Instructions Following Crown, Bridge, and fillings
Following Tooth Preparation:
Sensitivity and tenderness of the tooth and surrounding gums is common for the first one to two weeks after a tooth has been prepared for a restoration. If the tenderness or sensitivity lasts longer than this, please contact our office.
If anesthesia is used, avoid chewing, biting, and eating until the numbness wears off.
The final restoration may be placed the same day that the tooth is prepared or may be placed during a separate appointment.
For Temporary Restorations:
Eat softer foods, and avoid foods that are particularly crunchy, chewy, or hard.
Carefully clean around the restoration, brushing and flossing daily. Be gentle when flossing, taking extra care not to loosen the temporary restoration. Slowly pulling the floss out by one end can help avoid putting too much pressure on the temporary.
If the temporary restoration becomes loose or breaks, please call us immediately.
After Final Restoration Placement:
Avoid chewing on hard, crunchy, or sticky foods for 24 hours in order to give time for the cement to fully bond.
Mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods is not unusual and should dissipate after a few weeks. If sensitivity lasts more than six weeks, please let the office know.
Ongoing Care:
Proper care of your restoration includes brushing your teeth after every meal and snack, and flossing at least once a day before bedtime.
Rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash will also help to remove any additional particles that may have been missed during brushing and flossing.
Please call our office if you are in pain or have any questions regarding your treatment.
[buttons for Instructions following denture or partial delivery]
Instructions Following Denture or Partial Delivery
Dentures and partials will often need several adjustments in order to fit comfortably.
To help yourself adjust to your dentures you can practice reading aloud for a little while each day.
Dentures should be removed overnight or for at least 6 hours a day to give your mouth and gums time to rest.
At night you should remove your dentures and clean them. They should be stored in a clean container filled with denture cleaning solution.
Food particles can become trapped under dentures causing inflammation or sore spots. Lightly brush the roof of your mouth, your tongue, and your gums after removing your dentures.
You may have discomfort for a few days after receiving your final dentures or partials.
Ongoing Care:
Brush your teeth and the surrounding tissues after every meal and snack and flossing at least once a day before bedtime. If you have full dentures, brushing the dentures daily is very important.
Rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash will help to remove any additional particles that may have been missed during brushing and flossing.
Make sure to visit our office at least once a year to have your dentures or partial adjusted and checked by the doctor. Wearing ill-fitting dentures or partials without proper care and adjustment can cause bone loss in the jaw area and oral disease.
Please call our office if you are experiencing ongoing pain or discomfort or if you have any concerns regarding your denture or partial.
[button for Instructions Following Scaling and Root Planing]
Instructions Following Scaling and Root Planing
For the first 24 hours you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity.
Do not consume hot foods or beverages until the anesthesia and numbness have worn off.
Avoid vigorous physical exercise as well as extremely hot or spicy foods for the first 24 hours.
Do not consume alcoholic beverages or smoke for at least 48 hours following treatment.
Some bleeding following a deep cleaning is normal, but if you experience excessive bleeding, please call our office.
You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as needed according to the instructions on the label or those provided by your doctor.
A warm salt water rinse, approximately one teaspoon in an eight ounce glass of water, three times a day can be helpful.
Brush and floss gently following a deep cleaning, resuming normal brushing and flossing when the soreness is gone.
Follow any other instructions provided by our office during your visit.
Please take all medications as prescribed.
[button for Instructions Following Root Canal Therapy]
Instructions Following Root Canal Therapy
Please follow the guidelines below and contact us with any questions.
No eating or drinking for the first 30 minutes following your treatment. Also avoid feeling around your tooth with your tongue. This is to allow the temporary filling sufficient time to harden.
If you were given any prescriptions, please have them filled promptly and take as directed. If no prescriptions were given, you may choose to take ibuprofen medications such as Motrin or Advil (as long as you do not have any allergies to these medications) for alleviation of discomfort and swelling. Alternatively, you may use Tylenol. Do not exceed the guidelines printed on the label for any medication. If you are unable to achieve adequate pain control, please call our office.
Applying a cold compress to the face near the treatment area will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but place a cloth between the ice and your skin at all times. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off for the next 6-8 hours as needed.
Once you resume eating and drinking, avoid chewing or biting on the treatment area until your permanent restoration is placed. The temporary filling or crown placed immediately following root canal treatment is usually a soft composite that is vulnerable to fracturing (cracking). For this reason, it is important to avoid chewing on hard substances such as peanuts, pretzels, hard candy, ice cubes, etc.. You may experience increased sensitivity prior to the placement of the final restoration. You will need to see a restorative dentist within a month to have a permanent crown or filling placed. Please contact your restorative dentist to make an appointment at your earliest convenience. Waiting longer than a month increases the chances that the temporary will fracture or that decay will develop in the affected area.
Please keep the treated area clean by gently brushing and flossing regularly.
It is rare for a temporary filling to fall out although it may divot while in use. If the temporary falls out, please contact your general dentist as soon as possible. If your temporary falls out after office hours, you may purchase some temporary filling material from a pharmacy and follow the included instructions to cover the area until you can be seen in our office.
Discomfort is normal for a few days to a week after root canal therapy (it typically peaks around 3-5 days after therapy). In some cases the tooth and surrounding tissue may be sore for a few weeks following treatment.
Please brush and floss as usual unless otherwise instructed by our office. Follow any other instructions provided by our office during your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed.
THIS SECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
While flare-ups are rare, they occur in about 5% of cases and may cause significant pain. They generally only occur with teeth that are extremely irritated and/or infected or with teeth that have a history of prior treatment. These sometimes occur randomly, even on patients that have had root canals done in the past without problems. If you have a flare-up, you may experience moderate to severe pain, swelling, throbbing, or general discomfort; please contact our office right away. You may be prescribed additional medication such as antibiotics, and/or you may be asked to come to the office for further treatment.
[Instructions for Invisalign]
Do
Use your fingers to put your aligners in place. First place the aligners over your front teeth, and then use your fingers to push the aligner down gently over your molars. When aligners are correctly inserted, they will fit all the way down on the teeth, with no space between the top of the aligners and the top of the teeth. Aligners will fit tightly at first but should fit well at the end of the two week period.
Keep aligners in except when flossing, brushing, eating. It’s also best to remove the aligners when drinking warm beverages such as coffee or tea.
Remove the aligner by pulling it off both sides of your back teeth simultaneously then lifting it off of your front teeth. Place your aligners in the case we provided any time they are not being worn.
Clean aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Wear each set of aligners for two weeks unless our office directs you to vary from this schedule.
Wear aligners in the correct numerical order. (Each aligner is labeled by number and with a U or an L to designate upper or lower.)
Keep all of your old aligners and bring them to your orthodontic appointments.
Don’t
Don’t place your aligners in or on a napkin or tissue. Many aligners have accidentally been thrown out this way!
Don’t use your teeth to “bite” your aligners into place.
If you have pets, don’t place your aligners anywhere that your pets can reach them. Pets are attracted to saliva and would enjoy chewing on your Invisalign trays!
Do not use Denture cleaner, alcohol, or bleach to clean your aligners.
Do not use boiling water or warm water on your aligners.
Don’t chew gum with your aligners in.
It would be best not to smoke while wearing aligners. The smoke can stain the aligners as well as your teeth.
Just in Case
If you lose the tab attached to your tooth that helps the aligner snap on, please call our office right away so that we can determine if you need to come in before your next scheduled appointment.
If you lose one of your aligner trays, please wear the next tray if you have it. If you do not have the next tray, please wear the previous tray. It is extremely important to use a tray to keep teeth from shifting. Call our office to let us know which tray was lost so that we can determine if a replacement tray is needed. There will be a fee if replacement trays are required.
[button for Instructions Following Implant Surgery/Implant Treatment]
Instructions Following Implant Surgery/Implant Treatment
Some pain, bleeding, swelling, and seeping are normal following oral surgery. Please do not try to view the site by pulling on your lip and do not probe the area with your tongue or fingers. If you experience excessive bleeding or discomfort after 48-72 hours, please call our office immediately.
You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen according to the instructions on the label or those provided by our office as needed.
Swelling around the face, eyes, and surgical site is not uncommon and may become more noticeable two to three days following surgery. Applying a cold compress to the face near the implant site will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but place a cloth between the ice and your skin at all times. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 36 hours the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling.
A warm salt water rinse, approximately ½ teaspoon in an eight ounce glass of water, three times a day can be helpful.
Avoid brushing your teeth near the surgery site but brush and floss the rest of your mouth as instructed by our office.
For 48 hours following your surgery, do not suck on a straw, brush, rinse, spit, or smoke.
For the first 48 hours you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity. Avoid hot and spicy foods as well as carbonated and alcoholic beverages.
Restrict your activities on the day of your surgery. Avoid excessive work or play, and resume normal activity the following day as tolerated.
After the first day, gently rinse with a warm salt water rinse, approximately one-half teaspoon of salt in an eight ounce glass of water, three times a day.
During the first few days after surgery restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods such as soups, yogurt, juice, and smoothies.
Follow any other instructions provided by the office on your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed including your prescribed antibiotics to help prevent infection.
If you have a denture that overlaps the implant site, please minimize the use of the denture following surgery to allow the site to heal. After the first week, you should be able to gradually increase the amount of time you can wear your denture.
It is extremely important to keep your follow up appointment(s) so that we can monitor the healing process.
If pain and swelling are increasing after a few days, please call our office right away.
[button for Instructions Following Pedodontic Preventive Visits]
Instructions Following Pedodontic Preventive Visits
Instructions Following a Prophy (Cleaning)
Your child may experience some tenderness for a day or two. If this persists, you may have them rinse with warm salt water 2-3 times per day. For discomfort you may also give your child Children’s Tylenol, Advil or Motrin as directed for the age and weight of your child.
Instructions Following Fluoride Treatment
Patients should not rinse, eat, or drink for at least 30 minutes to maximize the fluoride’s direct contact with the teeth.
Instructions Following Sealant Placement
Your child may notice that the tooth feels different because of the new sealant. The teeth and bite will feel normal again in a couple of days. Your child should avoid sticky, crunchy, or hard foods for 24 hours following the placement of the sealant.
Dental Emergencies
During office hours, immediate attention will be given to your situation, and you will be seen as soon as possible. After office hours, please give the office a call and follow the instructions provided. Your call will be returned as soon as possible. If you are experiencing a serious or life threatening emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
In the event of an emergency during nonbusiness hours, please do not hesitate to contact our office and Dr. Hairani will reach out to you immediately.
Below are instructions for handling some minor common dental emergencies.
In the case of a toothache…
Gently clean the area around the tooth by rinsing the mouth with warm water and gently flossing to remove any particles that may be lodged in the tissue around the tooth. If the pain continues, or if the area around the affected tooth is warm, please call our office to schedule an appointment.
If a lip, gum, cheek, or tongue gets cut…
Apply ice to help reduce swelling and apply pressure with a clean cloth or sterile gauze to stop any bleeding. If the bleeding continues, call your physician or visit your local emergency room.
If a baby tooth gets knocked out…
Please call our office to schedule an appointment.
If a permanent tooth gets knocked out…
Call our office right away and take these steps. 1) Do not touch the tooth root, but hold the tooth by the crown and gently rinse the tooth with water. 2) Place the tooth back into the socket as quickly as possible and bite down on clean gauze to hold it in place. 3) If the tooth cannot be placed in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk or saliva and bring it with you to your appointment.
If a tooth gets chipped or broken
Gently rinse the area with lukewarm water and place a cold compress on the face to reduce swelling. If you can locate the piece of broken tooth, place the piece in milk, and bring it with you to the office. If more than half of the tooth is broken off, please call us immediately.