Did we just fix your tooth with a filling? Below, you can learn about what to expect once you get home from our office. Read over this page, follow the instructions, and everything should be great. If you have any questions, be sure to contact us right away.

Local Anesthesia
• Every patient becomes un-numb at different rates. Most patients will feel numb approximately two hours following the appointment.

• Avoid chewing on your tongue, lip, or cheek to prevent injury to these areas. Avoid chewing or drinking hot beverages until the numbness wears off.

Bite
• After placing your new filling, it may take a few days to get used to.
The finished restoration may be contoured a bit differently and have a different texture than what you were used to with your tooth.

• Your tongue will become accustomed to the new filling in a few days.

• If it feels like you are touching your new filling first or you just can’t get all of your teeth together comfortably after a few days, call the office for advice or an appointment.

• If you had a silver filling (amalgam), once the feeling has returned, avoid eating on the side that the filling was placed for 24 hours. This allows the material to completely harden.

• Only eat soft foods and do not chew on anything hard, crunchy, chewy, or sticky to allow the filling to harden. If you had a white filling (resin), once the feeling has returned, you may chew on your new filling as it is as hard as it is going to get.

Sensitivity
• It is normal to experience some sensitivity to cold, hot, and pressure following the procedure. These symptoms will lessen within a few days to a few weeks. As long as the sensitivity continues to improve, there is no need for concern.

• The deeper the cavity removed, the more sensitivity you may experience.

Gum Discomfort
• Following the procedure, your gums may be tender. The gum tissue surrounding the filling and tooth, your jaw joint, as well as the area where the anesthetic was placed, can be irritated and sore for a few days.

• This is normal and will subside in 2 – 5 days. If you are able to take ibuprofen, take two tablets every 6-8 hours for two days to alleviate the inflammation and reduce the soreness. Otherwise take one tab of Tylenol every 6-8 hours.

• Rinse with warm salt water

Home Care
• Although the filling is quite durable, the tooth is still vulnerable to decay and can only hold so much filling material. It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing as well as regular dental visits. This will increase the longevity of your new filling.

• Often small problems that are developing 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. Inadequate return for examination is the most common reason for filling failure.

Did we just work on your child? Below, you can learn about what to expect once you get home from our office. Read over this page, follow the instructions, and everything should be great. If you have any questions, be sure to contact us right away.

Local Anesthesia
• Many children dislike the sensation of being numb, please remind the child that the feeling is only temporary and will wear off.

• Most children will feel numb approximately two hours following the appointment. Please monitor your child, so he/she does not chew, scratch, suck or play with the numb area. These actions may cause minor irritation to a severe swelling and abrasion of the tissue leading to a white patch that takes approximately two weeks to heal.

• Therefore, please closely watch your child and have them on liquid diet until the anesthesia wears off.

•If you notice swelling, call the office for advisement.

Fillings
Please refer to the “Fillings” tab above.

Stainless Steel crown or spacer

• If a stainless steel crown or a space maintainer is inserted, please help your child avoid sticky items such as gum, tootsie rolls, jolly rancher, taffy, caramel or any chewy sticky candies that could easily pull off or distort the crown/space maintainer.

• The gums may be tender where the stainless steel crown or spacer was placed. If needed, you may give your child Children’s Motrin or Tylenol as directed for the weight of the child but most likely will not be needed.

• If your appliance comes loose, please save the appliance and make an appointment as soon as possible. This is not an emergency as the tooth under the crown is repaired and should not cause any discomfort to the child.

Did you just get a crown or bridge with us? Below, you can read about what to expect during your treatment as well as find tips on how to make sure your restoration truly lasts. If you have any questions after reading this page, be sure to let us know.

Local Anesthesia
• Every patient becomes un-numb at different rates. Most patients will feel numb approximately two hours following the appointment. Avoid chewing on your tongue, lip, or cheek to prevent injury to these areas.

• Avoid chewing or drinking hot beverages until the numbness wears off.

Temporary Crown/Bridge
• Avoid chewing sticky foods such as gum and caramel.

• Avoid hard and crunchy foods to keep the temporary crown/bridge from breaking.

• Brush as you normally would, but when flossing; pull the floss through rather than lift up to avoid loosening the temporary.

• If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call the office for advisement or an appointment to re-cement the temporary.

Bite
• After placing your new crown/bridge, it may take a few days to get used to.

• The finished restoration may be contoured a bit differently and have a different texture than what you were used to with your tooth. Your tongue will become accustomed to the new crown/bridge in a few days.

• Do not chew ice or other hard objects. Avoid chewing very sticky food/candy because they can remove crowns.

• If it feels like you are touching your new crown first or you just can’t get all of your teeth together comfortably after a few days, call the office for advisement or an appointment.

Sensitivity
• It is normal to experience some sensitivity to cold, hot, and pressure following the procedure. These symptoms will lessen within a few days to a few weeks. As long as the sensitivity continues to improve, there is no need for concern.

• Use a sensitive toothpaste to help decrease the sensitivity. It will take up to a few weeks for the sensitive toothpaste to take full effect.


Gum Discomfort
• Following the procedure, your gums may be tender. The gum tissue surrounding the filling and tooth, your jaw joint, as well as the area where the anesthetic was placed, can be irritated and sore for a few days. This is normal and will subside in 2 – 5 days.

• If you are able to take ibuprofen, take two tablets every 6-8 hours for two days to alleviate the inflammation and reduce the soreness. Otherwise take one tab of Tylenol.

• Rinse with warm salt water

Home Care
• Although the crown/bridge is quite durable, the tooth is still vulnerable to decay. It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing as well as regular dental visits. This will increase the longevity of your new crown or bridge.

• Often small problems that are developing 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. Inadequate return for examination is the most common reason for crown/bridge failure.

• If any of the following occur, contact us immediately to avoid further problem

• Movement or looseness in the restoration Sensitivity to sweet foods or temperature that lingers 1-2 minutes

• Peculiar taste from the restoration site

• Breakage of a piece of material from the restoration

• Sensitivity to biting pressure

How to properly care for your new Night Guard – Night guards can be a valuable tool when it comes to protecting your teeth from the harsh effects of grinding or clenching. Now that you have a night guard, it’s important that it’s cared for properly so that it can continue protecting your teeth for as long as possible. Your daily oral health routine should include cleaning your night guard. Follow these complete instructions for cleaning your night guard and it should stay in great shape for years to come!

Rinse Immediately after Wearing – Each time you wear your night guard you should rinse it with warm water as soon as you remove it from your mouth. This will remove debris and loosen any plaque that is stuck to the night guard.

Brush the Night Guard with your Toothbrush – After rinsing, give your night guard a light brushing with your normal toothbrush. Some people prefer using a separate toothbrush just for their night guard, but it’s okay if you want to use the toothbrush you use to brush your teeth daily.

Note: You don’t need to apply toothpaste to the brush. Since toothpaste can be abrasive, it may scratch your night guard and cause it to wear out more quickly. Dish soap or Castile soap is a good non-abrasive daily cleanser for your guard.

Lay your Night Guard on a Clean Surface and Allow it to Dry Completely
It’s important to allow your night guard to dry completely before storing it, as to prevent rapid bacterial growth. Choose a clean, flat surface to allow your night guard to dry. Typically it should dry within 15-30 minutes.

Always Store Your Night Guard in a Case.
When you are not wearing your night guard it is important that you keep it stored in a case. Many people store their night guard in their bathroom, but over time the steam and humidity in the bathroom can cause the night guard to warp. We recommend that you keep the night guard stored in your bedroom or on your nightstand instead. Be careful not to store your night guard anywhere subject to extreme hot or cold temperatures. Be aware that pets love new chew toys, please keep your night guards safely out of reach of your pets.

Deep Clean your Night Guard Monthly
Make a habit of deep cleaning your night guard as least once a month. This can be done several ways. The first is by using an over-the-counter nonabrasive denture cleaner. Simply place your night guard in a glass or bowl with water and allow the cleaner to dissolve completely into the water. The second way to deep clean your night guard is by using a mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Soak the night guard in distilled white vinegar for at least 30 minutes. After soaking, rinse the night guard and the bowl with water. Then soak the night guard in hydrogen peroxide for at least 30 more minutes. Once finished, rinse with water and allow the night guard to dry completely. If your night guard is in need of a more extensive cleaning, we provide this service for a small fee.

Pro Tip: Don’t ever leave your night guard soaking in anything for longer than one hour. Extended time in liquid can damage the material your night guard is made out of. Also, don’t soak in any liquid containing alcohol – that includes Listerine.

Keep Your Case Clean
Cleaning your night guard can become a wasted effort if you put a clean night guard into a dirty case. Keep the case clean by hand washing it every few days with regular dishwashing soap or castile soap. Avoid placing the case in the dishwasher as the high temperature may melt or warp the plastic. After washing, allow the case to dry as to prevent bacteria growth.

How Long Should My Night Guard Last?
Night Guards will have varying durability depending on a number of factors. A night guard will have an average lifespan of 5 years, but depending upon the wear, it can need replacement in just 1 year.

You are receiving these instructions because you have just had an extraction. When you have had a tooth extracted (removed), you need to take care of your mouth. Doing certain things, even on the first day, may help you feel better and heal faster.

Control Bleeding
• To help control bleeding, bite firmly on the gauze for about 30-45 minutes. The pressure helps to form a blood clot in the tooth socket. Depending on the amount or severity of bleeding, change the gauze as needed.

• The bleeding should stop within 1-2 hours. If it does not, bite on a water-dampened tea bag. The tannic acid in the tea aids in forming a blood clot. Bite on the tea bag until the bleeding stops. Usually about 15-20 minutes.

If Swelling Occurs
• To reduce swelling, put an ice pack on your cheek near the extraction site. You can make an ice pack by putting ice in a plastic bag and wrapping it in a thin towel. Apply the ice pack to your cheek for 10 minutes and remove it for 10 minutes. Repeat as needed.

For Pain
• If you CAN take Ibuprofen (NSAID’s), take 400-800mg + Tylenol 500-1000mg together every 6 hours around the clock for 3 days.

• If you CANNOT take Ibuprofen (NSAID’s), just take Tylenol 500-1000 mg every 6 hours around the clock for 3 days.

• Take Oxycodone 5mg every 4-6 hours as needed with the Ibuprofen and Tylenol

• If given Norco for breakthrough pain, take 500mg Tylenol dose

• **DO NOT exceed 3200 mg Ibuprofen or 4000mg Tylenol in a 24hr period **

• Caution: If you are pregnant, consult with your obstetrician before taking any pain medication. If you are prescribed antibiotics, please be aware that they may decrease the effectiveness of birth control.

Get Enough Rest

• Do not do any heavy lifting or exercise for the first 72 hours after an extraction

DO’s:
• DO eat a soft diet, healthy foods and snacks: It may be easier for you to eat soft foods soon after your extraction. Drink plenty of liquids while you’re healing.

• DO brush your teeth gently: Avoid brushing the extraction site for 24 hours.

DONT’S:

• DON’T drink with a straw: Sucking on a straw can dislodge the blood clot

• DON’T drink hot liquids: Hot liquids may increase swelling. Limit your alcohol use, as it can slow down healing.

• DON’T SMOKE: Smoking may break down the blood clot causing a painful dry socket. It will also slow down healing

• DON’T sleep with gauze in your mouth

Eating While You Heal
• Eating right will help you heal faster after your extraction. Start with soft foods and liquids such as oatmeal, mashed potatoes, bananas and soup.

• Drink plenty of water and liquids high in nutrients like vegetable juice and protein drinks.

• Move on to solid foods when you feel ready but cut into small pieces and ease into chewing. Use a blender for hard to chew foods like apples and carrots. AVOID crunchy and sticky foods like popcorn, taffy and nuts.

Call Us If:
• Pain becomes more severe starting on the 3rd day after the extraction

• Bleeding becomes hard to control (oozing on the first 2 days is normal).

• Swelling around the extraction site worsens after 72 hours

• Itching or rash occur after you take medication (may be an allergic reaction)

Follow-Up Visits
• You may need your dentist to make sure you are healing properly. With the right care, your mouth should heal within several weeks. If you leave with sutures, please make an appointment for around 1 week to have them assessed or removed.