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  • 161 Jennifer Road,
  • Suite B,
  • Annapolis, MD 21401
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    Home Care Instructions

    After a Cosmetic Dental Procedure

    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 as normal. If you continue to detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call our office so we can schedule an adjustment appointment.

    It is normal to experience some hot and cold sensitivity. The teeth 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 (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) three times a day will reduce pain and swelling. A mild pain medication (one or two tablets of Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin) every 3-4 hours) should ease any residual discomfort.

    Don’t be concerned if your speech is affected for the first few days. You’ll quickly adapt and be speaking normally. You may notice increased salivation. This is because your brain is responding to the new size and shape of your teeth. This should subside to normal in about a week.

    Daily brushing and flossing are a must for your new dental work. Daily plaque removal is critical for the long-term of your new restoration, as are regular cleaning 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, or pencils) and sticky candies. Smoking will stain your new teeth. Minimize or avoid foods that stain such as coffee, red wine, tea and berries.

    If you engage in sports let us know so we can make a custom mouth guard. If you grind your teeth at night, we can fabricate a night guard for you.

    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.

    After Crown and Bridge Procedure

    Crowns and bridges usually take several appointments to complete. In the first visit, the teeth are prepared and a temporary restoration is placed. Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made. 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 is completely worn off.

    Occasionally a temporary crown may come off. Call us if this happens and bring the temporary crown with you so we can re-cement it. It is very important for the temporary to stay in place, as it will prevent other teeth from moving and compromising the fit of your final restoration. To keep your temporaries 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 do not pull up on the floss, which may dislodge the temporary crown. Instead, pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.

    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 (410) 571-5014 or (410) 571-5360.

    After Tooth Extraction

    After tooth extraction, it’s important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That’s 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 and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.

    After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing. Do not rinse vigorously, use straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and retard 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.

    After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours. If you are taking any medications on a regular basis, please continue to do so, unless instructed otherwise.

    Use the pain medication as directed. Call the office 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 fluid and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.

    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.

    After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately at (410) 571-5014 or (410) 571-5360.

    After Composite Fillings (tooth colored 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.

    If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (410) 571-5014 or (410) 571-5360.

    After A Denture Delivery

    After you have received your denture, it is important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success.

    Chewing and eating

    To protect your denture, avoid chewing ice or other hard objects. If small pieces of food work their way under your denture while you eat, simply remove your denture and rinse it with water.

    Brushing and flossing

    Brush your tongue, gums, palate, and any remaining teeth at least twice a day to keep them free of plaque and bacteria. Brushing also massages the gums and keeps your breath fresh. In addition, we may recommend dental floss, mouth rinses, or other cleaning aids.

    Cleaning your denture

    Clean your denture over a sink full of water to prevent your denture from breaking if it is accidentally dropped. Use a denture brush and a denture cleaning product at least once a day to thoroughly clean all of the surfaces of your denture. We may recommend special denture cleansers or brushes.

    Also, soak your denture periodically in a commercial soaking solution, or, if your denture has no metal parts, you can soak it in a solution of half white vinegar and half water. After soaking, rinse dentures thoroughly in cool water.

    Sleeping and storing your denture

    Unless we tell you otherwise, remove your denture for sleeping or for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. Store your denture in water or a soaking solution whenever it is out of your mouth, so it does not dry out.

    When to call us at (410) 571-5014 or (410) 571-5360

    Call us right away if your denture breaks, cracks, or chips, or if a tooth becomes loose, so we can properly repair it. Also call us if your bite feels uneven, your dentures become loose, you have sore spots, irritation, swelling, or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns.

    After a Deep Cleaning

    Now that you have had scaling and root planning therapy, it is important to follow these recommendations to speed healing:

    • Do not eat anything for 2 hours after surgery.
    • When you do feel comfortable enough to eat, but you still have numbness, be careful not to bite your cheeks or tongue. For the first 48 to 72 hours, restrict your diet to soft foods such as yogurt, scrambled eggs, and soup, until you can comfortably chew. Chew on the side of your mouth opposite of the surgery site.
    • Avoid alcoholic drinks and hot or spicy foods until your gums are healed.
    • Do not use any tobacco products for at least 72 hours because tobacco slows healing.
    • If we used an anesthetic, take pain medication before the anesthetic wears off to control any discomfort, or as recommended. It is normal to experience some discomfort for several days after surgery.
    • For the first 6 hours after surgery, apply an ice pack, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, to decrease pain and swelling.
    • After 24 hours, reduce discomfort or swelling by gently rinsing your mouth with warm salt water 3 times a day. Use about 1 teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water.
    • Brush the treated area very lightly the first night. To make this more comfortable, first rinse your toothbrush under hot water to soften the bristles.
    • The next day, begin flossing lightly, and gradually return to your usual home care over the next week. It is normal to have some slight bleeding for the first few days when you brush and floss the treated areas.
    • Brush and floss the non-treated areas of your mouth normally.
    • Use a desensitizing toothpaste if your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, or pressure. If we prescribed a medicated mouth rinse, use it as directed.
    • Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
    • Call us if discomfort is not diminishing day by day, or if swelling increases or continues beyond 3 or 4 days.

    High Innovative Technology & Professional Dentists

    At Annapolis Dental Center we value your time and make it easy to book an appointment for care! You can either reach out to us with a phone call or submit this simple, online form. We respond promptly to all online requests.

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