Home Care Instructions
SELF CARE FOR AFTER DENTAL PROCEDURES
What follows is general information provided by Dr. Blomquist and Rocky Mountain Dental Arts to help care for yourself after your dental visit. Please first refer to any instructions given to you by Dr. Blomquist and our team at the time of your dental visit. Call us at (970) 669-3967 with any questions or to request an appointment.
AFTER A DENTAL FILLING APPOINTMENT
When an anesthetic has been used for a dental filling, 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 lips while you are numb.
It is normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after your appointment. If any of those symptoms last for longer than three weeks after your appointment, please call our office. Injection sites may also be sore for several days. The soreness can be mitigated with over the counter pain medications as well as hot and cold compresses on the face near the injection area.
AFTER CROWN & BRIDGE APPOINTMENTS
Dental crowns and bridgework usually take two or three appointments to complete. In the first visit, the teeth are prepared and molds of the mouth are taken. Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made by the laboratory. Since the teeth will be anesthetized, the tongue, lips, and roof of the mouth may be numb. Please refrain from eating and drinking hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off.
To keep your temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods (gum), 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 up on the floss, which may dislodge the temporary. Instead, pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown. This will help prevent the temporary crown from coming off or breaking. Occasionally a temporary crown may come off. Call our office if this occurs so we can re-cement the crown. Please bring the temporary crown with you to our office. It is very important for the temporary to stay in place, as it will prevent other teeth from shifting and compromising the fit of your final restoration.
It is normal to experience some temperature and pressure sensitivity after each appointment. The sensitivity should subside a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration. Mild pain medications may also be used as directed by our 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 (970) 669-3967.
AFTER TOOTH EXTRACTION or oral surgery procedure
After a tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That is why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad over the wound and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times. If the bleeding continues, you can wet a tea bag and place it over the extraction site for 30 minutes.
After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids in healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol, or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and delay the healing process. Avoid vigorous exercise and heavy lifting for five to seven days after the extraction as this will increase blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.
After the tooth has been extracted and the numbing has worn off, you may feel some discomfort and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area in 20 minutes intervals to keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. We recommend taking over the counter pain medications first instead of any prescribed pain medications.
Use the pain medication as directed. Call the office at (970) 669-3967 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. Drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the extraction. You can advance your diet as tolerated starting three days after the extraction. Avoid any alcohol, carbonated beverages and tobacco products for at least five days following the procedure.
It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean. Do not brush the extraction/surgical site directly for three days. After 24 hours, rinse gently, several times a day, with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a full glass of warm water) or your prescribed rinse (i.e. Peridex), to promote healing.
If sutures were placed, they may dissolve on their own within 3-7 days or they will be removed at your post op appointment. Try not to disturb the sutures with your tongue or tooth brush.
AFTER COSMETIC RECONSTRUCTION
Remember that it will take time to adjust to the feel of your new bite. When the bite is altered or the position of the teeth is changed it takes several days for the brain to recognize the new position of your teeth or their thickness. If you continue to detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call our office at (970) 669-3967 so we can schedule an adjustment appointment.
It is normal to experience some hot and cold sensitivity. The teeth will require some time to heal after removal of tooth structure and will be sensitive in the interim. Your gums may also be sore for a few days. Warm salt water rinses three times a day will reduce pain and swelling. An over the counter pain medication can be taken to ease any residual discomfort.
Don’t be concerned if your speech is affected for the first few days. You will quickly adapt and be speaking normally. You may also notice an increase in salivation. This is because your brain is responding to the new size and shape of your teeth. This should subside in about a week.
Daily brushing and flossing are a must for your new dental work. Daily plaque and debris removal is critical for the long-term success of your new teeth, as are regular hygiene appointments.
Any food that can crack, chip, or damage a natural tooth can do the same to your new teeth. Avoid hard foods and substances (such as beer nuts, peanut brittle, ice, fingernails, pencils, and/or sticky candies. Smoking and some foods such as coffee, red wine, tea, and berries may also stain your new teeth. Be sure to maintain a good daily dental hygiene routine to minimize the staining these foods can cause.
If you participate in sports or grind your teeth at night, we highly recommend a custom mouthguard. Adjusting to the look and feel of your new smile will take time. If you have any problems or concerns, please let us know.
We always welcome your questions and can be reached at (970) 669-3967.