Patient Info

Bite on the moistened gauze that was placed in your mouth for 1-2 hours until the numbness wears off. If additional gauze is needed, be sure to moisten it before placing it in your mouth! Do not eat until the numbness has worn off.

If you continue to see some blood when you rinse or clean your teeth, this is normal. Once your gums are healthy again, your gum tissues should not bleed when you brush or floss.

For the first week:
Rinse your mouth 3 times a day with The Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Oral Rinse (or Listerine Zero) 3 times a day following the peroxide rinses. Each rinse should be done for 30 seconds to a minute. Gently brush your teeth.

After the first week, you will be shown the following:
When using a toothbrush, push the bristles at a 45-degree angle between the tooth and gum, and scrub horizontally 4-5 times. Then move to the next 2-3 teeth and repeat. Do this on both sides of the teeth. Be sure you feel the bristles of the brush pushing into the gum crevice. (Imagine the gum crevice as the space between a wall and floor. Imagine the toothbrush as a scrub brush trying to clean this space.) As demonstrated, the Sonicare Electric Toothbrush will be more efficient than a hand toothbrush. Also, the Crest Electric Oral B Toothbrush works well. Use the special toothpaste given to you or Colgate Sensitive Enamel Protect Toothpaste.

When using dental floss, be sure to floss up and down until the floss squeaks against the side of the tooth. (Imagine the tooth as a pole. To clean this pole you must wrap the floss 3/4 of the way around the pole and slide the floss up and down.)

A rubber tip is used to stimulate and massage the gum tissue between teeth. Place the rubber tip between the teeth with the side of the rubber tip pressed against the gum. Then in a circular motion, rotate the tip 4-5 times to massage the gum. Do this between all the teeth from the outside and then repeat on the inside of the surfaces. Aim the tip of the rubber tip toward the chewing surfaces of the teeth around which you are working to prevent the tip from stabbing the gum.

If a Proxabrush is recommended, it will help clean plaque from between the teeth. For some people, it will be more efficient and simpler than floss.

Dental plaque forms every 24 hours; however, it is ideal to brush, floss, and use the rubber tip twice a day to prevent periodontal disease.

Smoking retards healing. Please do not smoke.

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. 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. For this reason, you should avoid hard and chewy foods. Do not eat on the treated side of your mouth for at least 24 hours. The soreness should decrease within a week.

Take any antibiotic medication prescribed to you by the doctor, as this will eliminate any remaining infection in the tooth.

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

• Increasing tenderness or swelling in the area surrounding the tooth
• A reaction to the medication
• Loss of the temporary filling material
• Tooth fracture
• If the pain persists, please contact the office.

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 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 saltwater. 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 in 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Bleeding:

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

1. Place a piece of gauze over the surgery site.
2. Bite firmly on the gauze for at least 30 minutes. DO NOT chew on it.
3. If the bleeding continues, call the office
4. Do not suck on area where surgery occurred or drink through a straw during the first 48 hours.

Rinsing:

1. Don’t spit or rinse the surgical area on the day of the surgery.
2. The day after surgery you may gently rinse with warm salt water.
3. You may brush your teeth and your tongue after the surgery. Be careful of the surgical site.

Eating:

You should start with liquids and very soft foods for the first 24-48 hours following the surgery. If the area feels a little better, you can then 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.
• 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 ice after the first 36 hours.
• If you feel discomfort, it is recommended that you take an Advil or Tylenol to ease the pain.