If you have had anesthetic, please be careful when eating to not bite your tongue or the inside of your cheek. Avoid eating chewy foods until the numbness has worn off. It is important that the temporary crown (or bridge) stay in place until the permanent crown is placed. If the temporary crown becomes loose or feels uncomfortable, please call us so that we can see you as soon as possible. Do not attempt to glue the temporary crown back in yourself or leave it out as the teeth may become sensitive or shift slightly preventing placement of the permanent crown. You can use a denture adhesive like Fixodent to temporarily hold the crown or bridge in until you can get to our office. Some cold sensitivity and tenderness around the gum is normal for the first few days.
AVOID: Avoid chewing anything very hard or sticky on the temporary crown. Examples to avoid: Gum, hard crusty bread, taffy, or hard candy.
Brush as usual, but floss with care. When flossing, remove floss from the side of the tooth instead of pulling it back up. It is important to brush and keep your gums as clean as possible. Remember, we are happy to see you to check the temporary crown if you have a question prior to insertion of the permanent crown.Gum, hard crusty bread, taffy, or hard candy.
Now that your restoration has been cemented, there are a few things to expect and to consider. Initially you may experience some sensitivity. Sensitivity toothpaste generally helps. Also, if after a couple of days your bite seems off or it just doesn’t feel normal, please call our office for a quick adjustment. It is extremely important to maintain excellent oral hygiene with your new crown or bridge. Some people have the misconception that a crowned tooth no longer needs to be maintained. That is simply not true. Crowns and bridges can still get cavities near the gumline just like a natural tooth.
The crown strengthens the part of the tooth above the gumline but this margin area requires special care. Regular brushing and flossing is a must. Additional use of a fluoride rinse at home and regular professional fluoride applications help to prevent cavities from forming. These additional aids are extremely important for a patient with a high decay rate and/or a history of gum disease.
All of our crowns and bridges are ceramic and metal-free. These materials are very strong and color stabile but they still have potential to fracture the same as a natural tooth, as a rule of thumb, don’t do anything with a crown or bridge that you wouldn’t do with a natural tooth. DO NOT CHEW ICE! The extreme temperature change greatly increases the fracture of porcelain and natural teeth.
If you received anesthesia, do not eat or chew until the numbness has subsided.
Wait two hours after your procedure before eating, and eat only soft food for the first 48 hours (ideally, for 72 hours).
Bite firmly on a gauze pad (provided) for at least 30 minutes and replace it as necessary until any bleeding has stopped. Some bleeding is normal after an extraction.
Take a pain reliever before the anesthetic has worn off or as recommended. Ibuprofen is recommended. Use an ice bag over the area to minimize swelling, applying it for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
Your root canal therapy should relieve your toothache, remove the source of the infection, and promote healing. Please avoid biting down on this tooth for the next few days. It is not uncommon for your tooth to be tender after a root canal. Avoid chewing on this tooth for the first few days as the ligament around the tooth heals from the infection. If you received anesthesia, do not eat or chew until the numbness has subsided.
If you were prescribed pain medication, take it as prescribed. If you were not, over the counter medication such as Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) will help to reduce discomfort.
Whether you experienced discomfort prior to starting your root canal treatment or felt no syptoms, it may take up to a week or more for this tooth to return to “normal”. Infection can take time to heal. Any pain or discomfort should be alleviated with time – it make take up to a week or more.
A permanent crown is often the next treatment step after your root canal therapy. If you have an existing crown already, your Doctor will discuss what your next steps should be – this may be either placing a permanent filling or replacing your existing crown.
If you do not have an existing crown on this tooth yet, you should schedule promptly for your next appointment. Your tooth will have just a temporary filling that needs to be restored with a permanent crown before it breaks down. Failure to have this crown placed in a timely manner will cause your tooth to become more susceptible to breaking or bacteria that can recontaminate your tooth.
Should you have pain that you cannot tolerate, abnormal swelling or fever, please contact us immediately. We want to make sure your recovery is as smooth as possible. Following these instructions will assist you, but if you have questions about your progress, please call our office. Someone is always available to contact, even after hours. Calling during office hours will afford a faster response to your question or concern.
First, be sure that the local anesthetic has completely worn off before chewing. This is to prevent you from biting or injuring your lip, cheeks or tongue. Also, refrain from drinking anything hot in temperature or smoking to prevent burning. Sometimes patients also find it difficult to swallow while they are still numb, so please be careful.
Our office only places tooth colored resin type fillings. These fillings are completely hardened when you leave the office. You can eat on them as soon as the numbness wears off. Although the fillings are polished before you leave, they may feel slightly gritty at first. This should go away after a couple of days. If not please call back.
This is usually from a normal reaction of the nerve following the procedure. Give it a couple of days and try a sensitivity protection toothpaste (i.e. Sensodyne or Crest for Sensitivity) until it subsides.
Finally, if your bite seems off or if you cannot bite normally please call the office to have your filling adjusted. Do not wait for it to wear down on its own as the tooth may become tender.
Total treatment time is usually 2 – 3 weeks. Some cases may take longer, especially if treatment is interrupted. Make sure you brush and floss thoroughly prior to each treatment. The bleaching gel can work better if it is in contact with the tooth rather than plaque buildup. Mild sensitivity to cold liquids or air may occur, but this usually passes a few days after treatment is completed. If the sensitivity is severe or persists, discontinue using the gel and contact our office. Follow the instructions included with your whitening kit for use.
Whitening works best on yellow stained teeth. Gray teeth are more difficult to whiten, or may not respond to treatment. Such cases may require porcelain veneers to achieve the desired result.
Long term results vary from patient to patient. This can depend on many factors including habits such as coffee, tea, wine, or cola consumption. If you have any questions please call our office.
Congratulations! It's been our pleasure working with you to get you back on track. The deep cleaning can stop the gum disease from progressing further, but it requires careful maintenance to avoid any relapse. You are now ready to begin the vitally important maintenance phase which will monitor, stabilize and control your periodontal disease.
According to the American Academy of Periodontology, “following a course of active periodontal treatment and periodic ongoing care at regularly prescribed intervals is essential. The majority of clinical studies have shown that 3 months is the most effective in controlling disease”
Periodontal disease or infection can recur. Continued maintenance is absolutely necessary to prevent this gum infection from becoming active once again and destroying what healing has occurred. Scientific studies support the belief of experts that the most important aspect of periodontal treatment is the long term maintenance therapy.
Individuals vary in their response to periodontal disease and resistance to the disease varies at different times of our life. When periodontal disease recurs following treatment, it may do so without signs or symptoms to the patient. This is why regular, frequent periodontal maintenance visits are so very important. The following treatment is included in a periodontal maintenance appointment.
Are you ready to experience Tailor-Made Care? Contact our office today!
