Home Care Instructions
Home Instructions
After Cosmetic Reconstruction
Keep in mind that getting used to your new bite will take some time. It takes a few days for the brain to adjust to a new bite or tooth position before it starts to perceive the new tooth position or thickness as normal. Call our office to make an appointment for an adjustment if you still notice any high spots or issues with your bite.
A certain amount of heat and cold sensitivity is typical. After tooth structure is removed, teeth need time to heal and will be sensitive during this period. Additionally, your gums can hurt for a few days. Pain and swelling can be decreased with three daily warm salt water rinses (one teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water). Any staying discomfort should be relieved with a light pain reliever (one Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin) pill every 3 to 4 hours).
For the first few days, don’t worry if your speech is impacted. You’ll get used to it fast and start speaking normally. You might experience more squeezing this is a result of your brain adjusting to your teeth’s new size and form. It should take about a week for this to return to normal.
For the duration of your new dental procedure, you must brush and floss every day. Regular cleaning treatments and daily plaque removal are essential for the long-term health of your newly restored teeth.
Your replacement teeth are at risk to harm from food that can chip, break, or damage a natural tooth. Stay clear of sticky candies and hard foods and materials (such as beer nuts, peanut brittle, ice, fingernails, or pencils). Smoking stains the teeth you just got. Reduce or stay away from foods like berries, coffee, red wine, and tea that stain.
Tell us whether you play any sports so we can create a mouth guard specifically for you. Please wear the night guard we have provided if you grind your teeth at night. It will take some time to get used to the way your new smile looks and feels. Tell us about any issues or worries you may have. Your inquiries are always welcome.
After Crown and Bridge Appointments
Typically, crowns and bridges require two or three appointments to finish. The teeth are cleaned and mouth molds are taken at the initial appointment. While the individual restoration is being manufactured, the teeth are protected with temporary crowns or bridges. The tongue, lips, and roof of the mouth can be numb because the teeth will be anesthetic. Please wait to eat or drink anything hot until the numbness has gone.
A temporary crown may occasionally fall off. If this occurs, give us a call and bring the temporary crown so we can reattach it. To maintain the fit of your final restoration and stop other teeth from shifting, the temporary must remain in place.
Eat less hard and sticky items (like gum) and try to chew on the other side of your mouth to keep your temporary in place. It’s crucial to brush regularly, but be cautious when flossing—pulling the floss out from the side of the temporary crown rather than pulling up on it, which could remove the temporary.
After every appointment, it is typical to feel a little more sensitive to pressure and temperature. A few weeks following the final restoration’s placement, the sensitivity should go down. You can also utilize mild pain medications as recommended by our office.
Please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns, if your bite feels uneven, or if you are experiencing chronic pain.
After Tooth Extraction
A blood clot must form following tooth extraction to halt the bleeding and initiate the healing process. For this reason, following your appointment, we recommend that you bite on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes. Put another gauze pad in place and bite down hard for an additional half-hour if the bleeding or leaking continues. This might need to be done more than once.
It is crucial to avoid disturbing or removing the blood clot once it has formed since doing so promotes recovery. For 72 hours, refrain from using a forceful rinse, sucking on straws, smoking, consuming alcohol, or brushing your teeth close to the extraction site. By dislodging or dissolving the clot, these actions will impede the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours as this will increase blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.
Following tooth extraction, you might have some discomfort and swelling. Applying an ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen corn or peas to the affected area will help minimize swelling. Adhere to the doctor’s prescription for painkillers. Usually, the swelling goes down in 48 hours.
Follow the directions on the pain reliever. If the drug doesn’t seem to be helping, give the office a call. If you are prescribed antibiotics, take them for the entire specified duration, even after the infection’s symptoms and indicators have disappeared. On the day before the extraction, eat a nutritious soft meal and drink lots of water. Once you are comfortable, you can resume your regular diet.
You must get back to your regular dental schedule after a full day. At the very least, you should clean and floss your teeth once a day. This will hasten the healing process and maintain a clean, fresh mouth.
You’ll feel better in a few days and be able to get back to your regular activities. Call our office right away if you experience extreme pain, excessive bleeding, swelling that lasts for two to three days, or a medication response. If you need to get in touch with Dr. Patel after office hours, you can do so at (914) 874-4435.
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.