Dental After-Care Instructions

Crowns and bridges may take one to three visits to complete. The dentist will explain your treatment options and how long the procedure will take.

• You may have some sensitivity, with tenderness around the gum and tooth, for a day or two. If it lasts longer, please call our office.
• If anesthesia was used, avoid chewing, biting and eating until the numbness wears off.
• With a temporary in place, eat softer foods and avoid anything particularly crunchy, chewy or hard. If a temporary becomes loose or breaks, call us right away.
• Clean carefully around the restoration, brushing and flossing daily. To avoid loosening a temporary, slide the floss out from one end instead of pulling it up.
• Once your final restoration is placed, avoid hard, crunchy or sticky foods for 24 hours so the cement can fully bond.
• Mild sensitivity to hot or cold is normal and should fade after a few weeks. If it lasts more than six weeks, please let us know.

For ongoing care, brush after meals and snacks, floss at least once a day before bed, and rinse with water or mouthwash. Please call us if you're in pain or have questions.

• Don't eat or chew until any numbness from anesthesia has worn off.
• If you're supervising a child who had treatment, make sure they don't eat, chew, or bite their lips or tongue while numb, since this can injure the soft tissue.
• Avoid sticky, crunchy or hard foods for 24 hours.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold, and any soreness, shouldn't last more than a few days.

Please call our office if you have pain or discomfort for more than a few days.

• You may have some discomfort for a few days after receiving your new dentures or partials. They often need several adjustments to fit comfortably.
• Reading aloud for a little while each day can help you get used to speaking with them.
• Remove your dentures for at least 6 hours a day, such as overnight, so your mouth and gums can rest. Clean them and store them in a clean container with denture cleaning solution.
• Food can get trapped under dentures and cause sore spots. After removing them, gently brush the roof of your mouth, your tongue and your gums.
• Brush your teeth and surrounding tissues after meals and snacks, and floss daily if you have natural teeth. If you have full dentures, brushing them is very important.

Visit us at least once a year so the doctor can check and adjust your dentures or partial. Ill-fitting dentures can lead to bone loss and other oral problems, so please call us at the first sign of ongoing pain or discomfort.

Thank you for choosing us for your root canal therapy. Please follow these guidelines and contact us with any questions.

• Don't eat or drink for 30 minutes. Your temporary filling takes about half an hour to harden. Try not to feel the tooth with your tongue.
• If a prescription was given, have it filled promptly. If not, and you're not allergic, you may use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed by Dr. Chittamuri or the label. Don't exceed the label directions. If you can't get your pain under control, please call our office.
• An ice pack may help. Keep a cloth between the ice and your skin, and use it up to 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, for the next 6–8 hours as needed.
• Avoid chewing or biting on the treated tooth until your permanent restoration is placed. The temporary is soft and can crack on hard foods like nuts, pretzels, hard candy or ice.
• Keep the area clean with gentle brushing and regular flossing.
• Some discomfort is normal for 2 to 4 days after treatment. In some cases, the tooth and surrounding area may be sore for a few weeks.

• Keep the gauze pad over the area and bite down firmly until the bleeding stops. Some bleeding, oozing or redness in your saliva is normal. Repeat as needed within the first hour.
• If you were prescribed pain medication other than over-the-counter pain relievers, don't drive, operate machinery or do anything unsafe while groggy. Take all medication as directed and not on an empty stomach. If you were prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed.
• Swelling around the face and treated area is common and may peak two to three days after surgery. Apply a cold compress near the area, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off. After 36 hours, ice no longer helps; moist heat on the side of the face can reduce swelling after that.
• For 24 hours, don't use a straw, brush, rinse, spit or smoke. Avoid hot and spicy foods and carbonated or alcoholic drinks.
• For the first few days, stick to liquids and soft foods like soup, yogurt, juice and smoothies. Take it easy on the day of surgery and return to normal activity the next day as tolerated.
• After the first day, gently rinse with warm salt water (about ½ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water) three times a day.
• Supervise children after an extraction so they don't bite their tongue or lips.

Please call our office if you have severe pain, excessive bleeding or swelling, or any questions. For a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Dental implants are placed by our partner specialist and restored by Dr. Chittamuri. Please follow any instructions your surgeon gives you, along with these general guidelines.

• Some pain, bleeding, swelling and oozing are normal after oral surgery. A cold compress on your face near the surgical site on the day of surgery can help reduce pain and swelling.
• Don't miss your follow-up appointments, and don't touch the area with your tongue or fingers.
• Avoid brushing near the surgical site, but brush and floss the rest of your mouth as instructed.
• You may take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed on the label or by your doctor.
• For the first 24 hours: don't brush, rinse or spit near the site, don't use a straw, avoid vigorous exercise, and avoid very hot or spicy foods until the numbness wears off. Some hot and cold sensitivity is normal.
• Don't drink alcohol or smoke for at least 48 hours.
• For the first few days, eat liquids and soft foods like soup, yogurt, juice and smoothies. After the first day, a warm salt water rinse (½ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water) three times a day can help.
• Take all medications as prescribed, including any antibiotics.

If you have excessive bleeding or discomfort after 48–72 hours, please call us right away. Learn more about dental implants.