Aftercare Instructions
Crowns | Periodontal Therapy | Composite Filling | Tooth Extraction
Crowns
Crown Preparation:
The tissue around the crown preparation may be tender and slightly swollen for a few days after the initial appointment. It is not unusual to have minor sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweets following your crown preparation. Your gums may be sensitive at the injection site.
We recommend warm salt-water rinses two times a day if your tissue is especially irritated. Avoid extreme hot and cold temperatures and foods that are hard or sticky that may dislodge your temporary crown.
You may take Advil or Tylenol — whatever you normally take for aches and pains — if the discomfort is not relieved by the salt-water rinses.
Cleaning around the temporary crown is critical to the healing of the tissue around your crown preparation. Gently brush two times daily to remove plaque. Avoid flossing around the temporary crown.
If your temporary crown comes off, you may place it back on using a bit of Vaseline inside the crown; and call our office for an appointment to have the temporary crown re-cemented. If you experience severe pain or swelling following the crown preparation, you should call our office at (530) 562-4835.
Placement of your Crown:
It is not unusual to have some sensitivity to cold following the placement of your crown. You may also experience some tissue tenderness, so we suggest continuing your warm salt-water rinses for about three days. If the sensitivity and tenderness continues for more than two weeks, contact our office. If it feels like you are hitting high on the crown you should call for an appointment to have the crown adjusted.
Meticulous cleaning of your crown is vital to its longevity. The area where the crown meets the tooth (the margin) is vulnerable to decay and must be kept free of plaque. Thoroughly brush and floss daily to remove plaque from the crown. To prevent damaging or fracturing your crowns, avoid chewing hard foods, ice, or hard objects.
Regular visits to our office for cleanings, X-rays, and exams are necessary to monitor the health of your natural teeth and crowns.
When in doubt, call us. Your comfort and care are our top priority. We’re always available, so call us at (530) 562-4835.
Periodontal Therapy
The dental hygiene appointment you had was for gum tissue treatment. We scaled below the gum line to remove bacteria, calculus, diseased root surfaces, and bacterial endotoxins. This was necessary to treat the gum disease and stop the bone loss.
After a deep cleaning, the gum tissue may be sore for three or four days. If the tissue is uncomfortable, rinse with warm salt water several times a day (1 teaspoon salt to 8 ounces warm water).
You may take Advil or Tylenol — whatever you normally take for aches and pains — if the discomfort is not relieved by the salt-water rinses.
Any time we do extensive scaling on the teeth and root surfaces, the teeth may become sensitive. This usually occurs several hours after the appointment and is not permanent. Switch to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth such as “Sensodyne” or “Crest for Sensitive Teeth,” and use until the symptoms improve.
Following through with good oral hygiene and any special home-care instructions as recommended will help keep your gum tissue healthy and disease free.
When in doubt, call us. Your comfort and care are our top priority. We’re always available, so call us at (530) 562-4835.
Composite Filling
Your filling was hardened with the use of a high-intensity light, so you may begin to use it right away. It matches your tooth color, so you may not be able to see it.
You may experience some sensitivity, especially to cold, the first few days following your treatment. This should diminish gradually over time.
If you have been given anesthetic, it should wear off in a few hours. Please be careful not to bite your cheek or tongue. Also, do not eat or drink anything extremely hot or cold until the anesthetic has completely worn off. Your gums may be sensitive at the injection site.
Your bite should feel normal when the anesthetic wears off. If sensitivity to hot, cold, or biting pressure persists longer than one week, please call our office for a follow-up evaluation and/or simple adjustment of the bite.
Do not chew extremely hard or crunchy foods with your new restoration. Also, do not bite anything with your teeth that can damage them.
Meticulous cleaning of your teeth is vital to the longevity of your fillings. To prevent decay, they must be kept plaque-free with daily brushing and flossing. We recommend professional maintenance and evaluation at least twice a year to help prevent problems.
When in doubt, call us. Your comfort and care are our top priority. We’re always available, so call us at (530) 562-4835.
Tooth Extraction
Apply light pressure to the gauze pack over the extraction site for 20 minutes or until you get home. Use gauze pads with biting pressure, and change after 20 minutes when saturated. Discontinue use when bleeding has stopped. Blood-tinged saliva can be expected during the week following an extraction, especially when you’re eating and brushing.
Do not rinse your mouth or spit for 24 hours following extraction. Beginning the next day, rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water (1/4 teaspoon salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water). Do not swish vigorously. Continue this four or five times a day for a week.
Do NOT use a straw for two to three days. NO SMOKING FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS. The suction from the act of smoking and using a straw may dislodge the blood clot and prevent healing.
No hot liquids for the first 24 hours.
Drink liquids and eat soft foods for the next few days. Examples: eggs, custard, milk products, soups, mashed potatoes, applesauce, Jell-o, yogurt, ground meats, juice, etc.
Apply ice pack to the outside of the face, next to the area for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off over the first 24 to 48 hours to help minimize swelling.
When the anesthetic wears off (in 2+ hours) you may or may not feel some discomfort. If you do, take pain medication as prescribed.
If bleeding becomes excessive or prolonged, use a damp gauze pad and place biting pressure over the bleeding point for one hour steadily. Should this fail, clear the mouth of blood, then place a warm, wet, non-herbal tea bag over the area with biting pressure as directed above. Should both methods fail within four hours, call our office.
When in doubt, call us. Your comfort and care are our top priority. We’re always available, so call us at (530) 562-4835.
