· Since anesthetic has been used, your lips, tongue and the roof of your mouth may be numb for several hours after your appointment. Avoid chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has worn off.

· It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment. To control discomfort, take the pain medication prescribed. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them as directed, even if all signs and symptoms of infection are gone.

· If you are given a temporary filling or crown and it falls away from the tooth, call our office to arrange a time so it can be replaced. To protect the tooth and keep the temporary in place, avoid eating hard and sticky foods (gum) and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth.

· Continue to brush and floss normally.

Hours:

Mon. 8:30 am—5:00 pm

Tue. 8:30 am—7:00 pm

Wed. 8:30 am—5:00 pm

Thur. 8:30 am—5:00 pm

Fri. 8:30 am—5:00 pm

Instructions

· Do not rinse or spit for 24 hours after surgery. Keep fingers and tongue away from socket or surgical area.

· Use ice packs on surgical area (side of face) for first 24 hours, apply ice 20 minutes on - 10 minutes off. Bags of frozen peas work well.

· For mild discomfort take Tylenol or Ibuprofen every three to four hours. For severe pain use the prescription given to you. You may expect swelling for ten days to two weeks and a fever of 99 degrees F to 100 degrees F.

· Drink plenty of fluids but do not use a straw. Diet may consist of soft foods, which can be easily chewed and swallowed. No seeds, nuts, rice, popcorn, chips, etc.

· The day after the extraction, begin to use a warm salt-water rinse following meals for the first week to flush out particles of food and debris that lodge in the surgical area. Rinsing is important because it helps prevent infection and promotes healing. Brush your tongue with a dry toothbrush to keep bacteria growth down, but be careful not to touch the extraction site.

· A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Bleeding is controlled by applying pressure to the surgical area using small rolled gauze for 90 minutes. After that time remove the gauze and then you may eat or drink.

· We suggest that you do not smoke for at least 5 days after surgery. Nicotine may break down the blood clot and cause a "dry-socket,” a painful condition where the bone becomes exposed.

· Sore Spots: Usually, your mouth will have a few “sore spots” after wearing the denture/partial for 24 hours. These areas can be relieved with very little effort during your next appointment.

· The new bite may not feel completely comfortable for several weeks. We can adjust the contacting surfaces of your teeth after the dentures/partials have settled into place.

· Your denture/partials can be cleaned easily by using a denture brush and a mild toothpaste. Periodic denture soaks are also very useful. We recommend leaving your partials out of your mouth at night and soaking in water. Denture wearers should brush your gums with a regular toothbrush once per day to toughen and clean them. Partial wearers should use special care to clean parts of the partial that contact any natural teeth. Both the partial and the natural teeth must be kept very clean on a daily basis to reduce the chance of new dental decay.

· As with natural teeth, avoid chewing excessively hard foods on the veneered teeth (hard candy, ice, raw carrots, etc.) because the porcelain material can break under extreme forces.

· Proper brushing, flossing, and regular 6-month cleanings are essential to the long-term stability and appearance of your veneers. Often, problems that may develop with the veneers can be found at an early stage and repaired easily, while waiting for a longer time may require redoing entire restoration.

Temporary Crowns

· If you are given a temporary crown, please remember temporary crowns are not strong. They may break or come off occasionally. If your temporary crown comes off, please call us for an appointment. Please do not leave the temporary out of your mouth because the teeth will move and the final restoration will not fit. The size, shape, and color of the temporary does not resemble the final restoration. Sensitivity to hot, cold, pressure, or sweets is not uncommon.

Permanent Crowns

· After the final cementing of your restoration, it may take a few days to get used to the new crown or bridge. Hot and cold sensitivity is possible for a few weeks and occasionally lasts for several months. If the bite doesn’t feel balanced please call us for a simple adjustment.

· Do not chew hard or sticky foods on the restoration for 24 hours from the time they were cemented. The cement must set up during this time to have optimum strength.

· Proper brushing, flossing, and regular 6-month cleanings are required to help you retain your final restoration. The only area that a crowned tooth can decay is at the edge of the crown at the gum line. Often, small problems that develop around the restorations can be found at an early stage and corrected easily, but waiting for a longer time may require redoing the entire restoration.

· Approximately 1 out of every 100 porcelain crowns chip and may need replacement.

· As with natural teeth, avoid chewing excessively hard foods on the filled teeth (hard candy, ice, raw carrots, etc.) because the resin material can break under extreme forces. Fillings set up hard right away, there is no waiting time to eat.

· Children should be observed until the anesthetic wears off. Due to the strange feeling of the anesthetic, many children will chew the inside of their lips, cheeks, or tongue which can cause serious damage.

· Sensitivity to hot and cold is common for a few weeks following a dental restoration. Usually, the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth will be.

· If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, please call for an appointment for a simple adjustment. It is not uncommon for the gum tissue to be irritated during the procedure and it may be sore for a few days. The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different texture than the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this small difference, but you will become accustomed to this in a few days.