Crown or Bridge Preparation Post Operative Instructions

During your appointment today, one or more of your teeth was prepared for a crown or bridge. A
temporary crown was fabricated for each prepared tooth. Temporary crowns are cemented with a
temporary dental cement to allow for easy removal at your next appointment. Temporary crowns are of
universal size and shade.
Your final restoration will be shaped and shaded to match your other teeth in both color and function.
Until your next appointment:
Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing on your teeth until the numbness has worn off.
You may experience sensitivity to temperature and pressure, gum soreness and slight discomfort on the
tooth / teeth; it should subside after the placement of permanent crown.
Avoid hard or sticky foods that may dislodge temporary crowns, such as: Hard chewy breads such as
bagels or French bread. Chewy candies such as taffy, caramels or gum. Hard crunchy foods such as
corn nuts or popcorn kernels.
Do not bite into foods such as corn on the cob or apples.
If a temporary crown becomes loose or comes off, try to place it back onto the tooth and call the office
at your convenience to get the crown re-cemented.
Rinse your mouth with mouthwash or warm salt water to minimize inflammation of the gum tissue.
Acrylic temporaries attract more bacterial plaque than natural teeth; therefore it is important to brush
normally, at least three times a day.
Floss at least once a day, but floss carefully and dont pull up on the floss which may dislodge the
temporary. Pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.
You may experience sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages after treatment. Mild to moderate
discomfort after dental work is common. An over the counter pain reliever/anti-inflammatory is
recommended for patients who are unable to tolerate them. If discomfort increases, please call the office.
If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns,
please call your doctor.

CROWN & BRIDGE POST-OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

1) Numbness of your lip, tongue or palate may persist for several hours. Do not chew gum, eat,
drink hot liquids or smoke until the anesthetic has worn off to prevent injury from accidentally
biting or burning oneself. 2) Soreness may occur at the tooth, the surrounding gum, the injection
sites or the jaw joint. If these occur, apply moist heat to the affected area and take an
analgesic/antiinflammatory, such as ibuprofen or similar product (if medically able to do so). 3) A
temporary restoration made out of acrylic or thin metal has been placed on your tooth. Avoid

sticky or crunchy foods to avoid loosening or fracturing this restoration. 4) If the bite feels "high"
on the temporary restoration, please call the office to have it adjusted. Failure to do so can result
in a toothache or fracture of the temporary. 5) Brush your temporary restoration daily. When
flossing, slide the floss out from between the teeth instead of lifting it back out to avoid loosening
the temporary. 6) If your temporary restoration loosens, call the office to have it recemented. If
you're unable to come in, a thin layer of denture adhesive powder applied inside the crown or
bridge will hold it in place temporarily. 7) Make an appointment between 2 and 6 weeks from
now to receive your permanent restoration. 8) When the final restoration has been placed, brush
and floss accordingly. Do not chew on ice cubes or other hard objects or continue deleterious
habits, such as biting on popsicle sticks, pens, etc. Use a sensitive toothpaste with fluoride if
thermal sensitivity occurs. Also, if the bite feels unusual please call to have it checked. 9) On
occasion, damage to the pulp of the tooth may occur following any restorative procedure due to a
variety of reasons. If this occurs, further treatment, such as root canal therapy, may be necessary.
10) Regular dental examinations are important to maintain the function and appearance of one's
crowns, bridges, etc. 11) If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office.

Fixed Crowns and Bridges

You have just had your crown or bridge cemented. They will replace your missing tooth structure or
missing teeth and should give you years of service if you will observe the following suggestions:
Chewing: Do not chew ice or very hard objects. Avoid chewing very sticky candy because it can remove
restorations.
Continuing Care: Visit us at regular intervals as discussed with your doctor. Often problems that are
developing around restorations can be found at a early stage and corrected easily. Inadequate return for
examination is the most significant reason for failure.
Brushing and flossing: Brush and floss twice daily especially before bedtime.

Temporary or Provisional Crowns and Bridges

After your first crown or bridge appointment, refrain from eating until the anesthesia has worn off.
Temporary: A temporary crown or bridge will be placed on the prepared teeth while the permanent
restoration is being made.
Please be aware temporary material texture is more porous, thus not replicating natural tooth structure
but permanent restoration will.

The temporary serves very important purposes. It protects the exposed dentin so it is not sensitive,
prevents food and bacteria from collecting on the tooth preparation, and prevents the tooth from shifting
or moving, which can make seating of the permanent restoration more difficult or even impossible.
The temporary is placed with a cement that is designed to come off easily, so avoid chewing sticky foods
such as gum or taffy or anything very crunchy.
Use your toothbrush to clean the temporary as you normally do your other teeth. However, when
flossing, it is best to slide the floss out below the contact rather than popping up through the contact
between the temporary and the tooth next to it.
If your temporary comes off between appointments, even if there is no discomfort, slip it back on and call
our office in order to have us re-cement it for you.
Sensitivity: Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common while you are wearing the temporary. If you
experience this, avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages.
It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. While there
may be sensitivity to temperature and biting any and all symptoms should only last anywhere from 2 days
to 2 weeks. If symptoms persist and begin to increase in intensity, please call our office immediately. If
you appear to be hitting the temporary first please call our office immediately, you may need to have an
adjustment made or if you choose not to have the adjustment Root Canal therapy may be necessary.
If your gums are tender, rinse with warm salt water by dissolving 1/2 teaspoon of salt in an 8 oz. glass of
warm water. An analgesic, such as whatever you would take for a headache, will help to increase your
comfort.

Permanent Crown or Bridge: Typically, we will have your permanent crown or bridge around 2 weeks
after the appointment which the tooth or teeth were prepared. It may take a few days to get used to the
new crown or bridge, after your permanent restoration is finally cemented. If your bite feels high or
unbalanced, please be sure to call our office for an appointment for a simple adjustment. Normally no
anesthetic is needed for this appointment.

Home Care after seating your Permanent Crown or Bridge: Although crowns and bridges are often the
most durable of all restorations, the underlying tooth is still vulnerable to decay, especially at the interface
between the tooth and crown. It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. Daily
home care and regulating your intake of sugar-containing foods will increase the longevity of your new
restorations.

Porcelain Veneers - Patient Instructions

First 72 Hours
The resin bonding process takes at least 72 hours to cure in its entirety. During this time, you should avoid
any hard foods and maintain a relatively soft diet. Extremes in temperature (either hot or cold) should also
be avoided. Normally no anesthetic is needed for this appointment unless patient requests it.
Maintenance
Routine cleanings are a must at least every six months with a hygienist. Use a soft toothbrush with
rounded bristles, and floss as you do with natural teeth. Plaque-free maintenance of these restorations is
essential to their longevity and the health of your teeth and supportive tissues.
Use a less abrasive toothpaste and one that is not highly fluoridated.
Although laminates are strong, avoid excessive biting forces and habit patterns: nail biting, pencil
chewing etc.
Avoid biting into hard pieces of candy, chewing on ice, eating ribs.
Use a soft acrylic mouthguard when involved in any form of contact sport.
Post Op instructions for Sealants
Sealing over the pits and grooves of teeth is a very wise and preventive measure, and no anesthetic is
needed! Your making a good choice to do so. The following are precautions you should be advised of to
get the most benefits from the sealants.
It is very important to follow the diet restrictions listed below:

Do not eat sticky candy such as taffy, "Red Hots", "Jolly Ranchers", etc. This can pull the sealants out.
(chewing sugarless gum is okay)
Do not bite on extremely hard foods such as hard, clear ice cubes, unpopped popcorn kernels, etc. This
can break or chip part of the sealant out leaving the tooth susceptible to decay.
Parents should keep these diet restrictions in mind when allowing your child to snack. We offer a one year
guarantee on all sealants. Any sealants that are lost in less than one year (excluding abuse) will be
resealed at no charge. However, with reasonable diet and care, most people get many years of service
from a single sealant. All previously sealed teeth will be checked at preventive hygiene visits for any
possible loss or breakage of the sealant.

Thank you for allowing us to be your preventive health care team.

Composite Fillings - Post-Treatment Instructions

Composite fillings set up hard right away. There is no waiting time to eat, other than allowing the
anesthesia to wear off. Due to the strange feeling of the anesthetic, many patients will chew the inside of
their lips, cheeks, or tongue which can cause serious damage.
Sensitivity to hot and cold is common. Duration for sensitivity is different for every tooth. 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 along with
the anesthetic injection site.
The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different shape than the original
tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this small difference and will become adjusted to this in a few days.
Post-Op Instructions After Crown and Bridge Appointments

Crowns and bridges usually take two or three appointments to complete. On the first appointment the
teeth are prepared. Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom
restoration is being made. After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and
tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has
completely worn off.

On rare occasions, temporary crowns come off. Call us if this happens and keep the temporary so we can
re-cement it. It is very important for the proper fit of your final restoration that temporaries stay in place.

Its normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity after each appointment. Your gums may
be sore for several days. Rinse three times a day with warm salt water (a tsp of salt in a cup of warm
water, rinse-swish-spit) to reduce pain and swelling. Use medication only as directed.

POst-Op Instructions After Cosmetic Reconstruction

Remember that it will take time to adjust to the feel of your brand 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 us so we can schedule an adjustment appointment.

Its normal to experience some hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity. Removing tooth structure and
placement of new materials may result in a period of adjustment. Your gums may also be sore for several
days. Rinse three times a day with warm salt water (a tsp of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit)
to reduce pain and swelling. Mild pain medication should ease your discomfort during the adjustment
period.

Dont be concerned if your speech is affected for the first few days. Youll quickly adapt and be speaking
normally. You may notice increased salivary flow. Your brain may respond to the new size and shape of
your teeth by increasing salivary flow. This should subside to normal within a week or two.

Daily plaque removal is critical for the long term success of your dental work. Maintain a regular oral
hygiene route. Daily brushing and flossing is a must. Regular cleaning appointments in our office are
also critically important. Well use the appropriate cleaning abrasives and techniques for your specific
cosmetic work.

Its important to change habits to protect your new teeth. Any food that could chip, crack, or damage
your natural teeth can do the same to your new cosmetic restorations. Avoid sticky candies, any
unusually hard foods substances, (such as peanut brittle, fingernails, pencils, or ice). Avoid or minimize
your use of foods that stain such as tea, coffee, red wine and berries. Smoking will quickly yellow your
teeth.

Let us know if you grind your teeth at night or engage in sports so we can make you a custom
mouthguard. Adjusting to the look and feel of your new smile will take time. If you have any problems
or concerns, we always welcome your questions.
To help keep your temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum), hard foods, and if
possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. Its important to continue to brush normally, but
floss very carefully and remove the floss from the side to prevent removal of the temporary crown.

If your bridge feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or you have any other questions or concerns,
please call our office.