Treatment After Care
Temporary Crown
Your temporary crown serves several functions, if it comes off or breaks, it is imperative that you return as soon as possible to have it put back on. If it comes off in one piece, as a temporary solution, apply a small amount of Vaseline or denture adhesive inside the temporary crown and place it carefully back on the tooth. This will protect the tooth until you can come into the office. It is very important that you do not go without your temporary crown for more than a day or two. Even that long can allow adjacent teeth to drift into the space that your permanent crown needs to fit properly. If the crown does not fit properly it may need to be sent back to the lab which may result in the patient having to pay the additional lab cost.
Root Canal
Once a root canal has been preformed, your tooth may be sore for a couple of days. If the pain continues, contact our office. The pain is normally the result of residual infection which requires antibiotic therapy. The tooth may also be hitting high and need adjustment. Sometimes a temporary filling is placed in the tooth. Some of this material may come out in between appointments. If all of the filling material comes out it should be replaced.
Crown Preparation
After the anesthesia has worn off, the gums around your teeth may be sore. Warm salt water rinses will help soothe your gums. We recommend using 1/2 tsp of salt to 8 oz of warm water. You will have a temporary crown on your tooth until your crown is seated. The temporary crown will not be as smooth as your natural tooth or the finished crown. If the temporary crown comes off, please let us know immediately so we can cement it back into place. Without the temp crown, the tooth will drift, causing the new crown to not fit properly. Avoid sticky foods or flossing too aggressively. Please see Temporary Crown.
Fillings
White fillings are as hard as they are going to get before you leave the office. You might feel some discomfort from the band used to form the filling, there may also be some cold sensitivity right after the procedure. If your discomfort continues or gets worse, please notify the office. The most common issue with a new filling is that after the anesthesia has worn off, you may feel that the filling is high (you are hitting that area first), if this happens, please call to schedule a short appointment to have the filling adjusted.
Implant Crown Placement
After implant crowns are placed, care must be taken to keep them clean. Daily brushing and flossing is especially important and it is imperative that you continue with your follow up cleaning visits to protect your investment.
Periodontal Treatment
The following information is important for proper healing during and after your periodontal treatment. Please follow these instructions to get maximum results. We suggest that you follow this order:
1. Brush at least twice daily
2. Floss once daily
3. If recommended use the Proxabrush, OralB or SoniCare toothbrush as instructed.
4. If prescribed for you, use the Peridex/Periogard rinse as instructed.
5. Return for your periodontal reevaluation on your recommended schedule. Our goal is to prevent the progression of your periodontal disease and enable you to keep your teeth for your entire life!
Following scaling and root planing (gum therapy), your gums may still have a tendency to bleed for several weeks. As the periodontal disease is treated and the pockets heal you will notice the gums will feel tighter around the teeth and will not bleed as easily as they once did. Good news, your periodontal disease is getting better!
Discomfort or pain should be mild and should subside in a few hours to one day. You may notice a slight throbbing or aching after the anesthetic wears off. Tylenol, Advil or Aleve can be taken to reduce discomfort.
You may notice that your teeth are sensitive to temperature changes and/or sweets. This usually diminishes after the first several days. If the sensitivity persists, use a desensitizing toothpaste such as Sensodyne or Crest Sensitivity Protection.
Whitening Instructions
Whitening is one of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of your smile. However, it is important that you follow the directions carefully to achieve the best results possible. Be sure to call us if you experience any problems such as gum irritation or sensitive teeth during your treatment.
Brush and floss your teeth.
- Apply whitening gel to the inside of the trays. Do not overfill the tray.
- After inserting the tray, gently remove excess gel that may flow beyond the tray’s edge.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke while wearing trays.
- Avoid talking while wearing trays as excessive mouth movement allows saliva to wash away the whitening gel.
- After 30 minutes, remove the tray. Brush and rinse the residual gel from the teeth and tray.
- You may whiten your teeth up to twice a day, separated by at least 4 hours.
We will see you back in the office in about two weeks to evaluate the results. During this time, your teeth will be especially susceptible to re-staining so try to avoid smoking, coffee, tea, cola, red wine, etc. as they will slow down the whitening process.
Once you reach a shade you are happy with and/or your teeth aren’t getting any lighter you will stop daily treatment, but be sure to keep your trays and any left over gel since they can be used for touch-ups, as needed, to keep your teeth looking their whitest!
-TIPS-
- We give you 3 tubes of whitening gel to start with, keep the tubes you are NOT USING in the refrigerator to prolong it’s shelf life. Allow the gel to return to room temperature prior to using it.
- A little gel goes a long way…if it is oozing out of the tray, use less.
- Do not “fill up” your trays with gel…you are only whitening the FRONT of your teeth. You also do not need to put gel on the teeth that “don’t show” when you are smiling.
- Some people have sensitive teeth to begin with and others “develop” sensitive teeth while whitening. in either case, we recommend that you start using Sensodyne toothpaste before you start to whiten and continue to use it throughout the process.
- We have included a tube of fluoride gel (if you need it) that will help with sensitivity. After whitening, clean out your trays, fill with fluoride gel and wear it for 15-20 minutes.
- If you are having pain, over the counter Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) as directed usually works best. If you can not take ibuprofen, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed will also help.
- If the whitening gel gets on your gum tissue, it may create a white spot – do not attempt to rub it off! If the area is not painful, leave it alone and it should return to normal within a few hours.
- If the area is painful, use Vitamin E oil (capsule provided) to create a protective barrier which will help the tissue heal faster. To use, make a small hole in the capsules “skin”, squeeze out a tiny bit and put it on the spot.
Extraction
After a tooth is extracted a clot forms over the extraction site creating a protective layer that hastens the healing process. If this clot is removed or disturbed, the resulting “Dry Socket” can be very painful. Follow these instructions! They will help you avoid unnecessary pain and inconvenience that can occur if the clot is dislodged.
>span class="C-11"> – Three common activities that will result in “Dry Socket”.
DO NOT – 1. Smoke 2. Use a straw 3. Drink carbonated beverages
DON’T RINSE your mouth or SPIT for 24 hours.
KEEP FINGERS AND TONGUE away from the extraction site.
BLEEDING. A small amount of bleeding after an extraction is normal. If the bleeding is unusual or inconvenient, place a sterile gauze over the extraction site, bite down and hold firmly in place for 20 minutes. Repeat if necessary.
FOODS AND LIQUIDS. Avoid hot liquids; a light diet of soft foods is best during the first 24 hours.
SWELLING. Some swelling after an extraction is normal. Place an ice pack (frozen peas or a plastic bag or a towel filled with ice will work fine) and hold it against the swollen area for 5 minutes on and 10 minutes off for one hour.
NEXT DAY. Rinse your mouth gently with a solution of ½ tsp. of table salt in an 8 oz. glass of warm water after meals. Repeat as necessary for the next 2 or 3 days.
BONY PROJECTIONS. After a tooth is extracted, you may feel a hard splinter or edge in your mouth. This is a portion of your bone which surrounded the roots of your teeth and will generally wear away or work itself out.
ANTIBIOTICS. If antibiotics are prescribed, take all of it as prescribed even though your symptoms may improve. If symptoms other than those described occur, call Dr. Al at (281) 859-9073 at once.
BRUSHING. Brush normally around all of your other teeth to keep the bacterial count down. Avoid the extraction site with the brush. Use the rinses above to cleanse the area.
New Restorations
If a new filling, crown, removable partial denture or full denture feels high or if something feels in the way when you bite, please call the office so we can get you in to make the appropriate adjustments.
Crown Lengthening
If crown lengthening has been performed, you will notice that there is a pink bandage over the surgical site. If this should come loose or fall off, please notify the office so it can be replaced. Do not brush the area with a toothbrush. Use a Q-tip soaked with a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water. Continue to brush unaffected areas normally with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Medication Info
Prescription Pain Medication
If Dr. Al gives you a prescription for pain medication, you will probably only need to take it at night. If you do need to take it during the day, do not drive or do any activity that requires you to be fully alert. Prescription pain medication will, more than likely, make you sleepy/disoriented.
Non-Prescription Pain Medication
For mild to moderate pain, take –
Ibuprofen/Advil. 600 mg, every 6-8 hours as needed.
If stronger pain relief is needed, take –
Acetaminophen/Tylenol. 500 mg, taken with 600mg Ibuprofen
Do not take the Advil/Tylenol combo more than 4 times in 24 hours.
Antibiotics
If you are/were given a prescription for antibiotics, take them as prescribed until you have finished all of the medication. Do not stop your antibiotics mid-course.
Salt Water Rinse
Mix together ½ teaspoon salt and 8 oz warm water. Rinse 3-4 times a day.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Mix together 50% Hydrogen Peroxide and 50% water. Use Q-tip to apply to needed area 3-4 times a day.
Adverse Reactions
