Procedure/Condition/Follow-up
Temporary restorations (and sometimes permanent ones) come out for a variety of reasons and cause patients to panic and call “emergency” numbers. Most of the time, you need worry about nothing. If it’s the weekend or you are out of town and your temporary or permanent crown or bridge comes off, you can find Dentek (or similar product) at most retail drug stores. (Walgreens, CVS, etc.)
Directions:
- Look inside the crown or bridge. If the crown or bridge was a permanent restoration, the underlying tooth structure may have fractured off. If this is what you find, Dentek will most likely not help. Give the office a call to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience. In the meantime, when chewing/eating, be sure to avoid using the affected area.
- If you find no tooth structure, carefully remove any cement with a straight pin
- Try the crown/bridge on to make sure of fit prior to placing Dentek.
- Place a small amount of Dentek into the crown, place it back into your mouth, making sure it’s oriented correctly, and gently bite down to secure it.
- Call our office to schedule an appointment.
If you’ve recently had an extraction, please review the following as it may answer questions you have.
Bleeding
Keep your jaw closed on gauze for one hour after leaving the office to control bleeding and protect the surgical area. Change the gauze as needed. Some bleeding can be expected for 24 hours. If bleeding is excessive, place clean gauze on the affected area and bite down with moderate pressure for one half hour. If seeping continues, a caffeinated tea bag can be used in place of gauze. Repeat if necessary.
Swelling
Place an ice bag over involved area for 15 minutes and remove for 15 minutes. Continue for the first 48 hours as desired. This will keep swelling and pain to a minimum. Allowing small chips of ice to melt in your mouth is very helpful. Resting with your head slightly elevated for the first 2 days after surgery will make the post-operative course more comfortable. Swelling may continue to increase for the first 72 hours following surgery but should then begin to decrease.
Discomfort
It is normal to experience some discomfort following oral surgery. If medication was prescribed, take it as directed. It is often helpful to take the first dose of medication while the local anesthetic is still in effect.
Eating
Beginning 1 or 2 hours after surgery, you may have cool liquids or cold, soft foods. Maintaining adequate food and liquid intake following surgery is very important. After the first day, you may advance your diet from soft to more regular foods as you feel comfortable.
DO NOT RINSE: You should not rinse your mouth or use mouth wash for the first 24 hours after surgery. After 24 hours, begin rinsing with salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 oz. of water) four to five times a day, especially after meals. You should begin brushing your teeth, being careful in the area of surgery.
DO NOT drink through a straw for 2 days following surgery.
DO NOT drink alcoholic beverages or smoke for at least 2 days.
DO NOT engage in any strenuous activities for several days following your surgery.
If any unusual problems arise, or if you have questions, do not hesitate to call us!
If you are experiencing some TMD discomfort, the following guidelines may offer relief:
- Rest Your Jaw: Make a conscious effort to keep teeth apart. Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth.
- Soft Diet: Avoid hard or chewy foods. Do not chew gum. Yogurt, pudding, pasta, etc. are good choices. Be careful when opening for sandwiches or yawning.
- Apply Ice or Moist Heat: When symptoms flare up, cycle ice or moist heat on your joints every 15-20 minutes. You may alternate cold and moist heat upon your response.
- Take Medications as Directed: Ibuprofen (Advil or similar) as suggested on the bottle or as directed by your doctor.
Just remember, muscle strain causes pain. It may take several months to feel better.
If you’ve just had one or more fillings placed, here is what you can expect over the next few hours, days, weeks. Please take a moment to read this and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Numbness
Your mouth will be numb for several hours. We recommend not attempting to eat or drink until the numbness has worn off. Fillings are ready for chewing immediately, but the soft tissues in your mouth (your cheeks, tongue, and lips) can be damaged if you accidentally chew on them while they are numb.
Soreness
The injection sites will be sore for several days. Your mouth may hurt to open and close, especially if work was done on your lower teeth. We recommend a softer diet if you experience discomfort.
Sensitivity
Your teeth will be SENSITIVE after fillings are placed. Most patients will experience some SENSITIVITY to cold and pressure. This is a NORMAL response to a new filling and can last from several weeks to several months depending on the size of the filling. If sensitivity persists for longer than two months, of if the teeth with fillings become HEAT SENSITIVE or begin to ache on their own, additional work may be required to stop the symptoms. Most patients are comfortable within 2 to 4 weeks
Ibuprofen (ex. Advil) can be very helpful for mild sensitivity. Take as directed if needed.