Home Care Instructions
After Crown and Bridge Appointments
Crowns and bridges usually take two appointments to complete. In the first visit, the teeth are prepared and impressions of the mouth are taken. A temporary crown or bridge is placed to protect the teeth during the two weeks when the permanent restoration is being made. Areas of the mouth will remain numb for two to several hours after local anesthesia. Please refrain from eating and drinking hot beverages until the numbness is completely worn off.
It is normal to experience some sensitivity to cold in the tooth after it is prepared for a crown or bridge. The sensitivity should subside in days to a few weeks.
Occasionally a temporary crown or bridge may come off. It important to replace or re-cement a temporary within days. Without the temporary, teeth in that area can move and compromise the fit of the permanent crown or bridge. Call us immediately if this happens and bring the temporary with you.
To keep your temporaries in place, avoid eating sticky foods, 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 the floss out like usual. Instead, pull the floss out from the side to avoid dislodging the temporary.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent sensitivity, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at Pleasant Hill Office Phone Number 925-939-6100.
After Tooth Extraction
After tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s why we ask you to bite on a moist gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If bleeding or oozing persists, place another moist gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.
After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot because it aids healing. Do not rinse vigorously or suck on a straw for 24 hours after the extraction. Also, avoid smoking and alcohol consumption for 24 hours.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or a bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides within 24 to 48 hours.
Use the pain medication as directed. Call our office if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. You can eat normally as soon as the bleeding is stopped and the local anesthesia has worn off.
It is important to resume your normal brushing and flossing after 24 hours. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.
If you have unexpected bleeding, pain, or swelling, or a reaction to medication, call our office immediately at Pleasant Hill Office Phone Number 925-939-6100.
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.
You may experience some tooth sensitivity after your appointment. Injection sites may also be sore. These problems should go away in a matter of days during which you may obtain relief with ibuprofen or other pain relievers. If problems persist, please call us.
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. Call us if your bite feels uneven.