TEMPORARY CROWNS OR BRIDGES
You have just received a temporary crown. This temporary crown is meant only to serve your needs while a permanent crown is being made for you.
Color: The color of the plastic temporary crown may not resemble the final (permanent) crown.
Shape and Size: Temporary crowns are custom-made for each patient but they will not be like the final crown, which indeed is being crafted especially for you.
Here are some other things you need to know about your temporary crown:
1. Your gums and teeth may be very tender after tooth crown preparations. Mix one half teaspoon salt in an 8 ounce glass of warm water. Swish gently to clean the area and hold the warm salt water to sooth the tissue. Do this 2 to 3 times a day. You can expect your tooth to be sensitive to temperature change for awhile.
2. When brushing, use a soft bristled brush. Gently massage gums and teeth to clean the area and encourage rapid healing.
3. Avoid sticky foods (gum, taffy, caramels, etc.) chewing ice, nuts and hard candy.
4. Floss your temporary crowns gently. Just slide floss gently toward the gum and pull floss out to the side, so crown will not "pop off".
5. If the nerves of your teeth were unhealthy before treatment, they may become symptomatic at this time. If the tooth does not settle down after the initial tenderness, please contact us.
6. Temporary crowns are not strong. They may occasionally break or come off. If this should happen to you, please contact our office immediately. Bring your crown with you and we will replace it. Should you be unable to contact us, simply go to a pharmacy and get some Fixodent or a commercial product especially made to reseat your temporary crown. Replace the temporary crown on your tooth using the Fixodent to hold it in place until you can contact us.
WHAT TO DO AFTER DENTAL SURGERY
Here are some tips on helping you recover from dental surgery:
1. Get your prescriptions filled and take as instructed. Each one is very important. Be sure to take at least 1 pain pill before numbness wears off. Take 2 grams (2000 mg) of Vitamin C each day until fully healed.
2. Bleeding -- some bleeding is to be expected. Oozing of blood may continue during the first 24 hrs. A small amount of oozing may seem significant when mixed with saliva. After the initial 30-45 minutes of direct biting pressure, it will probably not be necessary to apply more gauze. In rare situations, heavy bleeding may justify another gauze. Bite on the gauze firmly for 30 minutes. That pressure will help form a clot.
3. If you have a dressing on, do not disturb it for 7 days. It helps soothe, protect and position your gums during the first couple of days. If it works off early, do not be overly concerned. If you have reason you are concerned please call.
4. Apply ice to your face near the surgical area. A baggie of crushed ice in a towel will do. Apply 15 minutes on, then 15 minutes off, for the first 24 hours.
5. Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or carbonated beverages for at least 24 hours.
6. After 24 hours, rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water. Repeat every 3 or 4 hours, especially after meals, using 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. Continue until healing is complete.
7. Food -- for the first couple of days chew soft food until it is comfortable to chew your normal diet.
8. Cleaning -- as soon as you are allowed to clean the surgical area, clean gently and carefully until healing is complete. A clean surgical site will healer faster and better.
9. Normal healing usually progresses unnoticed with good home care. We will see you as many times as you feel is necessary during your recovery. Usually, one visit to remove any stitches is all that will be needed.
FOR SPECIALIZED PROCEDURES PLEASE REFER TO THE PRINTED INSTRUCTIONS FOR THAT PROCEDURE.
GENERAL POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTION
Medications
Pain Meds - Patients taking medications to relieve pain or other drugs that may impair reflexes should not operate machinery, motor vehicles; make important decisions, etc., while taking these drugs.
Antibiotics should be taken as directed until this prescription runs out. Antibiotics may impair the efficiency of oral contraceptives for the duration of the present cycle.
Extractions & Impactions
1. Bleeding:
A certain amount of bleeding is expected and the saliva may be tinged for 24 to 48 hours. Firm pressure should be maintained on the extraction sockets for 45 minutes after the extraction. If bleeding is persistent, it should be controlled by placing a piece of sterile gauze or a moist tea bag over the wound and biting on it for an addition period of time. Repeat if necessary. Do not rinse your mouth. It is important that the gauze be placed directly over the site where the tooth was removed and not over the adjacent teeth. The gauze must be bulky enough to prevent the upper and lower teeth from meeting when biting firmly.
2. Pain:
This can be controlled by taking 2 Ibuprofen or Tylenol capsules every 3-4 hours if necessary. You have been given a prescription for relief of pain. Use this prescription as directed. The pain medication should be taken with some food. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain should decrease continually after the first day. If pain returns or increases, please call for help.
3. Swelling:
Apply ice to face in the area of the surgery for a period of 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, for the first 3 hours after the surgery, while awake. Swelling is not uncommon after surgery. It is usually moderate within 48 hours and may last several days thereafter. Discoloration of the skin of the face and neck may occur within 10 days following surgery and should be no cause for alarm.
4. Mouth rinse:
Do not rinse the mouth within 24 hours after surgery. After this time use one half teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse gently after each meal. If a depression persists during healing, rinse after eating, for a few days, until food does not accumulate in the surgical site.
5. Diet:
Cold, soft and bland foods are advisable for the first 24 hours. Good nutrition post-surgery is essential. Do not use a straw for drinking. Smoking can delay healing. Avoid peanuts and other hard foods for 4 weeks.
6. Hygiene:
Continued proper oral hygiene is imperative. Normal care should be maintained, but the surgical area should be excluded from care involved when brushing, flossing, dental irrigation appliances, etc. until a few days after the procedure
7. Fever:
A low grade fever may occur following surgery for 2 or 3 days and should be no cause for alarm.
Incision and Drainage
1. Rinse mouth 3 or 4 times per day with one half teaspoon of table salt in a glass of warm water and start rinsing immediately after surgery.
2. Do not apply ice to face.
3. If the drain inserted falls out or extrudes, do not become alarmed. This is normal.
4. You may be aware of drainage from the incision for a few days after surgery.
5. Pain, diet, hygiene, fever, unusual disturbance -- see instructions for impactions and extractions.
APICCOECTOMY, ROOT RESECTION AND
SOFT TISSUE SURGERY
1. Bleeding:
A certain amount of bleeding is expected, and the saliva may be blood tinged for up to 48 hours. If bleeding persists it can be controlled by placing a piece of gauze on the surgical site and applying direct pressure with your finger for about 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary.
2. Pain:
This can be controlled by taking 2 Ibuprofen or Tylenol capsules every 3-4 hours if necessary. You have been given a prescription for relief of pain. Use this prescription as directed. The pain medication should be taken with some food. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Pain should decrease continually after the first day. If pain returns or increases, please call for help.
3. Swelling:
Apply ice to face in the area of the surgery for a period of 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, for the first 3 hours after the surgery, while awake. Swelling is not uncommon after surgery. It is usually moderate within 48 hours and may last several days thereafter. Discoloration of the skin of the face and neck may occur within 10 days following surgery and should be no cause for alarm.
4. Mouth rinse:
Do not rinse the mouth within 24 hours after surgery. After this time use one half teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse gently after each meal. If a depression persists during healing, rinse after eating, for a few days, until food does not accumulate in the surgical site.
AFTERCARE FOLLOWING A ROOT CANAL
What To Expect:
1. Antibiotics and other medications - These should be taken as prescribed and completed. This will aid in reducing the chance of swelling and reinfection.
2. Sometimes a tooth may be uncomfortable or even exhibit a dull ache immediately after receiving root-canal therapy. This should subside within one week.
3. Avoid chewing gum, caramels, or other sticky, soft candy, which could dislodge the temporary material or fracture your tooth.
4. You may feel a depression or rough area where our access was made. There is a soft, temporary material in that area, which may wear away to some degree before your next visit.
5. Whenever possible, try to chew on the opposite side from the tooth we have just treated, until you have a crown or onlay placed. Until that time, your tooth still is weakened and could fracture.
6. Second Appointment - It sometimes takes two or more appointments to start and finish a root canal. Failure to have a root canal finished will result in return of your symptoms, and possible loss of your tooth.
7. Restoration - After a root canal is finished, try to chew on the opposite side from the tooth we have just treated, until you have a crown or onlay placed. Until that time, your tooth still is weakened and could fracture. You usually need to have a post and buildup and a crown placed on the tooth. The post and buildup builds and restores the strength to the inside of the tooth. There is a separate fee for post, buildup and a crown, or a permanent filling.
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR NEW
COMPLETE DENTURES
We have done our best to provide you with well fitted, functional, and attractive dentures. We feel confident that after a few weeks of becoming adjusted to the new dentures, you will have years of satisfaction and use from them.
The following information will be helpful to you at this time:
1. Your first few weeks: New dentures always feel strange when first placed in your mouth. Several days or even a few weeks will be required for you to feel accustomed to them.
2. Sore Spots: Often, your mouth may have a few “sore spots” after wearing the dentures for 24 hours. Don’t worry about these areas. They can be relieved with very little effort on your next appointment. Another appointment will usually eliminate any other sore areas.
3. Chewing: The new “bite” or occlusion will not feel comfortable for a period of days. We will adjust the contacting surfaces of your teeth after 24 hours and again in about one week after the dentures have “settled” into place.
4. Upper vs. lower dentures: Your upper denture will rest comfortably in place with moderate to strong “suction”. Although your lower denture will have good stability, it is infrequent that “suction” can be expected on a lower denture.
5. Cleaning the dentures and your mouth: Your dentures can be cleaned easily by using a denture brush and a mild toothpaste. Denture soaks are also useful for the denture. Brush your gums with a regular toothbrush daily to toughen and clean them. You may leave the dentures in or out of your mouth at night depending on your preference. They are best left out. If they are out of your mouth leave them soaking in water or a cleaning solution.
6. The Future: Your jaw bones and gums shrink up to 1/32 of an inch per year when your teeth are missing. This is one of the main disadvantages of dentures. Because of this shrinkage, you should plan to have your dentures and oral tissues evaluated once per year by us. We will inform you when relining or rebasing the dentures is necessary. Wearing ill fitting dentures for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral diseases.
We look forward to helping you adjust to and enjoy your new dentures.
SELF CARE FOR TMD PATIENTS (TMJ AND MYO-FACIAL PAIN)
TMD (temporomandibular disorder) problems can be more successfully treated with your help and cooperation. Following these tips will help to alleviate most symptoms.
1. Rest the muscles and joints:
This will allow healing. Rest includes:
a. Eating soft foods: Avoid crunchy and chewy foods like hard nuts, chips, carrots, and hard breads.
b. No chewing gum.
c. Avoiding clenching or tensing: Learn to say “teeth apart and jaw relaxed.
2. Avoid opening too wide:
This protects the joints, preventing them from locking open and includes:
a. Controlling Yawns: Limit how far your mouth opens during a yawn, so that you are forced to yawn against pressure.
b. Avoiding General Anesthesia: When possible as there is a tendency to put pressure on the jaw joint.
c. Eating in small bites.
3. Apply Cold:
For severe pain, new injuries (less than 72 hours) and reinjured areas, apply cold for 5-10 minutes. Off and on for an hours. Twice a day.
4. Apply Moist Heat:
To promote healing, apply moist heat for 10 minutes for mild to moderate pain to increase circulation and muscle relaxation 72 hours after the injury. You can heat a moist towel in the microwave for the source of moist heat.
5. Massage the jaw and temple muscles:
This action stimulates circulation, relaxes muscles and decreases soreness. You can release the tension in the muscles using some simple exercises. One good one is to place your elbow on a table and put your fist under your chin. Force the jaw open against this constant pressure. This action forces the muscles of closure to relax. If you are having trouble opening, try to gently increase the amount of opening several times a day to stretch the muscles.
6. Maintain good posture:
Avoid a forward head posture which may increase jaw and neck muscle activity and soreness.
7. Hold the phone:
Do not cradle the phone. Cradling irritates the jaw and neck muscles.
8. Sleep on your side:
Lie on your side with a pillow between your neck and shoulders and a soft support along the face and jaw.
9. Exercise regularly:
Exercise 3-4 times a week for 20-30 minutes. Choose low impact type exercise to minimize pressure on the joints.
10. Practice stress reduction:
Strive to reduce the stress on your life. Stress may cause an increase in clenching and grinding.
11. Eat well:
Good nutrition promotes joint and muscle healing. Certain foods, such as those containing sugar and caffeine, may increase muscle tension and increase the clenching and grinding habits. These foods are worse if consumed later in the day.
12. Wear your night guard/Bite appliance as directed:
You may be able to function well with only nightly use. If symptoms are more severe, you may at first need to wear the bite appliance around the clock until your symptoms subside.
13. Take medications as prescribed:
Initially, we may give you a prescription for a muscle relaxant to temporarily decrease muscle tension and break the pain cycle. Take the medication only as prescribed. An anti-inflammatory drug such as ADVIL might be recommended to help with the pain and decrease the inflammation. Do not take this medication if you have any aspirin allergies or stomach problems.
PLEASE NOTE:
If your symptoms worsen instead of getting better,
please inform us immediately.
WHITENING YOUR TEETH
1. Brush your teeth.
2. Place whitening solution in trays using the least amount necessary -- cover the front part of your tray only.
3. After one hour, rinse your mouth and the trays and replace the solution.
4. Use the whitener one to four hours a day.
5. Use Sensodyne toothpaste or another desensitizing toothpaste during the time you are whitening your teeth. Ask us, we often have it on hand.
6. Do not use the whitening trays while you are sleeping.
7. If you develop sensitivity to your teeth, even though you are using Sensodyne, let us know and we can help you overcome sensitivity.
Most people will get the desired color change in two to six weeks. Keep the trays after that. Once or twice a year, a touch up may be advisable to keep the new whitened shade you have obtained.
Whitening agents will not whiten synthetic materials such as porcelain, plastic, gold, or silver.
If your teeth are two tones now in color the whitener will whiten both colors in the same proportion that they are now. The whitener will not blend the darker color into the lighter shade.
To date, all research shows that any sensitivity to your teeth is transitory and there is no permanent damage to your teeth.
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