Home Care
Instructions

After Crown and Bridge Appointments

Crowns and bridges 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. 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 at 817.625.1548 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 don’t pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary but 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.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at 817.625.1548.

After Root Canals

It is normal to experience soreness for 2 to 3 days following root canal treatment. Ibuprofen or Tylenol (one tablet every 4 hours as needed) usually will alleviate any discomfort. Rinsing the area with 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water is often times helpful.

The tooth opening through which root canal treatment was done, has been sealed with a temporary filling. It is advised to be cautious with crunchy or sticky foods until the tooth has been restored permanently by Drs. Brown and Brown.

Following root canal therapy, usually the treated tooth has been weakened by previous decay and fillings. In most situations, it is necessary for this tooth to receive additional protection in the form of a crown. Drs. Brown and Brown will guide you and provide additional information on how to properly restore your tooth.

If any questions or difficulties arise concerning your treatment, please do not hesitate to call our office at 817.625.1548.

After Periodontal Therapy

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 recommended that you take Ibuprofen or Tylenol (one tablet every 4 hours as needed) before the anesthetic completely wears off. This will help will help with any swelling or pain.

Following periodontal therapy, it is not unusual for the teeth to be sensitive to hot or cold temperatures. Brushing, 2 to 3 times daily, with toothpaste for sensitive teeth or using flouride gel will help alleviate this sensitivity.

After treatment, use a warm salt water solution (1/2 teaspoon of salt to a warm glass of water), 3-4 times daily, for 1 to 3 days to help with the discomfort.

If a localized antibiotic (Arestin) was placed, please follow all additional instructions given to you at your appointment.

Consistent and thorough daily oral hygiene is essential to the proper healing of your gum tissue. Brushing, flossing and rinsing with recommended products are critical. Drs. Brown and Brown may suggest the use of Listerine or Peridex (Chlorhexidine) to aid in the healing process.

Once periodontal therapy is completed, the maintenance appointments are essential for adequate and proper maintenance of periodontal disease. When appointments are not kept, it contributes to the progression of periodontal disease.

After Restorative Fillings

COMPOSITES / 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 or Tylenol (one tablet every 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 at 817.625.1548.

You may chew with your composite fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off, since they are fully set when you leave the 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 817.625.1548.

AMALGAM 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), or Tylenol (one tablet every 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 at 817.625.1548.

You MAY NOT CHEW with your amalgam fillings for approximately eight (8) hours.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at 817.625.1548.

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, 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 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.

Use the pain medication as directed. Call the office at 817.625.1548 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. After the bleeding has stopped, you may drink fluids and eat nutritious soft foods. 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 817.625.1548.

After Dentures

Following the initial placement of your denture, you may feel that it is bulky. This feeling occurs because the mouth must become adjusted to the presence of a foreign object. After the tissues adapt, the sensation of bulkiness should disappear.

At the beginning, Drs. Brown and Brown will ask you to wear your denture for long enough periods of time to identify areas of the denture that need to be adjusted. It is not uncommon for the denture to exert too much pressure on a particular area of your mouth causing a sore spot. When this occurs, contact our office at 817.625.1548 so that Drs. Brown and Brown can adjust the denture so that you are more comfortable.

When you first receive your denture, practice inserting and removing it. Remember that the denture was designed to fit into your mouth easily. Never force it into position by biting down on it, which may bend or break the denture.

Your denture will not function as well as your natural teeth. Be careful to chew on both sides of your mouth to help maintain the balance of the denture. While you are getting used to the denture, eat small pieces of food and chew slowly. Avoid sticky, hard or course foods until chewing is comfortable. You may find that many types of chewing gum and some kinds of food stick to your denture.

It may be difficult for you to pronounce certain sounds when you first start wearing a denture. Sometimes when you try to speak, the actions of the muscles of the tongue, cheeks and lips will move the denture. With practice, however, you will soon learn how to keep the denture in place while using these same muscles. You will find that your speech improves daily, especially if you practice reading aloud.

Do not handle your denture carelessly. Most damage to dentures occurs when they are out of the mouth. When cleaning or inserting your denture, hold it securely over a towel or basin filled with water. This will protect it in case you accidentally drop it.

For a healthy mouth and good breath, you must remove plaque and food deposits from your denture daily. Before cleaning your denture, take it out of your mouth and rinse it well to remove any loose debris. Next, apply a denture cleaning paste to a moistened brush and clean all surfaces of the denture. Many special cleaning agents are available. Some people prefer to use hand soap. Scrubbing too hard can damage the plastic parts of the denture or bend its metal clasps. When you take out your denture at night, place it in a container of denture cleaning solution or water. Keep the container holding your denture out of the reach of children or pets.

You can wear a denture successfully if you take the time to become adjusted to the denture and maintain proper oral health.