AFTERCARE

Following Tooth Preparation: Sensitivity and tenderness of the tooth and surrounding gums is common for the first day or two after a tooth has been prepared for a restoration. If the tenderness or sensitivity lasts longer than this, please contact our office. If anesthesia is used, avoid chewing, biting, and eating until the numbness wears off. The final restoration may be placed the same day that the tooth is prepared or may be placed during a separate appointment. For Temporary Restorations: Eat softer foods, and avoid foods that are particularly crunchy, chewy, or hard. Carefully clean around the restoration, brushing daily. Please refrain from flossing around the restoration until the permanent restoration has been placed. If the temporary restoration becomes loose or breaks, please call us immediately. After Final Restoration Placement: Avoid chewing on hard, crunchy, or sticky foods for 24 hours in order to give time for the cement to fully bond. Mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods is not unusual and should dissipate after a few weeks. If sensitivity lasts more than six weeks, please let the office know. Ongoing Care: Proper care of your restoration includes brushing your teeth after every meal and snack, and flossing at least once a day before bedtime. Rinsing your mouth with water or non-alcohol mouthwash with also help to remove any additional particles that may have been missed during brushing and flossing. Please call our office if you are in pain or have any questions regarding your treatment.

Do not eat or chew until any numbness from anesthesia has worn off. If you are supervising a child who has had treatment, make certain that they are not eating or chewing while numb. Please make sure they do not bite their lips or tongue as doing so can cause serious injury to their soft tissue. Avoid sticky, crunchy, or hard foods for 24 hours. Sensitivity to cold and heat, as well as any soreness, should not last more than a few days. Please call our office if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few days.

Dentures and partials will often need several adjustments in order to fit comfortably. To help yourself adjust to your dentures you can practice reading aloud for a little while each day. Dentures should be removed overnight or for at least 6 hours a day to give your mouth and gums time to rest. At night you should remove your dentures and clean them. They should be stored in a clean container filled with denture cleaning solution. Food particles can become trapped under dentures causing inflammation or sore spots. Lightly brush the roof of your mouth, your tongue, and your gums after removing your dentures. You may have discomfort for a few days after receiving your final dentures or partials. Ongoing Care: Brush your teeth and the surrounding tissues after every meal and snack and flossing at least once a day before bedtime. If you have full dentures, brushing the dentures daily is very important. Rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash will help to remove any additional particles that may have been missed during brushing and flossing. Make sure to schedule an exam at least once a year to have your dentures or partial adjusted and checked by the doctor. Wearing ill-fitting dentures or partials without proper care and adjustment can cause bone loss in the jaw area and oral disease. Please call our office if you are experiencing ongoing pain or discomfort or if you have any concerns regarding your denture or partial.

For the first 24 hours you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity. Do not consume hot foods or beverages until the anesthesia and numbness have worn off. Avoid vigorous physical exercise as well as extremely hot or spicy foods for the first 24 hours. Do not smoke for at least 48 hours following treatment. Some bleeding following a deep cleaning is normal, but if you experience excessive bleeding, please call our office. You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as needed according to the instructions on the label. A warm salt water rinse, approximately one teaspoon in an eight ounce glass of water, three times a day can be helpful. Brush and floss gently following a deep cleaning, resuming normal brushing and flossing when the soreness is gone. Follow any other instructions provided by our office during your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed. You will need to schedule recare appointments with the dental hygienist every 3-4 months to maintain good periodontal health.

Please follow the guidelines below and contact us with any questions. No eating or drinking for the first 30 minutes following your treatment. Also avoid feeling around your tooth with your tongue. This is to allow the temporary filling sufficient time to harden. If you were given any prescriptions, please have them filled promptly and take as directed. If no prescriptions were given, you may choose to take ibuprofen medications (as long as you do not have any allergies to these medications) for alleviation of discomfort and swelling. Do not exceed the guidelines printed on the label for any medication. If you are unable to achieve adequate pain control, please call our office. Once you resume eating and drinking, avoid chewing or biting on the treatment area until your permanent restoration is placed. The temporary filling or crown placed immediately following root canal treatment is usually a soft composite that is vulnerable to fracturing (cracking). You may experience increased sensitivity prior to the placement of the final restoration. You will need to make a follow up appointment with Dr. Vocaturo within a month to have a permanent crown or filling placed. Waiting longer than a month increases the chances that the temporary will fracture or that decay will develop in the affected area. Please keep the treated area clean by gently brushing and flossing regularly. It is rare for a temporary filling to fall out although it may divot while in use. If the temporary falls out, please contact us as soon as possible. If your temporary falls out after office hours, you may purchase some temporary filling material from a pharmacy and follow the included instructions to cover the area until you can be seen in our office. Some discomfort is normal for 2 to 4 days following root canal therapy. In some cases the tooth and surrounding tissue may be sore for a few weeks following treatment. Please brush and floss as usual unless otherwise instructed by our office. Follow any other instructions provided by our office during your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed. THIS SECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY While flare-ups are rare, they occur in about 5% of cases and may cause significant pain. They generally only occur with teeth that are extremely irritated and/or infected or with teeth that have a history of prior treatment. These sometimes occur randomly, even on patients that have had root canals done in the past without problems. If you have a flare-up, you may experience moderate to severe pain, swelling, throbbing, or general discomfort; please contact our office right away. You may be prescribed additional medication such as antibiotics, and/or you may be asked to come to the office for further treatment.

Immediately following surgery, maintain pressure on the surgical area by biting down on the provided gauze pad or roll until the bleeding stops. A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following a surgical procedure. Placing the gauze pad over the area and biting firmly will help prevent excessive bleeding. Replace the gauze as necessary until the bleeding stops. Children should be supervised after having an extraction to make sure they do not bite or chew their tongue or lips as this can cause serious injury to the soft tissue. Please fill any prescriptions you have been given and take as directed. If you have been prescribed pain medication other than Tylenol or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), do not drive, operate heavy equipment, work around machinery or tools, or engage in any other activity that may be unsafe when groggy, as your reflexes and judgment will be affected by the medication. Antibiotics may be prescribed to help prevent infection. If you have been placed on antibiotics, take the medicine as directed. Swelling around the face, eyes, and surgical site is not uncommon although it may not appear until the day following the surgery and may become more noticeable two to three days following surgery. Applying a cold compress to the face near the extraction site will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but place a cloth between the ice and your skin at all times. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 36 hours the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling. For 24 hours following your surgery, do not suck on a straw, brush, rinse, spit, or smoke. Avoid hot and spicy foods as well as carbonated and alcoholic beverages. Restrict your activities on the day of your surgery. Avoid excessive work or play, and resume normal activity the following day as tolerated. After the first day, gently rinse with a warm salt water rinse, approximately one-half teaspoon of salt in an eight ounce glass of water, three times a day. During the first few days after surgery restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods such as soups, yogurt, juice, and smoothies. If sutures have been placed, you will need to return to our office in 7-10 days for sutures to be removed. Please call our office if you experience severe pain, excessive bleeding or swelling, or if you have any questions or concerns. In the event of an emergency please call our office. If you are experiencing a serious or life threatening emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.

Do Use your fingers to put your aligners place. First place the aligners over your front teeth, and then use your fingers to push the aligner down gently over your molars. When aligners are correctly inserted, they will fit all the way down on the teeth, with no space between the top of the aligners and the top of the teeth. Aligners will fit tightly at first but should fit well at the end of the two week period. Keep aligners in except when flossing, brushing, eating. It’s also best to remove the aligners when drinking warm beverages such as coffee or tea. Remove the aligner by pulling it off both sides of your back teeth simultaneously then lifting it off of your front teeth. Place your aligners in the case we provided any time they are not being worn. Clean aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Wear each set of aligners for two weeks unless our office directs you to vary from this schedule. Wear aligners in the correct numerical order. Keep all of your old aligners and bring them to your dental appointments. Do Not Do not place your aligners in or on a napkin or tissue. Many aligners have accidentally been thrown out this way! Do not use your teeth to “bite” your aligners into place. If you have pets, don’t place your aligners anywhere that your pets can reach them. Pets are attracted to saliva and would enjoy chewing on your trays! Do not use Denture cleaner, alcohol, or bleach to clean your aligners. Do not use boiling water or warm water on your aligners. Do not chew gum with your aligners in. It would be best not to smoke while wearing aligners. The smoke can stain the aligners as well as your teeth. Just in Case If you lose one of your aligner trays, please wear the next tray if you have it. If you do not have the next tray, please wear the previous tray. It is extremely important to use a tray to keep teeth from shifting. Call our office to let us know which tray was lost so that we can determine if a replacement tray is needed. There will be a fee if replacement trays are required.

Following Bleaching: Teeth are more susceptible to staining for the first 48 hours following bleaching treatments. For the first 48 hours after whitening, it is best to avoid dark-colored foods or beverages that can stain your teeth. Any item that can stain your clothes can also stain your teeth. Avoid berries, cola or other dark sodas, red wine, coffee and tea, tobacco, and ketchup, soy or other dark sauces. Using Your Custom Trays: Follow the instructions given by our office, placing the bleaching gel in the center of each tooth position on the tray so that the gel will rest against the anterior surface of the teeth once it is placed in your mouth. Wear trays for the recommended time. Rinse the mouth, and gently remove any gel remaining on your teeth with a soft bristle toothbrush. Clean the trays.

Some pain, bleeding, swelling, and seeping are normal following oral surgery. Please do not try to view the site by pulling on your lip and do not probe the area with your tongue or fingers. If you experience excessive bleeding or discomfort after 48-72 hours, please call our office immediately. You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen according to the instructions on the label or those provided by our office as needed. Swelling around the face, eyes, and surgical site is not uncommon and may become more noticeable two to three days following surgery. Applying a cold compress to the face near the implant site will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but place a cloth between the ice and your skin at all times. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 36 hours the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling. Avoid brushing your teeth near the surgery site but brush and floss the rest of your mouth as instructed by our office. For 24 hours following your surgery, do not suck on a straw, brush, rinse, spit, or smoke. For the first 24 hours you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity. Avoid hot and spicy foods as well as carbonated and alcoholic beverages. Restrict your activities on the day of your surgery. Avoid excessive work or play, and resume normal activity the following day as tolerated. After the first day, gently rinse with a warm salt water rinse, approximately one-half teaspoon of salt in an eight ounce glass of water, three times a day. During the first few days after surgery restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods such as soups, yogurt, juice, and smoothies. Follow any other instructions provided by the office on your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed including your prescribed antibiotics to help prevent infection. If you have a denture that overlaps the implant site, please minimize the use of the denture following surgery to allow the site to heal. After the first week, you should be able to gradually increase the amount of time you can wear your denture. It is extremely important to keep your follow up appointment(s) so that we can monitor the healing process. If pain and swelling are increasing after a few days, please call our office right away.