Post-op Instructions

Crowns and Bridges are usually completed in two appointments. Following anesthesia the teeth are prepared for a permanent bridge/crown and an impression is taken. Then a temporary bridge or crown is placed on the teeth for protection. The size, shape, and color of the temporary do not resemble the final restoration. A temporary bridge or crown is easily removed; therefore care must be taken not to dislodge it before your permanent restoration is placed.

Do not chew sticky foods such as caramel or chewing gum. Only floss if instructed to do so and pull out the floss laterally rather than towards the biting surface of the teeth. If your temporary bridge /crown comes off, you can place some Fixodent (available at any pharmacy) inside it and put it back on, then call our office to recement it. Do not leave your temporary off, even if you have no discomfort. Without a temporary bridge to hold your teeth in place, your teeth can move causing your new bridge not to fit. If that occurs, a new restoration will need to be fabricated and increase costs. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, please call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.

Your gums may be sore. Warm salt water rinses will speed healing. You may have sensitivity to hot or cold. This is common and normal since the temporary is not an accurate fit of the prepared teeth. If you feel like you are biting first or harder on your temporary or permanent bridge, call us for an adjustment or you will develop a sore tooth.

Be sure to brush and floss your new bridge. With a bridge, you will need special floss threaded or other aids to reach and clean all areas properly.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our office. Your comfort is our priority!

• DISCOMFORT is normal to experience for 3-5 days following a Root Canal. Take the prescribed or recommended medication to relieve this discomfort. It is best to take the medication soon after the appointment and before the anesthetic has worn off. Most pain medications are best taken with food and a full glass of water, which will help you avoid an upset stomach. If after 5-7 days discomfort returns and/or increases, call our office.
  
  Medication schedule:
  
  Prescription - (3 hrs) - 600-800 mg Ibuprofen - (3 hrs) - repeat



• SWELLING of the gum tissue, if mild, is normal. If the tissues of the face become swollen then call the Dentist.



• FEVER with a temperature over 102 degrees may require antibiotics. Call the Dentist if this occurs. If your temperature is below 102 degrees and you feel feverish then take some aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce your temperature.



• BITING may create some tenderness and is normal for 5-7 days. If you experience severe pain during normal closing then call the Dentist as your filling/temporary may be high.



• DO: Eat a balanced diet to speed healing.
  
  Call our office immediately if you have a generalized rash, itching or difficulty breathing after taking any medications.
  
  Call our office (801) 756-0933 if you have any questions.
  
  Return to have the tooth completely restored.

• BLEEDING - Maintain firm pressure on the surgical site by biting on the gauze for about 45 minutes. Then remove the gauze. It is usually not necessary to place more gauze in your mouth but if bright red blood is running out, continue biting on slightly moistened gauze or a slightly moistened tea bag wrapped in gauze for about 45 minutes.



• MEDICATION - Take the prescribed or recommended medications with a full glass of water and food in your stomach. This will help you avoid an upset stomach. Take the medication soon after the surgery and before the anesthetic has worn off. It is easier to prevent pain than it is to relieve it. Call the Dentist if you have a generalized rash, itching or difficulty breathing after taking any medications.
  OTC Pain Medication Schedule: 650 mg Tylenol + 600 mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours by the clock for the first 24 hours.



• SWELLING - It is normal for swelling to occur following surgery. For the first 12 hours following your appointment place an ice pack on the side of the surgery for no longer than 15 minutes at a time. The swelling should begin to go away after 3 days. If you had no swelling for 2-3 days then it occurs, or if swelling is present for 5-6 days, please notify the Dentist as you may have an infection. Using the ice pack and sleeping with your head elevated for the next two nights will help to minimize the swelling and bruising.



• EATING - For 3-5 days following your surgery, keep your diet soft. Eating a well balanced diet will speed healing. If eating a regular diet is difficult then continue eating a soft or liquid diet. Avoid eating hard or crunchy foods and avoid sucking on a straw.



• CLEANING - Continue brushing your teeth but avoid the surgical area. DO NOT rinse with or use mouthwash until 1 week after the surgery. DO NOT rinse with peroxide.



• SUTURES - If placed and not resorbable, return to have them removed.



• DO NOT: - Rinse, spit or suck vigorously.
  
  - Exercise until all bleeding has stopped.
  
  - Smoke until healing has begun.
  
  - Drink Hot liquids.
  
  - Sneeze with mouth closed if you had an upper tooth extracted.
  
  - Blow nose forcefully if you had an upper tooth extracted.
  
  - Hesitate calling the office if you have any questions (801) 756-0933.

• BLEEDING - It is normal to have bleeding following the bone grafting procedure. No gauze is used over the grafted site since it will disturb the membrane. As the clot forms around the bone graft, the bleeding will slow and eventually stop.



• MEDICATION - Take the prescribed or recommended medications with a full glass of water and food in your stomach. This will help you avoid an upset stomach. Take the medication soon after the surgery and before the anesthetic has worn off. It is easier to prevent pain than it is to relieve it. Call the dentist if you have a generalized rash, itching or difficulty breathing after taking any medications..
  
  OTC Pain Medication Schedule: 650 mg Tylenol + 600 mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours by the clock for the first 24 hours.
  
  
• SWELLING - It is normal for swelling to occur following surgery. For the first 12 hours following your appointment place an ice pack on the side of the surgery for no longer than 15 minutes at a time. The swelling should begin to go away after 3 days. If you had no swelling for 2-3 days then it occurs, or if swelling is present for 5-6 days, please notify the dentist as you may have an infection.



• EATING - Keep your diet soft for 3-5 days following your graft. Eating a well balanced diet will speed healing. If eating a regular diet is difficult then continue eating a soft or liquid diet. Avoid eating hard or crunchy foods and avoid sucking on a straw.



• CLEANING - Continue brushing your teeth but avoid the grafted area. DO NOT Spit out the toothpaste but rather, let it fall out of your mouth. DO NOT rinse or use mouthwash until 2 weeks following your bone graft. DO NOT rinse with peroxide.
  
  There is a membrane placed under your sutures to hold in the grafting material. After the first 24 hours, begin cleansing around this membrane and any adjacent teeth. This is done by gently swabbing with a Q-tip moistened in the antibacterial liquid we provided you (Chlorhexidine Gluconate).



• SUTURES - Your sutures are holding your graft and membrane in place: it is important that they remain in until the doctor removes them. Return for your scheduled follow-up visits.



• DO NOT: - Rinse, spit or suck vigorously.
  
  - Exercise until all bleeding has stopped.
  
  - Smoke until healing has begun.
  
  - Drink Hot liquids.
  
  - Sneeze with mouth closed if had an upper tooth extracted.
  
  - Blow nose forcefully
  
  - Hesitate calling the office if you have any questions (801) 756-0933.

• Care of your mouth: Rinse your mouth 2-3 times per day with warm salt water (1tsp. salt in 8 oz. water). Start home care as instructed, immediately. You may need to be gentle in the beginning.



• Discomfort: Your gums may become “achy”. If this occurs, take 1-2 aspirin, Tylenol® or Ibuprofen. Sensitivity to cold or touch may occur temporarily. Removing all plaque from the tooth and placing a dab of fluoride toothpaste on the offending area for 3-5 days will help decrease this sensitivity.



• Eating: Your next meal should be soft and moderate in temperature. Avoid hard foods such as corn chips for the next 3-4 days.



• Swelling: Swelling or jaw stiffness may rarely occur. If it does, place warm moist towels over the affected areas.



• Smoking: Please do not smoke for 24 hours following your cleaning. Smoking slows down healing due to its irritating affects.



• Medications: If you have been prescribed antibiotics please take them as instructed. If you have been given a mouth rinse, please rinse as instructed.



• Questions: If you have any questions or concerns please call (801) 756-0933.

• DO NOT remove the denture for 24 hours. The denture is acting as a bandage over the extraction area and will promote healing. Most discomfort will not be relieved by removing the denture. If the denture is removed, the swelling or discomfort may make it impossible to reseat the denture.



• BLEEDING from under the denture is common and if minor, is no cause for alarm. If large amounts of red blood or clots appear then remove the denture for a short time and do the following:
  
  A) Lightly rinse your mouth with cold water to remove any old blood. Rinse out the denture.
  
  B) Carefully look to see from where the bleeding is coming. Place gauze over the area and apply pressure for 30 minutes then replace the denture when active bleeding stops.



• DIET for the first 24 hours should only be liquids or foods that do not require chewing. Following the first day, attempt chewing foods that do not cause excessive pain like ice cream, soups and scrambled eggs. Learning to chew takes time - be patient as you learn. Let a knife and fork act as your front teeth, take small portions of food and chew on both sides at the same time.



• ADJUSTMENTS will be necessary in the future as you find minor bite discrepancies and areas that rub your gums. This is one reason for a 24 hour check following your surgery.



• HEALING of your gums will make your dentures loose. Rinsing with warm salt water (1 tsp. of salt in 8 oz. of water) with the dentures in will reduce swelling. After about 4-6 weeks a reline of your denture may be necessary to compensate for this shrinkage.



• AFTER the first 24 hours, take your dentures out following each meal and at bedtime to clean them. A plain liquid dish soap with a denture brush used in a mild scrubbing action will cleanse the denture well. Effervescent cleansers may also be used. It is best to leave the dentures out while sleeping to permit the gums to rest and to prevent infection. Place the denture in water overnight.



• DO call (801) 756-0933 if you have any questions and please return for your 24 hour check up. Also call the Dentist if you have a generalized rash, itching or difficulty breathing after taking any medications.

Veneer preparation involves the removal of a small amount of tooth structure. An impression is taken & sent to the lab to fabricate the custom veneers. During this time your Dentist may place temporary veneers on your teeth, Temporary Veneers are made of either acrylic or composite material. They are very fragile and are attached to the underlying tooth structure with temporary cement and can be easily dislodged.

If a veneer comes off, call us to have it replaced. If you are in a situation that will not allow you to come in, place the temporary back in place with some Fixodent™ (denture adhesive) till you can come in. The size, shape, and color of the temporary does not resemble the final veneer.

Temporary veneers may leak saliva or food onto the tooth. Sensitivity to hot, cold, pressure or sweets is not uncommon. Temporary veneers also stain very easily. Avoid heavy brushing of the temporaries and do not floss between them because you may pull them off.

Your permanent porcelain veneers will be as close to the natural teeth as possible. Your Dentist may even send you for custom shading to closely duplicate your adjoining natural teeth.

Permanent porcelain veneers are bonded to your teeth. 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 (minimal) cleanings are essential to the long-term stability and appearance of your veneers. If not your gums may recede reveal the underlying discolored tooth structure requiring replacement of your veneers.

• It is important to wear your bleaching trays consistently and adhere to the following instructions in order to achieve desired whitening.
  • Brush and floss your teeth prior to each bleaching session.
  • Load a small amount of bleach in the tray, as directed.
  • Insert your loaded tray, adapting tray to sides of teeth.
  • Using a dry toothbrush or a clean finger, wipe excess bleach from your gum line.
  • Initially wear trays for 2 hours. Mild sensitivity is normal. If little or no sensitivity occurs, progressively increase the amount of time worn.
  • To speed results, the trays may be worn overnight if little or no sensitivity occurs.
  • If you experience sensitivity:
    • Bleach every other day.
    • Limit bleaching to 2 hours at a time.
    • Call the office if sensitivity continues or increases and discontinue bleaching.
  • When removing trays, rinse your mouth with warm water to remove excess bleach from your teeth.
  • Clean the trays by gently scrubbing them clean of all bleaching products with your toothbrush and water. Store trays in case provided.


• Please Note:
  • The gum line area of the teeth will bleach more slowly and may require additional bleaching. This area of the tooth generally blends with the remainder of the tooth over time.
  • Tooth-colored fillings and crowns will not bleach and may require replacement to match shades.

• BLEEDING - It is normal to have mild bleeding following implant placement. Gradually over the next few hours, the bleeding should stop.



• MEDICATION - Take the prescribed or recommended medications with a full glass of water and food in your stomach. This will help you avoid an upset stomach. Take the medication soon after the surgery and before the anesthetic has worn off. It is easier to prevent pain than it is to relieve it. Call the dentist if you have a generalized rash, itching or difficulty breathing after taking any medications.
  OTC Pain Medication Schedule: 650 mg Tylenol + 600 mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours by the clock for the first 24 hours.
  
  
• SWELLING - It is normal for swelling to occur following the surgery. For the first 12 hours following your appointment place an ice pack on the side of the surgery for no longer than 15 minutes at a time. The swelling should begin to go away after 3 days. If you had no swelling for 2-3 days then it occurs, or if swelling is present for 5-6 days, please notify the dentist as you may have an infection. Using the ice pack and sleeping with your head elevated for the next two nights will help to minimize the swelling and bruising.



• EATING - For 3-5 days following your graft, keep your diet soft. Eating a well balanced diet will speed healing. If eating a regular diet is difficult then continue eating a soft or liquid diet. Avoid eating hard or crunchy foods and avoid sucking on a straw.



• CLEANING - Continue brushing your teeth but avoid the implant area. DO NOT rinse or use mouthwash until 1 week following your implant placement. DO NOT rinse with peroxide.
  If you had a graft, there is a membrane placed under your sutures to hold in the grafting material. After the first 24 hours, cleanse around this membrane and any adjacent teeth by gently swabbing with a Q-tip moistened in the mouth rinse we provided you (Chlorhexidine Gluconate).



• SUTURES - If placed, your sutures are holding your graft and membrane in place: it is important that they remain in until the doctor removes them. Return for your scheduled follow-up visits.



• DO NOT: - Rinse, spit or suck vigorously.
  
  - Exercise until all bleeding has stopped.
  
  - Smoke until healing has begun.
  
  - Drink Hot liquids.
  
  - Sneeze with mouth closed if had an upper implant placed with a “sinus bump”.
  
  - Blow nose forcefully if you had an upper tooth extracted or a “sinus bump”.
  
  - Hesitate calling the office if you have any questions (801) 756-0933.