Home Care Instructions
After dental Fillings
If a local anesthetic was 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. Your gums may also be sore. Over-the-counter pain medications work well to alleviate the tenderness. If your bite feels uneven or pressure/temperature sensitivity continues after a week, please contact us so that we can see you in office.
After Tooth Extraction
Most patients recover within a few days. To promote proper healing:
- Bite gently on gauze as directed
- Avoid smoking or using straws for several days
- Eat soft foods and avoid chewing near the extraction site
- Keep the area clean but avoid vigorous rinsing for the first 24 hours
- After the first 24 hours, rinse mouth gently every 3-4 hours with 1/4 teaspoon of salt in warm water
- Apply an ice pack to the area to keep swelling to a minimum
Some mild swelling and discomfort are normal and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications. If pain or swelling persists, please contact us.
After Crown and Bridge Appointments
Crowns and bridges can take multiple appointments to complete. After the first visit, temporary crowns or bridges 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.
To keep your temporaries in place, avoid eating sticky foods (gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to brush normally, but floss carefully and don’t pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary but pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.
Occasionally a temporary crown may come off. Please let us know if this happens and bring the temporary crown with you so we can re-cement it. It is very important for the temporary to stay in place, as it will prevent other teeth from moving and compromising the fit of your final restoration.
At the second visit, your crown or bridge will be tried-in and cemented. If your bite feels uneven or if you have persistent pain, please contact our office to come in for an adjustment.