Troutdale dentist, Dental Implants, Missing Teeth, OR

POST-OP INSTRUCTIONS

These are general post-op instructions for the following procedures. If you are experiencing symptoms that are not covered here or have a dental emergency, please contact the office directly.

ROOT CANAL THERAPY

It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent any possible injury to your soft tissue. This will also allow the temporary restorative material to harden.

You will most likely feel soreness in the area as well as pressure when you bite down. Root canal treated teeth are brittle without a crown placed. For this reason, you should avoid hard and chewy foods. Do not eat on the treated side of your mouth for one week. The soreness should decrease within a week to ten days. You should schedule an appointment for crown placement within a week to prevent tooth fracture.

Take any antibiotic medication prescribed to you by the dentist as this will eliminate any remaining infection in the tooth. If you are taking prescription pain medication, such as Vicodin, Tylenol #3, or Darvocet, you may experience drowsiness. We advise you not to operate any vehicle or machinery until you have fully recovered from the effects of the medication.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, please contact our office:

- Increasing tenderness or swelling in the area surrounding the tooth three days after the root canal treatment.

- Pain increase when you bite your teeth together without food.

- Reaction to the medication

- Loss of the temporary filling material

- Tooth fracture

CROWNS AND BRIDGES

It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue.

Temporary: Please be careful when cleaning around the temporary restoration. Do not pull up on the temporary when flossing this area. Make sure to brush this area gently and to not chew on any hard foods with the restoration.

If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you. It is important to keep your temporary crown in place to keep the space open for the permanent crown while you are waiting for the lab technician to fabricate it.

Sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.

For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages.

It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an Advil or Tylenol if the discomfort persists.

Permanent Crown/Bridge: When the final restoration is placed, your bite may feel a little different. This is just your mouth adjusting to the new addition. If it still feels off after a few days, please call the office for a slight adjustment.

Home Care: It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately.

A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.

FILLINGS

It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent any possible injury to your soft tissue.

Sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.

For the first few weeks, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an Advil or Tylenol if the discomfort persists.

Home Care: It is important to resume regular brushing the same day after your fillings are placed. Wait for 24 hours to chew and floss around the filled teeth if you had silver fillings. A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.

SCALING AND ROOT PLANING

After your scaling or root planning, it is best to rinse your mouth 2-3 times per day with warm salt water. One teaspoon salt / 8 oz. water. You should start home care immediately, although you should be extremely gentle with the treated areas.

If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue where you had treatment, an Advil or Tylenol may be taken to relieve this feeling. The treated areas will probably be sensitive to hot and cold.

It is best to refrain from eating any hard or chewy foods for the next 48-72 hours while the treated area begins to heal.

You may also experience some swelling or jaw stiffness. If this does occur, you can place a cold compress on the swelling or a hot towel on the stiffness.

Smoking should be terminated for a period of 48-72 hours following these procedures. Please contact the office if the pain or swelling persists.

PORCELAIN VENEERS (LAMINATES)

It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent any possible injury to your soft tissue.

Temporary: Please be careful when cleaning around the temporary restorations. Do not pull up on the temporary when flossing this area. Make sure to brush this area gently and not to chew any hard foods on the restoration.

If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you.

Sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.

For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an Advil or Tylenol if the discomfort persists.

Permanent Veneers: When the final restoration is placed, your bite may feel a little different. This is just your mouth adjusting to the new addition. If it still feels off in a few days, please call the office for a slight adjustment.

Home Care: It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. It is very important to thoroughly clean the area between the veneer and the tooth at the gumline. A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.

EXTRACTIONS

Bleeding: It is normal for minor bleeding to occur for the first 24 hours following surgery. If slightly heavier bleeding occurs:

Place a piece of gauze over the surgery site.
Bite firmly on the gauze for at least one hour. DO NOT chew on it.
If you have excessive bleeding, try to bite on a tea bag for another hour. Call the office if the bleeding does not stop.
Do not suck on the area where surgery occurred. Do not drink through a straw during the first 48 hours.

Rinsing:

Limit rinsing the surgical area on the day of the surgery.
The day after surgery you may gently rinse with warm salt water.
You may brush your teeth and your tongue after the surgery. Be careful of the surgical site.
Aviod spitting on the day of surgery.

Eating: You should start with liquids and very soft foods for the first 24-48 hours following surgery. If the area feels a little better, you can the move on to a normal diet. Be careful of chewing on hard foods near the surgical area.

Pain & Swelling: It is normal to experience some degree of swelling. You do not need to use any cold or heat pack if you do not have swelling. If you do experience swelling, you can place ice over your face for 20-30 minutes at a time during the first 24 hours. This should help to reduce pain and swelling. Do not use cold or heat pack on the second day. You may use a hot towel over your face after 48 hours.

Take any antibiotics prescribed to you by your dentist. If you feel discomfort, it is recommended that you take Advil or Tylenol to ease the pain. If you are taking prescription pain medication, such as Vicodin, Tylenol #3, or Darvocet, you may experience drowsiness. We advise you not to operate any vehicle or machinery until you have fully recovered from the effects of the medication. If the pain persists, or continues to get worse three to four days after the extraction, please contact the office.

IMMEDIATE DENTURES

Your denture will be ready to wear the smae day that your teeth are removed. Your denture must stay in for 24 hours to act as a "bandage" after extractions. After the first 24 hours, take it out every night. You must return within the next few days for the dentist to see how you are doing. The denture will act as a "bandage" while your tissues heal, and it will also allow you to smile, talk, and eat. During the first week or so, your gums will be sore, and you should eat mostly soft or liquid things.

Your denture may feel loose. If your denture is too loose, return for a soft reline appointment. If you have a sore spot, return for an adjust appointment (usually the same day will be available when you call). Chewing and speaking will feel different than with natural teeth, and you will make progress with this as you heal. You must return in about 4-6 months for a permanent denture reline. Use only Polident brand denture cleanser while you have the soft reline material in your dentures.

NIGHT GUARD

Prior to inserting your night guard, immerse in hot tap water for 30-60 seconds. This will make insertion easier and more comfortable. Apply even pressure on both sides of night guard when inserting or removing the appliance. Run it under cool water and brush with a soft toothbrush before storing. After brushing the night guard, soak it in Efferdent once a week. Dissolve one table in eight ounces of warm water and soak appliance for 15-20 minutes. Rinse and store dry. If you have additional question or concerns, please call the office.

Troutdale dentist, Dentist in Troutdale, OR