Post-Operative Instructions
How to care for your tooth:
- The first couple of hours after treatment avoid chewing on the tooth to allow the temporary filling to harden. Even after hardening try to avoid chewing on the treated tooth as much as possible until a crown is placed on the tooth. Schedule an appointment within a week for getting a crown placed on that tooth. Temporary fillings or the tooth can fracture and allow the root canal spaces to become re-infected, and can possibly result in the loss of the tooth.
- The first few days following endodontic therapy the tooth can be sore because cleaning and shaping the root canals can cause inflammation of the surrounding tissue. At night keep your head elevated with extra pillows for several nights to reduce inflammation.
- Place a cold-pack over the area (20 minutes on, then 20 minutes rest) for at least four hours will help make the area more comfortable.
- Over-the-counter analgesics, as allowed by your physician such as Ibuprofen or Advil 800 mg (taken with food) Tylenol 1000mg will help alleviate residual discomfort. The Ibuprofen and Tylenol combination should be taken every 6 hours for 48 hours and as needed for pain after that. Do not take Tylenol if you are taking prescription painkillers, as they often contain acetaminophen.
Occasionally, mild discomfort lingers for a few weeks before the area feels normal.
Brushing and Flossing after your root canal visit:
- It is important to keep your mouth as clean as possible to facilitate healing of the tissues surrounding your tooth. Do brush your teeth thoroughly, but avoid flossing if your temporary filling extends down to the gum line. Flossing near these fillings could dislodge them and require you to be seen for a short visit to have the fillings replaced.
If an Infection Develops:
- If you develop severe pain and/or swelling around the tooth, call our office immediately. An infection may have developed that might require medication or further treatment.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at 218-963-6330.
Your comfort and satisfaction are very important to us.
Permanent Crowns and Bridges
- After your restoration is finally cemented in place, it may take a few days to get used to your new crown or bridge. Hot and cold sensitivity is possible for a few weeks and occasionally lasts for several months. If the bite doesn’t feel quite right, please contact us.
- Do not chew hard or sticky foods on the restoration for 24 hours after your appointment ends. The cement takes time to set up to gain its optimum strength.
- Over-the-counter analgesics, as allowed by your physician will help alleviate residual discomfort. 800 mg ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and 1000 mg acetaminophen (Tylenol) should be taken every six hours for 48 hours and then as needed for pain. Do not take Tylenol if you are taking prescription painkillers, as they often contain acetaminophen.
- Dental crowns are an excellent solution for many problems. Crowns can last almost indefinitely, but they require regular care. They need to be protected from tooth decay, stress and trauma – just like the rest of your teeth!
- Regular brushing and flossing is essential. Once your crown is in place, make sure the area is brushed well and that you floss below the gum line. The crown protects your remaining tooth from further decay, but you need to protect the base of the crown from bacterial growth and gum disease. If you don’t, tooth decay at the edge of the crown can require a new crown, either because a cavity begins to form underneath the crown, or because the edges have become gray and unsightly. A healthy diet, frequent brushing and flossing, and regular dental care (at least every six months) will help ensure that your crown will be in place for years to come. Often, small problem areas that develop around the restoration can be found at an early stage and corrected easily. If you wait for a longer time, the entire crown may need to be replaced.
- While it’s important to keep the tooth to which your crown is cemented free from plaque, crowns face other threats as well: chewing, biting, tooth grinding and accidental trauma. Crowns can be subject to excessive wear; this is a particular concern for patients who tend to grind or clench.
Warranty
- For a period of four (4) years from the date of service, we will replace a crown or bridge due to breakage or misfit with normal use, at no cost to the patient.* This warranty is null and void if the patient does not maintain his/her prescribed (minimum of every 6 months) regular recall appointments.
* If your porcelain crown chips in the first four (4) years, we will replace it free. However, if it chips after the four-year period, you will
be charged the regular fee for a new crown.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at 218-963-6330.
Your comfort and satisfaction are very important to us.
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You have just had an immediate denture(s) placed in your mouth. The following information will assist you to understand the sequences of events during the healing period.
- Do not take the denture out of your mouth today for any reason. We will remove them tomorrow upon your follow-up appointment. The new dentures serves as a bandage similar to a cast on a broken arm during initial healing. After the initial denture removal and adjustment by us, you may remove the dentures as needed for cleaning, and you should remove them every night to soak in denture cleaner.
- As soon as possible, place ice cubes in a plastic bag and place the bag externally on the area where the teeth were removed for 20 minutes then remove for 20 minutes. Repeat this for a minimum of 4 hours. This will minimize swelling and bruising. However, some swelling and bruising may still occur for a short time.
- Some discomfort is common when teeth are removed and immediate dentures are placed. The discomfort is due to the trauma of removing teeth. Within a few days the discomfort will go away.
- The denture may have pressure or sore spots. If so, the pressure spots will be identified and removed by us as soon as you tell us about the discomfort. They will not go away by themselves.
- If you have been given antibiotics, it is important to continue with the therapy until all of the tablets are used.
- Use the pain relieving pills as directed while you are experiencing discomfort.
- Teeth have been removed from your mouth. Stitches may have been placed to help the mouth heal. If so, they will dissolve by themselves over several days, unless we tell you differently.
- Dentures have been placed to replace your missing teeth and gum tissue. Initially, these dentures will feel large and bulky until your gums have healed (AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS) and shrunken slightly, at which time we will make the dentures thinner and less bulky. The dentures may cause your speech to be altered for a few days, but this feeling will disappear soon.
- Your dentures have been relined today with a soft material that makes them easier to wear and speeds healing. It is not the final denture material. Be careful not to dislodge this soft material when cleaning.
- After four months (minimum) your denture will be relined to refine its fit to the healing supporting tissues. The cost of this procedure is NOT included in the price of the denture. At this time the denture will appear, fit, and function as intended.
- Healing from tooth extractions continues for up to 18 months. Shrinkage of gums and bone is obvious during that time, but it slows thereafter. You may elect to have a second reline of the denture 18 months after the initial surgery.
- Immediate dentures are a major change to your body. Don’t worry if you are slow to adapt. Be patient. We expect your eventual denture to serve you well for many years.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at 218-963-6330.
Your comfort and satisfaction are very important to us.
Your New Compsite (white) Fillings
We have restored some of your teeth with tooth-colored materials. The resin (plastic) material used contains small “filler” particles of glass-like material for strength and wear resistance. These restorations will serve you well for several years. They contain the finest and most up-to-date materials available today. However, you should be aware of the following information about your new restorations:
- As with natural teeth, avoid chewing excessively hard foods on the filled teeth (hard candy, ice, etc.)
- Composite fillings set up hard right away. There is no waiting time to eat. Children should be observed until the anesthetic wears off. Due to the strange feeling of the anesthetic, many children will chew the inside of their lips, cheeks, or tongue which can cause serious damage.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold is common for a few weeks following a dental restoration. Usually, the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth will be. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, please call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.
- The gum tissue could have been irritated during the procedure and may be sore for a few days together with the anesthetic injection site.
- The finished restoration may be shaped slightly different and have a different texture than the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this small difference, but you will become accustomed to this in a few days.
- Proper brushing, flossing, and regular six (6) month (minimal) cleanings are essential to the long-term stability and appearance of your restorations. Often, problems that may develop with the fillings can be found at an early stage and repaired easily, while waiting for a longer time may require more extensive treatment.
Warranty
When a tooth has a cavity, the Dentist removes the decay and fills the hole with a filling material, the tooth supports the filling. The ideal filling is no more than 50% of the tooth. This leaves half the tooth to support the filling. When you get a cavity that takes up 60% or more of the tooth, a crown is recommended. A crown covers the entire tooth and holds the tooth together. Sometimes a filling may be placed without enough tooth structure, and may cause the tooth to break away because it can no longer support the filling. In this case, we will credit the cost of the filling toward the cost of a crown. In addition, for a period of two (2) years from the date of service, we will replace the filling – due to breakage or misfit at no additional cost to the patient. This warranty is null and void if the patient does not maintain his/her prescribed (minimum of every six months) regular recall appointments.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at 218-963-6330. Your comfort and satisfaction are very important to us.
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