Postoperative Instructions

Crowns, Bridges, Inlays, Onlays
Cosmetic Veneers and Crowns
Deep Teeth Cleaning
Dentures
Extractions
Fillings
Gum Surgery
Implant Surgery
Implant Crown Placement
Orthodontic Treatment/Braces
Root Canals
TMJ Home Care

Crown & Bridge, Crowns, Inlays, or Onlays

For an hour following your visit, do not chew. Wait until numbness subsides before eating. Chew on the opposite of the new restoration for the first 24 hours after placement.
Most crowns, inlays, and onlays are placed the same day as treatment, so NO temporary will be necessary.
However, if you have a bridge placed, you will wear temporary restorations until your permanent restoration is made.
If your temporary falls off or breaks, save the pieces and call our office. Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums.
Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, should go away in a few days.
Brush gently and floss carefully for the first few days.
After 24 to 48 hours, if your teeth feel like they don't fit together properly, please call our office for a follow up adjustment appointment. This is very important to ensure the longevity of your new crown!

Cosmetic Veneers and Crowns

Stage 1: Preparation

Temporary restorations are attached very slightly to the underlying natural tooth structure, so they can be removed easily. Be careful when you eat, and chew only on back teeth, or teeth without temporaries on them, if possible.
While your teeth are in temporaries, they may be sensitive to cold, hot or chewing. Don’t worry, the final ones will NOT have these sensations.
Your gums may be slightly irritated for a few days after them temporaries are placed – this is normal. Rinse with warm salt water as directed by the doctor to help soothe any irritation.
Mild over, the counter pain medication, such as Advil or Aleve should ease any discomfort.
Do NOT try to floss around your temporaries.
If a temporary restoration comes loose, call our office immediately for an appointment. If you are not able to get into see us right away, place the restoration back in place using toothpaste.

Stage 2: Placement

Your gums may be slightly irritated for a few days after the restorations are placed – this is normal. Rinse with warm salt water as directed by the doctor to help soothe any irritation.
Mild over, the counter pain medication, such as Advil or Aleve should ease any discomfort.
Brush twice a day and floss at least once a day, as you would with your natural teeth.
Wear your custom made night guard that is designed to minimize the clenching and grinding forces on your teeth.
With proper home care and regularly scheduled visits, Cosmetic Dentistry can provide you with a beautiful smile for many, many years. Regular visits to your cosmetic dentist can help insure that your dental treatment is being maintained. While there is nothing we can do to make a tooth completely immune to future problems, preventive maintenance will prolong the life of your cosmetic dental treatment for many years.

Deep Teeth Cleaning

Sensitivity to cold and heat will subside.
Do not chew or eat until numbness subsides.
Brush and floss as usual. Your gums may bleed a bit for a few days.
Rinse mouth with warm salt water as directed to promote healing.

Denture Delivery

It is normal to experience some discomfort and speech problems while getting used to your new dentures. New dentures need several adjustments to fit comfortably. To help with speech, read aloud for a few minutes every day. Your mouth will adjust, and your speech will improve.
Remove your dentures every night to allow your gums to rest and stay healthy. Keep the denture in container of water or denture cleaner.
Thoroughly brush your dentures with water before wearing them.

Extractions

For an hour after surgery, you should place gentle biting pressure on the gauze pad covering the extraction site. If bleeding continues, apply new gauze should and pressure for and additional 45 minutes.
After surgery, place a cold compress on your face near the extraction site for 10 minutes. Remove for 5 minutes. Repeat.
Do not eat or drink hot foods and beverages after surgery.
Do not rinse your mouth.
Do not use a straw.
Do not spit.
Do not drink carbonated beverages.
Do not brush your teeth on the day of the surgery. Then resume normal home care, gently brushing and flossing.
Bruising, swelling, and pain are normal – particularly if you have had a wisdom tooth extraction. Take your prescribed medication and use a cold compress on your face.
Plan to eat soft foods, such as soups, milk shakes, fruit juice, and yogurt, for 2-3 days.
Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain.

Fillings

For an hour following your visit, do not chew. Wait until numbness subsides before eating. Chew on the opposite side from the new filling for the first 24 hours after placement.
Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain.
Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, should go away in a few days.
After 24-48 hours, if your teeth feel like they don’t fit together properly, please call our office for a follow up adjustment appointment – this is very important to ensure the longevity of your new filling!

Gum Surgery

Pain, swelling, and bleeding is normal following gum surgery. A cold compress should be placed on your face near the surgical site for 10 minutes at a time, with 5 minutes off, the day of your surgery. This will reduce pain, swelling, and bleeding.
Take your prescribed medications as instructed.
You should keep your appointment for follow-up with your dentist/specialist.
Do not raise your lips and probe the area with your fingers.
Do not brush your teeth near the sutures. However, you should brush and floss the rest of your teeth as you normally would.
You may experience loss of sensation at the surgical site, and nearby teeth may feel loose for a while.
Do not spit or use a straw the day of your procedure. Avoid smoking for a few days.

Implant Surgery

Pain, swelling, and bleeding is normal following oral surgery. A cold compress should be placed on your face near the surgical site for 10 minutes at a time, with 5 minutes off, the day of your surgery. This will reduce pain, swelling, and bleeding.
Take your prescribed medications as instructed.
You should keep your appointment for follow-up with your dentist/specialist.
Do not raise your lips and probe the area with your fingers.
Do not brush your teeth near the sutures. However, you should brush and floss the rest of your teeth as you normally would.
Do not spit or use a straw the day of your procedure. Avoid smoking for a few days.

Implant Crown Placement

Chew away from/on the opposite of the new implant crown for the first 24 hours after placement.
Any gum sensitivity or tenderness, as well as any soreness, should go away in a few days.
Brush gently and floss carefully for the first few days.
After 24-48 hours, if your teeth feel like they don’t fit together properly, please call our office for a follow up adjustment appointment – this is very important to ensure the longevity of your new implant crown!

Orthodontic Treatment/Braces

General tenderness can be relieved by rinsing the mouth with warm salt water.
Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve can be taken to alleviate any pain
Tenderness should end by the 3^rd or 4^th day after an adjustment
Teeth may feel slightly loose during treatment – this is normal, as they must loosen to move, and will become rigid and fixed again after treatment is completed.
For the first few days after appliance are placed, soft foods may be the most appropriate.
Food should be cut into small pieces, and chewing should be done with your back teeth.
NEVER bite into anything with your front teeth (such as apples, corn on the cob, ribs, and chicken wings)
Hard foods are off limits, or must be cut up into very small pieces and chewed on the back teeth. (such as hard cookies and breads, pizza crusts, frozen snacks, raw vegetables like carrots and celery, and ice cubes)
Chewy, sticky candies are completely OFF LIMITS! They may not immediately cause damage, but they defiantly will over time!
Keep things that are not food out of your mouth, and DO NOT chew on things.
Don’t use your teeth as tools!
Call us immediately in any appliance, wire, bracket, or band comes loose.
Call us immediately if you have any questions or concerns before your next scheduled appointment.

Root Canal Treatment

Sensitivity may subside immediately, however it should definitely subside after a few days.
Take your prescribed medication as directed.
If no pain meds were prescribe, take ibuprofen as directed.
Because a temporary filling is in the tooth, do not bite hard on the tooth until the permanent filling or crown is placed. Once the permanent filling/crown is in place, chew carefully on the opposite side of your mouth for at least 24 hours.
Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain.
Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, should go away in a few days.
Brush and floss gently.

TMJ Home Care

Sleep flat on your back, on a medium or firm mattress with no pillow or a very flat pillow only.
Concentrate on relaxing your eyes, forehead, brow, facial muscles, and letting your jaw hang.
NO hard, crunchy, or chewy foods.
Limit your sweets and caffeine.
Do not open wide to bite a sandwich or yawn.
Do not pop your jaw on purpose.
Advil or Aleve may be helpful when taken as directed.
Wear your TMJ appliance as directed.
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