Instructions after common dental procedures

A temporary crown or bridge usually made of a plastic material is placed on the treated teeth while the permanent crown or bridge is being fabricated by the dental laboratory. The temporary serves a very important purpose. It protects the exposed dentin so it is not sensitive, prevents food and bacteria from collecting on the prepared teeth, and prevents the tooth from shifting or moving, which can make seating of the final restoration more difficult.

The temporary is held in place by a temporary cement which is a weak cement by nature and is intended to come off rather easily.  You need to avoid sticky or chewy crunchy foods for the time being.  If the temporary restoration comes loose, place it back on the tooth using some toothpaste and make an appointment for re-cementation.

It is normal for teeth to be sensitive to hot or cold for a few days after any type of dental treatment such as fillings or crowns.  Try avoiding excessively hot or cold foods.  Your gums may also stay tender or bleed for a few days following dental procedures.  The best thing to do is to rinse with lukewarm salt water mixed with some baking soda.

Wear your new denture day time only and remove it before going to bed.  Let denture soak in a cleaner solution or salt water bath over night.  Never wear your denture at night as it will not only irritate your gums, but also may cause excessive growth of oral bacteria and fungi.  New dentures are much like new shoes and need breaking in before they get comfortable.  Please be patient and come for all your adjustment appointments.  Usually it takes 3 - 4 adjustments for a new denture to become fairly comfortable.  You may use denture adhesive for added comfort and retention.  Your may experience lisping and slight speech difficulty at first, but with constant wearing and practice it will become normal again.

The blood clot forming on the extraction socket is most fragile during the first 24 - 48 hours after surgery.  Do not disrupt the clot by rubbing the extraction area, drinking through a straw or smoking.  If you have sutures placed after surgery, they are need to be left undisturbed until it is time for them to either come off by themselves or be removed.  24 hours after surgery you may rinse your mouth with lukewarm salt water, but do not rinse any earlier. If bleeding starts later on, you may bite on a moist tea bag or the sterile gauze provided to you after surgery.

You may experience minor swelling and or pain after root canal procedures for a few days.  Please be patient and take your antibiotic and/or pain medication as prescribed.  It usually takes about a week for a tooth to feel completely better after root canal treatment.

Contact the office if you have severe pain or excessive swelling after this treatment.

Soft diet is recommended after dental implant surgery.  Please do not disrupt the healing process by smoking, touching the sutures or drinking alcoholic beverages.  Return for your post-op and suture removal appointment as scheduled on the day of the surgery.  Take all your antibiotic and pain medication as prescribed and rinse your mouth with Peridex (chlorhexidine) rinse.  Expect minor swelling, pain and bleeding for a few days after implant placement surgery.

Click the below link to download button for a printable full instructions sheet after dental surgeries.