Patient Instructions

POST-EXTRACTION INSTRUCTIONS

Healing, following oral surgery, is usually fast and uncomplicated if you follow the directions below:

• Bleeding: Keep your guaze pack in place with firm pressure for at least one hour following surgery to help control bleeding. Change your guaze pack hourly until brisk oozing stops. Minor oozing MAY continue for 1-2 days causing a pink colored saliva.
• Swelling: Some swelling is normal and is to be expected. Swelling may become noticeable 24-48 hours following the surgery and begin to resolve 3-4 days later. Increased swelling after 3-4 days should be brought to our attention.
• Pain: Take medications as directed and always eat or drink something before taking pain medications. If pain increases after 3-4days, you may be experiencing a "dry socket" and should call our office. DO NOT drink alcohol or drive within 24 hours of using narcotic pain medications ( tylenol #3, percocet, lortab).
• Fever: Slight temperature elevation during the first few days after surgery is normal. Call our office for fevers above 101F.
• Other: Stiff jaw muscles, sore lips or cheeks, bruising, or nausea may all occur.

If these symptoms are severe or prolonged, pleasecontact us.You should be healed from this surgery very soon.

Please call our office at (408)225-6815 / (408)578-0820 if you have any questions or concerns. After normal business hours, we can be reached at (408)307-9924.

AFTER COMPOSITE FILLINGS (WHITE FILLINGS)

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

It is normal to experience some hot, cold & pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Injection sites may also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or aspirin (one tablet every 3-4 hours as needed for pain) work well to alleviate the tenderness. If pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to hot or cold increases, contact our office.

You may chew with your composite fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off, since they are fully set when you leave the office.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (408)225-6815 / (408)578-0820. After normal business hours, we can be reached at (408)307-9924.

AFTER CROWN AND BRIDGE APPOINTMENTS

Crowns and bridges usually take two or three appointments to complete. In the first visit, the teeth are prepared and molds of the mouth are taken. Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made. Since the teeth will be anesthetized, the tongue, lips and roof of the mouth may be numb. Please refrain from eating and drinking hot beverages until the numbness is completely worn off.

Occasionally a temporary crown may come off. Call us if this happens and bring the temporary crown with you so we can re-cement it. It is very important for the temporary to stay in place, as it will prevent other teeth from moving and compromising the fit of your final restoration.

To keep your temporaries in place, avoid eating sticky foods (gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to brush normally, but floss carefully and don't pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary but pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.

It is normal to experience some temperature and pressure sensitivity after each appointment. The sensitivity should subside a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration. Mild pain medications may also be used as directed by our office.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (408)225-6815 / (408)578-0820. After normal business hours, we can be reached at (408)307-9924.

AFTER ROOT CANAL THERAPY

Root canal therapy may take two or more appointments to complete. A temporary filling or crown may have been placed to protect the tooth between appointments.

After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off.

Between appointments, it's common (and not a problem) for a small portion of your temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out, or if a temporary crown comes off, call our office so itcan be replaced.

It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal appointment, especially when chewing. To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. If antibiotics were prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.

To further reduce pain and swelling, rinse three times a day with warm salt water; dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, then rinse-swish-spit.

To protect the tooth and help keep your temporary in place:

• Avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum)
• Avoid hard foods and hard substances, such as ice, fingernails and pencils.
• If possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth.

It is important to continue to brush and floss normally. Usually, the last step after root canal treatment is the placement of a crown on the tooth or a filling. A crown or filling covers and protects the tooth from breaking in the future and seals the root canal space from bacterial contamination in the mouth.Temporary fillings are only meant to last approximately 3 months. After this time period, leakage of saliva and bacteria around the filling may occur and cause failure of the completed root canal therapy making it necessary to redo the already completed root canal therapy. To avoid tooth breakage and/or root canal therapy failure,complete the final restoration (crown or filling) as soon as possible after completion of the root canal therapy.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (408)225-6815 / (408)578-0820. After normal business hours, we can be reached at (408)307-9924.

AFTER DENTURES/PARTIALS

Sore Spots: Usually, your mouth will have a few "sore spots" after wearing the denture/partial for 24 hours. These areas can be relieved with very little effort during your next appointment.

Chewing: The new bite may not feel completely comfortable for several weeks. We can adjust the contacting surfaces of your teeth after the dentures/partials have settled into place.

Cleaning the Dentures/Partials and your Mouth: Your denture/partials can be cleaned easily by using a denture brush and a mild toothpaste. Periodic denture soaks are also very useful (ex: Polident). We recommend leaving your partials out of your mouth at night and soaking in water.

Dentures only: Brush your gums with a regular toothbrush once per day to toughen and clean them. Partials only: Use special care to clean parts of the partial that contact any natural teeth. Both the partial and the natural teeth must be kept very clean on a daily basis to reduce the chance of new dental decay starting.

We have done our best to provide you with well-fitted, functional, and esthetic dentures/partials. We feel confident that after a few weeks of becoming adjusted to the new dentures/partials, you will have years of satisfaction from them. Over time, your jawbone and gums shrink when there are teeth missing. When this occurs, your dentures/partials will feel loose and may require relining. Wearing ill-fitting dentures/partials for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call our office at (408)225-6815 / (408)578-0820. After normal business hours, we can be reached at (408)307-9924.