General Instructions After Dental Treatment

Please follow these home care instructions carefully and call this office if you have any questions or concerns.

Place cold towels or an ice bag on your face for the first 6-8 hours, Apply for 15 minutes, then remove for 15 minutes, alternating for the next few hours.
Do not rinse mouth until the following day.
In the morning after surgery, please rinse mouth with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water). Repeat this several times daily.
Keep fingers and tongue away from tooth socket.
BLEEDING: It is normal for saliva to be slightly streaked with blood for 1-2 days. If abnormal bleeding occurs, place moist gauze over the extraction site and bite down for 30 to 45 minutes.
Following dental surgery, it is normal to experience some discomfort. If medication has been prescribed, please take it as instructed.
SWELLING & STIFFNESS: Swelling and stiffness is normal and should not cause alarm. Apply cold towels or ice bags on your face for 15 minutes every hour, as needed.
DIET: A liquid or soft diet is advisable during the first 24 hours. ANd drink lots of fluids.
Return to the office if undue symptoms develop.

After your first appointment for crown or bridge treatment, a temporary crown is usually placed on the tooth or teeth involved. The temporary crown protects while the custom crown is being produced in our office. Temporary cement is used so that the crown can be easily removed at your next appointment.
If your temporary crown comes off before your next appointment, place the temporary crown back on your tooth and call the office.
With both your temporary crown and permanent crown, you may experience some discomfort due to irritation of the area during the treatment procedures. You may also notice sensitivity to cold or pressure.
After your new permanent crown is in place, you may need a few days to adjust. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, please call for an appointment and we can adjust it.
Care for your new crown with proper brushing and flossing. It is especially important to keep the edge of the crown clean at the gumline.

For pain or discomfort, you may take over the counter pain medication.
It is advisable to eat only soft food for the first 24 hours, and avoid any tough or spicy food, which could cause irritation.
Drink plenty of water during the first 24 hours. At least eight glasses a day are recommended.
Place cold towels or an ice bag on the outside of your face by the treated area. Apply for 15 minutes, then remove for 15 minutes, alternating this for the first 4-6 hours.
On the morning after the treatment, rinse mouth with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in glass of warm water). Repeat this several times daily.
Brush teeth gently to help remove plaque that has started to form. We suggest using fluoridated, tartar control toothpaste.
Don't use floss or other home tooth care products, such as toothpicks or electric toothbrushes, until the day after your treatment. Begin very gently at first.
Because it is very common for periodontal diseases to recur, patients should have regular checkups to monitor progress and prevent recurrences.