Post-Op Instructions

Crowns and Bridges

For a description of a crown procedure, see Stained, Chipped, Decaying, Crooked & Painful Teeth. For a description of a bridge procedure, see Missing Teeth.

On your first appointment, you’ll receive local anesthetic and your tooth will be prepared for the new crown. An impression will be taken and sent to the lab who will fabricate your new crown. You will have a second appointment in approximately 2 weeks when your new crown will be seated.

Since you will be numb when leaving the office on these appointments, we recommend that you avoid eating and chewing until the numbness in you cheek, lip, or tongue wears off.

In the unlikely case of your temporary crown coming off, call us immediately. Keep the temporary, bring it to the office, and we’ll put it back in place. Teeth move when they don’t have a temporary crown to keep them in place!

Your tooth may be sensitive after the first and second appointments. If your tooth is sensitive to hot, cold, or chewing pressure, we recommend you avoid chewing in this area. This experience is quite normal and your symptoms will resolve over the next few days.

If your sensitivity persists or your ‘bite’ feels uneven, please contact us so we can check your restoration.

Removable Full or Partial Dentures

For a description of denture options, see Missing Teeth.

It’s normal for new removable dentures to initially feel odd or uncomfortable. Some soreness is expected and we will monitor your progress during this transition period. It’s important that you keep wearing your new denture. Soon your tongue, lips, and gums will adapt. You have plenty of time to get used to your new teeth.

It helps to practice talking aloud with your new teeth. Try reading aloud, carefully pronouncing each syllable in each word. Speak slowly and if the word seems difficult to pronounce, repeat each syllable slowly until you master it. Soon your tongue and lips will be “trained” and you will speak naturally again.

It takes a little practice to eat with a removable denture. Initially, eat only small bites and soft foods. Chewing on both sides of your mouth helps with the stability of your new teeth. Try to avoid hard or sticky foods.

Unless instructed by us, do not wear your full or partial denture overnight. Gum tissue covered with acrylic 24/7 frequently becomes red and irritated.

For denture care instructions, see Adult Oral Care.

Extractions

For a description of the extraction process, see Extractions (Pulling Teeth).

Bleeding:

To control bleeding, it’s important to keep pressure over the extraction site for 30-45 minutes. You were sent home with a gauze pack and instructions to bite down and keep pressure on the extraction site. We also gave you some spare gauze should you want to change the dressing. A small amount of blood leaking from the extraction site is common. When this small amount of blood mixes with saliva, it can seem like there’s a lot of bleeding. If you feel you’re having heavy bleeding from your extraction, please call us immediately.

Protecting the blood clot:

Where your tooth is extracted, a blood clot will form. Maintaining this blood clot is critical for normal healing to occur. Here are important things to do so as not to disturb the clot:

• Do not do anything for the first 24 hours that creates suction in your mouth, like vigorous mouth rinsing or drinking from a straw.
• Do not smoke for the first 24 hours.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages or mouthwash for the first 24 hours.
• Limit strenuous activity for the first 24 hours.
• Do not clean the teeth adjacent to extraction site.

What happens if I lose the blood clot?

When a blood clot is lost from the extraction site, we call this a “dry socket,” a very painful condition. We will need to see you for follow-up to place sedative dressings to reduce pain while your extraction site is healing.

After the First Day

We recommend you chew on the opposite side of your mouth for the first few days. As the area becomes less painful, you can resume normal eating.

You will need to brush and floss your teeth, but use care when cleaning the teeth adjacent to the extraction site.

Brushing your teeth and tongue will help with any unpleasant tastes or bad breath that may occur following an extraction.

Immediately Contact Us if the following occurs:

• Fever, nausea, vomiting
• Severe, ongoing pain, swelling, or excessive bleeding
• Pain that gets worse over time instead of better

We’re always here for you. If you have questions, please contact our office at (714) 544-2020.

Fillings

For a description of filling procedures, see Cavities.

If you received an injection of local anesthetic, we recommend that you avoid eating and chewing until the numbness in your cheek, lip, or gum wears off. This can take several hours. It’s normal to have some hot, cold, or pressure sensitivity for a few days. Some patients are aware of gum soreness that easily resolves with a warm salt water rinse (1 tablespoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water). If your tooth is sensitive to chewing, give this tooth a rest for a few days and then try chewing again.

If sensitivity persists, call the office. We’re always here for you at (714) 544-2020.

Dental Implants

For a description of dental implant procedures, see Missing Teeth.

Dental implants are one of the best ways to replace missing teeth. Your implant is made of Titanium, is biocompatible, and will soon integrate and become a part of your jawbone. Immediately after your implant is placed, you may notice slight bleeding or swelling in the surgical area and this is normal. As integration occurs over the next few months, you’ll need to keep this area clean with gentle brushing and use of mouth rinses, if prescribed. When ready, we’ll use a customized abutment to connect your implant to your new restoration. This restoration may be a single crown, a bridge, or a fixed or removable denture.

Nightguards

For a description of nightguard options, see Nightguards.

When you first wear your nightguard, you may notice it feels tight and you salivate more than usual. Don’t worry, these symptoms will go away.

When you wake up in the morning and remove your appliance, you may notice small changes in your bite. Once again, don’t worry. Typically within an hour or so, your bite will feel normal again. To help your bite feel better faster, tap your back teeth together a few times. If this problem persists and you feel your bite is changing, please contact our office.

Plaque will collect on your appliance every night and you will want to clean it each morning with a stiff toothbrush. Bring your nightguard in at your routine dental hygiene appointments. We can clean your nightguard in our ultrasonic.

It’s important to have a dentist evaluate your nightguard at least every 12 months. Jaw habits will create wear patterns in your nightguard and we’ll need to adjust it to keep the appliance fitting properly. When you see the wear on your nightguard, just think how you’re saving your teeth from destructive grinding habits!

Porcelain Veneers & Cosmetic Bonding

For a description of veneer and bonding procedures, see Stained, Chipped, Decaying, Crooked & Painful Teeth.

Congratulations on your beautiful new teeth! We realize the decision to place veneers or get bonding done only came after a lot of thought and we want to help you protect your new teeth against accidental damage or breakage.

You’ll serve yourself well to remember that your front teeth are not a quick and easy “cutting tool!” Think twice about using your front teeth to cut a loose thread or open a plastic bag. You’ll be glad you grabbed a pair of scissors instead! We also recommend using a night guard to protect your new smile. Nighttime grinding habits can create small fractures that may necessitate a new restoration.

Root Canal Therapy

For a description of root canal procedures, see Stained, Chipped, Decaying, Crooked & Painful Teeth.

Root Canal Therapy involves removing infected tissue inside your tooth. Treatment may have involved one or two appointments and it’s normal to feel mild discomfort or tenderness as you begin healing. To complete your root canal, you may have held your mouth open for a sustained period of time and some mild jaw muscle soreness may occur. Most of these symptoms respond to over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen.

The next step in the process is to place a tooth restoration so you can easily chew again. At the completion of your root canal, a small temporary filling was placed. Be careful to avoid sticky or hard foods as your tooth can break. Brush and floss as usual and call us for an appointment so we can restore your tooth to full functionality. Depending on your situation, your tooth may be a full coverage restoration or something as simple as a filling.

We’re always here for you. If you’re experiencing adverse side effects, please contact our office at (714) 544-2020.

Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)

For a description of cleaning procedures, see Gum Disease.

Scaling hard tartar and calculus from your tooth roots is the first step to dental health. Once the anesthetic wears off, you may notice minor bleeding or tooth and gum sensitivity. A mouth rinse of warm salt water (1 tablespoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water) or a prescription anti-bacterial rinse can help. Over-the-counter analgesics, like Tylenol or ibuprofen, are also helpful. You may notice initial sensitivity to spicy or acidic foods, but these symptoms are usually temporary. Persistent root sensitivity can easily be managed with desensitizing products.

We’re always here for you. If you’re experiencing adverse side effects, please contact our office at (714) 544-2020.

Sleep Apnea Oral Appliance

For more information on sleep apnea, see Snoring & Sleep Apnea.

Your new appliance holds your lower jaw forward while you sleep. Complications from wearing the device can occur. After use of the appliance, you’ll notice a change in your bite upon waking. This is combated with exercises to gently stretch your muscles and help position the jaw back to a normal closing position. Tooth movement can also occur. We strive to help you fight these side effects so you can keep your jaw in a healthy state while effectively controlling your sleep disorder.

Traumatic Tooth Injury

While most tooth injuries involve chipping or fracture, teeth can also be dislodged or knocked-out. If your tooth is knocked out, timing is critical. Many factors affect the success of tooth re-implantation and it’s essential that you follow these steps:

1. Locate your missing tooth. Avoid touching the root surface and handle the tooth by the crown.
2. Put the tooth back in the tooth socket as soon as possible. Before placing the tooth, gently rinse off any dirt or debris. Remember, DO NOT scrub the tooth, clean the tooth with soap or cleaning agents, or dry it off with a towel or tissue.
3. If you cannot replace the tooth yourself, keep it moist and see a dental professional as soon as possible. Keep the tooth moist by placing in your mouth next to your cheek or in a container of milk.

Call us IMMEDIATELY! We need to see you as soon as possible!

If your tooth is dislodged, we can correctly position and stabilize your tooth using a bonded flexible wire. We also need to take radiographs to check for root fracture and assess the long-term effects.

For information about other dental emergencies, see Emergency Care.

At-Home Tooth Whitening

For more information on tooth whitening, see Stained, Chipped, Decaying, Crooked & Painful Teeth.

At-home whitening can be one of the easiest procedures in dentistry, and you have a lot of options. Most methods use the same active ingredient, carbamide peroxide, which has been used in the dental profession for many years. Your results will depend on the type of stain, concentration of active ingredient, and how frequently you use the whitening product.

Following use of at-home tooth whitening, some patients may notice tooth sensitivity or gum irritation, but these symptoms typically go away when you stop treatment. If you’re experiencing either, check the amount of bleach you’re using in the trays. You only need a small amount and there should be virtually no excess bleach escaping from the tray after insertion. You can also try reducing the amount of time you wear your bleaching trays from 60 minutes to 30 minutes. Use of a desensitizing toothpaste can also be helpful.

We’re always here for you. If you’re experiencing adverse side effects, please contact our office at (714) 544-2020.