Educational

Professional dental checkups and having your teeth cleaned are important. Routine dental visits make it possible for us to treat problems in the early stages. We check for tooth decay, gum disease, worn fillings and other changes in your teeth and gums. Tell us about any illness you have or any medications that you are taking, including over-the-counter drugs.

Top five steps to a healthy mouth and body

1. Floss daily and brush your teeth twice per day with an electric toothbrush.
2. Visit your dentist at least twice per year for professional teeth cleaning.
3. Maintain good health with proper nutrition.
4. Exercise regularly.
5. Avoid chewing and smoking tobacco.

AFTER-CARE

Crowns and Bridges

Avoid chewing and eating until all numbness is gone. Avoid chewing on the side of the mouth where the temporary crown or bridge is located. Brush and floss normally and use a desensitizing toothpaste if your teeth are sensitive. Call us if sensitivity lasts more than a few days. Rinse your mouth two times a day with a mixture of warm salt water or prescription mouth rinse to reduce discomfort and swelling. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Dental Implants

Apply light pressure with gauze pads for the first hour following surgery, and limit yourself to calm activities to control bleeding. Avoid eating until all numbness has worn off. Apply ice packs 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the first 24 hours post surgery.

You may also rinse with warm salt water to further reduce swelling and discomfort. Drink lots of liquids. Eat only soft, nutritious foods, on the opposite side of your mouth, for the first 24 hours following your surgery. After the first 24 hours, you may return to your regular diet, but continue to chew on the opposite side of your mouth.

Use the prescription mouth rinse chlorhexidine twice per day for one week. Don’t floss the teeth adjacent to the dental implant for two weeks. You should brush and floss your other teeth regularly. Take all medications prescribed by your dentist, even if you have no swelling or signs of infection. Do not smoke for 72 hours.

Extractions

Forming a blood clot during the first 24 hours following an extraction is necessary to reduce pain and speed healing. One hour of tight pressure is needed to form the blood clot. To aid healing you should:

• Bite on a gauze pad for 40-60 minutes to stop oozing. Repeat with clean gauze after one hour
• Don’t spit, suck on candy or suck through a straw.
• Don’t rinse your mouth, brush or floss next to the socket for 24 hours.
• Don’t smoke or use tobacco for at least 72 hours
• Don’t sneeze or cough; keep sinus or allergy medication on hand if necessary
• Don’t drink hot, carbonated, or alcoholic drinks. Avoid spicy foods.

Take pain medication before the anesthetic has worn off. Hold an ice bag over the area for twenty minutes and then remove it for twenty minutes. Repeat as necessary. Drink lots of fluids, and eat soft foods on the opposite side of your mouth.

After the first 24 hours, you may begin to eat normally. Gently brush and floss around the area for the first week following your procedure, and take any prescribed antibiotics for the indicated period, even if all soreness and signs of infection are gone. Apply moist heat and rinse with warm salt water three times a day to reduce swelling. Contact the office if you have any concerns.

Root Canal Therapy

Avoid chewing and eating until all numbness is completely gone. Take pain medication before the anesthetic wears off. Take the antibiotics as prescribed by our doctors. Brush and floss normally. Call us if sensitivity to pressure lasts more than a few days. Rinse your mouth three times daily with warm salt water to reduce discomfort and swelling. Limit yourself to calm activities for three to five days. Avoid crunchy foods. It is essential to have the tooth restored with a crown within two weeks of the root canal to avoid fracturing the tooth. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Tooth-colored Fillings

Avoid chewing and eating until all numbness has completely worn off. Brush and floss normally to gain healthy gum tissue. Call us if sensitivity lasts more than a few days. Rinse your mouth three times a day with a mixture of warm salt water to reduce discomfort and swelling. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.