Crowns, Bridges, Dentures, Filling etc

Brush and floss normally, but if your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure, you can use a desensitizing toothpaste. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days, call us.

Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed. To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use about 1 teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water. It’s normal for your gums to be sore for several days.

Call our office/clinic, if your bite feels uneven, you have persistent sensitivity or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns. Call us if your temporary bridge comes off. Save the temporary so we can recement it. It’s very important for the proper fit of your final bridge that your temporary stay in place.

To keep your mouth comfortable after having a filling, and to ensure that your filling sets properly, follow the tips below.

• If we used anaesthetic, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid chewing anything until the numbness has completely worn off.
• It’s normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after your appointment.
• Your gums may be sore for several days. Rinse three times a day with warm salt water (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) to reduce pain and swelling.
• Don’t chew hard foods—and don’t chew directly on new silver fillings— for 24-48 hrs following the appointment. If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. You may chew right away on white fillings, because they set completely on the day of the appointment.
• If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office

• Before your surgery, you were given an anesthetic to ensure your comfort. This anesthetic typically leaves your lips, teeth and tongue feeling numb after the appointment. For this reason, you should avoid any chewing for two hours following surgery, or until the numbness has worn off completely.
• Apply an ice pack – 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off – for 6 hours following surgery to decrease pain and swelling.
• Keep your fingers and tongue away from the parts of your gums that were affected by the surgery.
• Do not rinse your mouth the day of the surgery. Twenty-four hours after surgery, you can rinse gently with mouthwash or a warm salt water solution; dissolve one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water, and gently swish, then carefully spit. Three times per day is sufficient.
• It’s normal to experience some discomfort for a few days following surgery. To avoid nausea, don’t take pain medication on an
  empty stomach.
• If antibiotics were prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
• Relax as much as possible and avoid all strenuous activities for the first 24 hours following surgery.
• Once the numbness has worn off, you should eat. Nourishment is important to the healing process. Limit your diet to soft foods like
  yogurt, soft soups, ice cream, or soft-cooked eggs for the first 48 hours.
• Drink at least 8 large glasses of water or fruit juice each day
• Keep your head elevated with pillows to control bleeding. We will give you a supply of gauze sponges to place over the bleeding area; change them as necessary, and use them until the bleeding stops completely. You can also bite gently but firmly on a moist tea bag for 20 minutes if bleeding continues.
• Call our office if bleeding persists or increases.
• Continue cleaning the other areas of your mouth, flossing daily and brushing at least twice a day as you would normally.

Congratulations on your new smile! It’s important that you remember it will take some time to adjust to the feel
of your new bite. Here are some steps you can take to make that adjustment comfortable for you, and to ensure
the success of your new smile:

• When your bite is altered, or the position of your teeth is changed, it will feel different for a few days. It takes several days for your brain to recognize and adjust to the new conditions in your mouth. If you detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call us to schedule an adjustment.
• It’s normal for your teeth to be a bit sensitive to heat, cold and pressure. That’s because we removed some tooth structure, then placed new materials on your teeth. The sensitivity should subside after several days; if it doesn’t, be sure to call our office
• Your gums may also be sore and somewhat swollen for several days. Rinsing three times a day with warm salt water will relieve the pain and swelling. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water, gently swish, and then spit carefully.
• Mild, over-the-counter pain medication should ease your discomfort during the adjustment period.
• Your speech might be affected slightly for the first few days; this is normal, and is not a cause for concern. You will quickly adapt to the new “feel” in your mouth, and be speaking normally.
• Your brain might respond to the new size and shape of your teeth by increasing salivary flow. This should subside to normal flow within a week.
• If you participate in sports, ask us about creating a custom mouthguard to protect your new smile.
• Remember, any food or substance that can crack, chip, or in any way damage your natural teeth can do the same to your new restorations. Avoid sticky candies and hard substances like popcorn hulls, peanut brittle, fingernails, pencils or ice.
• Tobacco products, whether smoked or chewed, will quickly stain your teeth an unattractive yellowish brown.
• Red wine, cola, berries, coffee and tea can stain your teeth as well as your new restorations, so brush or rinse after consuming them.
• Daily plaque removal is critical for the long-term success of your new restorations, so brush and floss daily, and see us on a regular basis for professional cleanings. We’ll use the appropriate cleaning abrasives and techniques for your specific cosmetic work.