Post-Operative Instructions Following Crowns and Bridges

While wearing a temporary crown or bridge:

• You will wear a temporary restoration until your permanent restoration is made and comes back from the lab.
• It is normal for the gum around the tooth to be tender for a day or two.
• If the temporary comes loose or breaks, please call us. If the temporary restoration is off for even a short time, the tooth can shift position and cause the final restoration to not fit correctly.
• Please avoid eating anything sticky, hard and/or crunchy with the temporary restoration.
• Make sure to carefully clean around the restoration with a toothbrush, and floss every day.
• When you do floss, pull the floss through, not up, to avoid pulling the temporary off.

After the permanent restoration has been delivered:

• Chewing: Do not chew hard foods on the restorations for 24 hour from the time they were cemented. The cement must mature for about 24 hours to have its optimum strength.
• Sensitivity: Mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods is common. It should disappear gradually over a few weeks.
• Aggressive chewing: Do not chew ice or other hard objects. Avoid chewing very sticky foods like taffy and crunchy foods like cracklins.

• It is normal to experience some discomfort, sore spots and changes in speech while getting used to your new dentures or partials. Your dentures or partials will need a few adjustments until you are comfortable.
• To help with speech, read aloud for a few minutes every day. Your mouth will
  adjust, and your speech will improve.
• Your bite will need to be adjusted as your dentures settle, we will schedule you these appointments periodically.
• It is important to clean your denture with a denture brush and a mild tooth paste.
• Soaking your denture once a week in denture cleaner like Polident will keep them clean and free from bacteria.
• You should leave your dentures out for at least six hours to allow your gums to rest. Food particles trapped under the denture may cause inflammation and sore spots.
• Make sure you still brush the roof of your mouth as well as your gums and tongue. This will help keep your mouth healthy.
• For partial dentures with metal clasps special care should be taken while inserting and removing them. Keep your partials and remaining natural teeth absolutely clean to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.
• You should return to have your dentures and mouth check at least once a year because changes like bone loss and wear on the teeth may occur, altering how the denture may fit.

• For at least an hour after surgery, you should place pressure on the gauze pad(s) that we gave you, covering the extraction site. If bleeding continues, apply new gauze and pressure until you see no more red.
• After surgery, place a cold compress on your face near the extraction site for 20 minutes. Remove for 10 minutes. Repeat.
• Do not eat or drink hot foods and beverages after surgery.
• Do not rinse your mouth.
• Do not use a straw.
• Do not spit.
• Do not drink carbonated beverages.
• Do not brush your teeth on the day of the surgery. (Resume normal home care, gently brushing and flossing the next day).
• Some bruising, swelling, and pain are normal – particularly if you have had a wisdom tooth extraction. Take your prescribed medication if applicable, and use a cold compress on your face.
• Stick with soft foods such as soup, milk shakes, mashed potatoes and yogurt, for 2-3 days.
• Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. (Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain).

• To eat, wait until the anesthetic completely wears off and you are no longer numb.
• Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. (Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain).
• Sensitivity to cold and heat and soreness are normal.
• White fillings may cause sensitivity for a few weeks, this is completely normal and will subside.

You have finished a very important phase of your implant treatment, and now it is time to begin the healing process. It is important to understand that some discomfort, swelling, and bruising is normal. The medications that have been prescribed to yo u will help keep you comfortable for the next few days. Refrain from eating until the anesthetic has worn off and then stick to soft foods like mashed potatoes or yogurt.

Things to Avoid for the first 24 hours:

• Vigorous physical exercise. In most cases, you may return to work the next day.
• Do not drink through a straw or perform any sucking motions.
• Do not smoke. It is best to refrain for 48 hours.
• Avoid alcohol. Drinking alcoholic beverages will hinder the healing process.
• Avoid food that is extreme in temperature or is spicy.
• Avoid using any strong mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
• Avoid small foods like rice, as they may irritate the implanted area.

Things to Do:

• You may take a non-aspirin analgesic to relieve any tenderness or discomfort, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin).
• Chew on the opposite side of the treated area until it is comfortable to chew normally.
• Rinse with a warm salt water (1 teaspoon to 8 oz. glass of water) at least 3 times a day.
• Brush your teeth gently in the treated area for the first night.
• Begin flossing lightly.
• If Peridex is prescribed, rinse for at least 60 seconds at least twice a day.

• Sensitivity should subside after a few days.
• Take your prescribed medication as directed.
• Because a temporary filling is on the tooth, do not bite hard or chew anything vigorously.
• Once the permanent filling is in place, chew carefully on the opposite side of your mouth for at least 24 hours while the cement
• Do not bite your lips, cheeks, or scrape your gums. Children should be watched carefully to make sure they don’t do this. It will damage soft tissues and result in pain.
• Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, should go away in a few days.
• Brush and floss gently.

Scaling and Root Planing therapy involves removing bacterial plaque and tartar from the root surface below the gum line. This reduces inflammation and any infection and allows re-attachment of the gums to the root surface. The depth of the periodontal pockets is reduced, thus allowing more efficient flossing and brushing.

For the First 24 Hours:

• Do not eat or drink hot foods until the anesthetic wears off.
• Avoid vigorous exercise or work.
• Do not use a straw or perform sucking motions.
• Do not smoke or consume alcoholic beverages for at least 48 hours.
• Do not eat food that is extreme in temperature or spicy.

Things to Do:

• For any discomfort you can take ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin)
• Consume a soft diet for a day or two and chew on of opposite side of the treated area if possible.
• Rinse with a warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt to 8oz water) at least 3 times a day.
• Gently brush and floss the treated area for a few days, then resume normal brushing in a week or until the soreness is gone.
• If Perfidex is prescribed, rinse for at least 30 seconds twice daily.