discomfort when chewing on the tooth, call our office. Delaying the necessary adjustments may damage the tooth permanently. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office if you are in pain or have any questions.
With New Dentures
You will experience some discomfort with any new denture for a few days. All new dentures need several adjustments to fit your mouth completely and comfortably. You should take the dentures out every night and keep them in a clean container filled with water or denture cleaning solution. Your gums need to rest and be without the dentures every day for some time. Clean dentures thoroughly with a brush and water before putting them back in your mouth.
It may not be easy to talk normally with the new dentures for a few days. One way to practice is to read a book or newspaper out loud for some time every day. Your tongue and muscles will get used to the new dentures, and you will normally talk very soon. Call our office if you are experiencing pain, discomfort or if you have any questions.
After an Extraction
Keep the gauze on the extraction site and apply pressure for 20 mins, and if bleeding subsides, it can be thrown away. If the bleeding continues, new gauze should be placed, and pressure applied for another 20 minutes to an hour. Avoid eating or drinking anything hot on the day of your extraction. Also, do not rinse your mouth forcefully, and do not use a straw for drinking. Do not spit, and do not drink carbonated beverages. Do not brush on the day of the surgery; you can gently resume your brushing and flossing the day after. During the first 2-3 days after surgery, a soft food and liquids diet is recommended (soup, yogurt, milkshakes, and juice).
You may experience some pain, bruising around your lips, and swelling, especially after the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Ice bag application and medication prescribed for you will help to minimize your discomfort. Please take all the medication you have received based on the provided instructions.
If you supervise children who have had an extraction done, make sure they don’t bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue). Call our office if you experience excessive bleeding, severe pain, or swelling or if you have any questions or concerns. In case of serious emergencies, call 911.
Implant Surgery
You may experience some discomfort and bleeding on the day of the surgery. Take all medication that was prescribed for you according to instructions. Apply an ice bag on your face over the surgical site on the day of surgery for 10 minutes on and 5 minutes off. Keep your next appointment on time for the removal of sutures and follow-up checks.
DO NOT raise your lips with your fingers to inspect the treated area. DO NOT brush teeth near the surgical site. Instead, brush the rest of your teeth carefully. There is often a temporary loss of feeling in the operated area, and the tooth may feel loose. Do not smoke, spit, or use a straw on the day of the surgery (avoid smoking for a few days after the surgery).
Should any difficulties occur, do not hesitate to call our office anytime. In case of serious emergencies, contact 911.
Common Symptoms
If a throbbing sensation occurs, please keep your head elevated as much as possible and place extra pillows under your head when lying down. Avoid as much strenuous activity as possible.
If swelling of the gum is present or should appear after a treatment visit, please rinse the area every one to two hours with a solution of warm salt water prepared by adding a teaspoon of salt to an 8-oz. glass of warm water.
If swelling of the face is present or should appear, apply an ice pack to the area for five minutes every one to two hours and call your dentist.
If antibiotic medication has been prescribed, take it as indicated until you have finished ALL the medicine. If you encounter any difficulty breathing, a skin rash, or gastric disturbance should occur, discontinue the medication, and call the office.
If medication for pain has been prescribed, take it as indicated. Bear in mind that narcotic drugs such as Codeine, Vicodin, Percodan, Lorcet, and Demerol may make you drowsy. Therefore, caution should be exercised in operating any potentially dangerous machinery or an automobile.
If any additional questions should arise after your visit, do not hesitate to call your dentist.