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Post Treatment InformationInformation
Following a Tooth Extraction Information Following a Tooth Extraction Bleeding - After an extraction, a wet gauze pack is placed over the extraction site to prevent excessive bleeding and to promote the healing blood clot. Keep pressure on it for 30 - 45 minutes and replace if bleeding continues. Slight bleeding may occur up to 2 days. Avoid activities that could apply a suction action to the blood clot such as smoking or sucking though a straw. Rinsing - Do not rinse your mouth today. Tomorrow you can rinse your mouth gently with a glass of warm water mixed with a 1/2 teaspoon of salt. You can do this every 3 - 4 hours a day especially after meals. Swelling - Following an extraction, some swelling and skin brushing may occur. A cold moist cloth or an ice bag applied to the cheek will keep it to a minimum. Place on affected area for about 15 - 20 minutes of every hour for the next 6 hours. Medications - If non-aspirin pain medication doesn't relieve the discomfort you may experience, a stronger medication can be prescribed. Be sure to use all medications as directed. Food - A light diet with plenty of fluids is recommended the first day. Chewing should be done away from the extraction site. Oral Hygiene - Continue brushing and flossing being extra gentle near the extraction site. Bone Chips - During healing you may notice small bony fragments working their way though the gums. We can easily remove them if they are too annoying. Call our office if any unusual symptoms occur. Information Following Amalgam or Composite Restorations (Fillings) Amalgam - Silver fillings Composite - White fillings • Do not bite together hard or eat on fresh amalgam fillings for 2 to 3 hours. Composite fillings set up hard right away. • 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, especially to cold, is common for a few days following a dental restoration. Usually, the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth will be. • Sensitivity is usually most noticeable the first 12 to 24 hours after the anesthetic wares off. • The gum tissue could have been irritated during the procedure and may be sore for a few days together with the anesthetic injection site. • The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different texture then the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies the small difference, but you will become accustomed to this in a few days. Information Following Crown or Bridge Treatment • Following the first appointment for a crown or bridge procedure, a temporary is usually placed on the tooth or teeth involved. This will protect them while the custom restoration is being made. • Temporary crowns are of a universal size and shade that also serve a cosmetic function for front teeth. Your final restoration will be shaped and shaded better then the temporary to match your other teeth in both color and function. • The use of a temporary cement is for easy removal on your next appointment. If your temporary comes off between appointments, slip it back on and call us for an appointment. • Most crowns fit below the gumline. Therefore, you may experience some discomfort for a few days due to the irritation of that area during the procedures. Sensitivity to cold or pressure is also possible. • After the final cementation of your fixed restoration, it may take a few days to get used to the new crown or bridge. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, be sure and call for an appointment for a simple adjustment. • Proper brushing and flossing is recommended 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 gumline. Information Following Endodontic Treatment (Root Canal) • Endodontic treatment can take 1, 2 or 3 appointments depending
on each case. It is possible to experience any of the following
symptoms after any one of these appointments:
• It is difficult to predict which symptoms, if any, you may experience and to what extent, In complicated cases, pain medication may be necessary. •If you experience swelling, call our office; it may be necessary to prescribe an antibiotic for you. • A temporary filling may be used to seal the tooth between visits. • Be gentle on the tooth while eating until the final restoration is placed. • During endodontic treatment the nerve, blood and nutrient supply to the tooth is removed. This will cause the tooth to become brittle and prone to fracturing which can result in the need to extract the tooth. In many cases a full coverage crown restoration (cap) may be recommended to prevent this from happening. |