Fillings

When an anesthetic has been used, your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid hot beverage and use caution when chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. It is very easy to bite or burn your tongue or lip while you are numb.

Children should be observed until the aesthetics wears off. Due to the strange feeling of the anesthetic, many children will chew the inside of their lips, cheeks or tongue which can cause serious damage.
The gum tissue new the filling or the anesthetic injection site could have been irritated after the procedure and be sore for a few days. Just rinse the area with warm salt water twice a day (1/2 tsp. salt to a glass of warm water). Repeat if necessary.
As with natural teeth, avoid chewing excessively hard foods on the filled teeth (hard candy, ice, etc.).
If you feel like your bite is “off” or is not correctly balanced (sore, painful or strange to chew in that area), please call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.
Sensitivity to cold or extreme temperature change is common for a few weeks following a dental restoration. Usually, the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth will be. This should gradually improve. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days or it the sensitivity increases, contact our office.
The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different texture than the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this small difference, but you will become accustomed to this in a few days.

Periodontal Treatment

Your gums will be tender or “achy.” For pain or discomfort you may take over-the-counter pain medication every 6 hours as needed, over the next couple of days which will help eliminate any discomfort. Brush teeth gently. Sensitivity to cold may temporarily occur. Removing all plaque from the tooth and placing a dab of sensitivity toothpaste on the “touchy” surface will help to manage the sensitivity.
Do not use floss or other home tooth care products, such as toothpicks, or electric brushes until the day after your treatment. Begin very gently at first.
It is advisable to eat only soft food for the first 24 hours and avoid any hard or spicy foods which could cause irritation.
Please do not smoke following scaling and root planning procedures. Tobacco smoke is an irritant to healing. You must refrain from smoking for 24-48 hours or longer.
On the morning after the treatment, rinse the mouth with warm salt water (1/2 tsp. salt to a glass of warm water). Repeat this several times daily.
Because it is common for periodontal disease to recur, patients should have regular checkups to monitor progress and prevent recurrence.

Extractions

You can expect that you will leave the office biting on gauze. You should remain biting on it for 30-45 minutes, or as directed by the dentist.
Children should be observed when the anesthetic wears off. Kids can do a lot of damage by chewing on a numb lip, cheek, or tongue and not realize it until the anesthetic wears off.
Keep activities low key for the first 24 hours.
No smoking for the first 48 hours as it could cause a “dry socket.”
Keep fingers and tongue away from socket.
No spitting or using a straw for the first 24 hours.
Brushing is ok, just be gentle in that area. Do not rinse mouth until the following day.
On the morning following the surgery, rinse mouth with warm salt water ½ tsp. salt to a glass of warm water). Repeat this several times daily.
BLEEDING- It is normal for saliva to be slightly streaked with blood for 1-2 days. If abnormal bleeding occurs, moist gauze over the extraction site and bite down for 30-45 minutes.
Following dental surgery, it is normal to experience some discomfort. If medication has been prescribed, take as instructed.
SWELLING and STIFFNESS- It is normal and should not cause alarm. Apply cold towels or ice bag for 15 minutes of each hour as needed.
DIET- Try to eat soft foods for the first couple of days. Avoid hard, crunchy things and very hot things like soups. Yogurt, eggs, ice cream, mashed potatoes and porridge are some good examples of foods to eat during the first 24 hours. Drink lots of fluids.
Contact your dentist and/or the office if undue symptoms develop.

Root Canal

Until you root canal procedure is completely finished and the permanent filling or crown is in place, it is wise to minimize chewing on the tooth under repair. Please avoid biting on the tooth for the next few days. It’s not unusual for the tooth to feel sensitive or tender for a few days after a root canal treatment. This can usually be controlled with over-the-counter analgesics such as Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (e.g. Aleve.).
Most patients can return to their normal activities the next day.
A permanent restoration is recommended after having a root canal and may require additional appointments.
Fortunately, most root canals heal with about 90-95% success rate. Sometimes despite our best efforts, a small percentage of patients may need to have root canal(s) retreated to achieve adequate healing.

Crown & Bridge Treatment

After your first appointment for crown or bridge treatment, a temporary crown or bridge is placed on the tooth or teeth involved. The temporary crown of bridge protects while the custom crown is being fabricated. If your temporary crown or bridge comes off before your next appointment, place the temporary back on your tooth or teeth and call our office for recommendation.
Avoid chewing hard foods which can dislodge or break the crown. Shift the bulk of your chewing to the opposite side of your mouth.
With your temporary and permanent crown or bridge, you may experience discomfort due to irritation of the area during the treatment procedures. You may also notice sensitivity to cold or pressure.
Your new permanent crown will be shaped and shaded especially to your teeth in color and fit. The temporary crown or bridge is made to serve you temporarily, so its color and fit are not custom-matched to your teeth.
After your new permanent crown or bridge is in place, you may need a few days to adjust to it. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, please call for an appointment and we can adjust it.
Care for your new crown or bridge with proper brushing and flossing. It is especially important to keep the edge of the crown or bridge clean at the gum line

Please follow these home care instructions carefully and call the office at (707)552-8668 if you have any questions or concerns.

Teeth Whitening (Bleaching)

After removing the gel, we create a custom tray from impressions of your teeth. You’ll be able to take this tray home to do touch up treatments with the at-home gel. The treatment’s effects last for years, and following up at home improves these results.

Use petroleum jelly or other lip balm on your lips to restore moisture.
Take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) should you experience jaw pain or tooth sensitivity.
Avoid staining foods for the next 7 days. Examples include but are not limited to ketchup, mustard, coffee, tea, tobacco products, cola, red wine, soy sauce, and berries.
In order to ensure long lasting results, minimize your use of staining foods and drink, avoid tobacco products, and brush and floss twice daily.
Should you experience any sensation please call the office.

Please follow these home care instructions carefully and call the office at (707)552-8668 if you have any questions or concerns.