Home Care Instructions

After Cosmetic Reconstruction

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 (707) 575-9595 so we can schedule an adjustment appointment for you.

It is normal to experience some hot and cold sensitivity. The teeth require time to recover after removal of tooth structure and can 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. Don’t be concerned if your speech is affected for the first few days.You will 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.

Brush and Floss Daily as plaque removal is critical for the long-term success of your new teeth, as are regular cleaning appointments.

If you engage in sports or your dentist has advised youthat you show signs of grinding your teeth while sleeping,we can make a custom mouthguard for you. Protecting your teeth is important!

After Crown and Bridge Appointments

Usually Crowns and Bridges take two or three appointments to complete. In the first visit, the teeth are prepared and molds of the mouth are taken. A temporary crown or bridge will be 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.

Temporary Crowns are not strong. They may break or come off occasionally. If it has simply come off slip it back on the tooth with some Fixodent (dental adhesive) and call us for an appointment. Please do not leave the temporary out of your mouth as teeth can move and the final restorationmay not fit.

  • Do not floss around your temporary corwn.
  • Do not wear your night guard until the permanent crown is placed.
  • Please remember that the size, shape, and color of the temporary does not resemble the final restoration.
  • Temporary resorations may leak saliva or food onto the tooth.
  • Sensitivity to hot, cold, pressure or sweets is not uncommon.
  • If you feelyour bite is not balanced, please call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.

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 healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush 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. 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 fluid 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 leasttwice 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 (707) 575-9595.

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 & 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 (707) 575-9595.

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.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (707) 575-9595.