Adjusting to Your New Bite: Please remember that it's completely normal for your bite to feel different initially. When your bite is altered or the position of your teeth changes, it can take several days for your brain to adapt to the new alignment and thickness. If you continue to notice any bite issues after this adjustment period, please contact our office so we can schedule a fine-tuning appointment.
Post-Treatment Sensitivities and Soreness: Some sensitivity to hot and cold is perfectly normal as your teeth heal after the procedure. Your gums may also be tender for a few days. Rinsing gently with warm salt water (one teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) three times a day can help reduce discomfort and swelling. Over-the-counter pain relief such as Tylenol or ibuprofen (Motrin), taken as directed (one tablet every 3-4 hours), should alleviate any lingering soreness.
Speech and Salivation: Don't worry if your speech sounds slightly different in the first few days; you'll quickly adjust. You might also notice increased saliva production as your mouth gets used to the new contours of your teeth. This should return to normal within about a week.
Maintaining Your New Smile: Consistent daily brushing and flossing are essential for the longevity of your new dental work. Removing plaque daily is crucial, as are your regular professional cleaning appointments.
Dietary Considerations: Just like natural teeth, your new dental work can be damaged by hard or sticky foods. Please avoid hard candies, peanut brittle, ice, fingernail biting, pencils, and sticky candies. Smoking will stain your new teeth, and it's best to minimize or avoid staining foods and drinks like coffee, red wine, tea, and berries.
Protecting Your Investment: If you participate in high-impact sports or grind your teeth at night, please inform us so we can discuss creating a custom-fitted mouthguard for protection. Adjusting to the look and feel of your new smile takes time, so be patient with yourself. If you have any questions or concerns at any point, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're always happy to help.
Crown and Bridge Appointments: Your crown or bridge will likely require two to three visits. The first appointment involves tooth preparation and taking impressions. Temporary crowns or bridges will be placed for protection. You will experience numbness of the tongue, lips, and roof of your mouth due to anesthesia, so please avoid eating and hot drinks until it wears off.
Caring for Your Temporary: Avoid sticky and hard foods to keep your temporary in place. Chew on the opposite side if possible. Brush normally, but floss carefully by sliding the floss out from the side, not pulling up.
Loose Temporaries: If your temporary comes off, call us and bring it with you for re-cementation. Keeping the temporary in place is important for the fit of your final restoration.
Post-Procedure Sensitivity: Expect some temperature and pressure sensitivity after each appointment. This should improve a few weeks after your final crown or bridge is placed. Use mild pain medication as directed.
Caring for Your Extraction Site: Following your tooth extraction, allowing a blood clot to form is crucial for proper healing and to stop bleeding. Please bite firmly on the provided gauze pad for 30-45 minutes immediately after your appointment. If you notice continued bleeding or oozing, replace the gauze with a fresh pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. Repeat this process as needed.
Protecting the Blood Clot: Once a blood clot has formed, it's vital not to disturb it, as it plays a key role in healing. For the next 72 hours, avoid vigorous rinsing, sucking on straws, smoking, drinking alcohol, and brushing the teeth directly next to the extraction site. These actions can dislodge or dissolve the clot and slow down the healing process. Please also limit strenuous exercise for the next 24 hours, as this can elevate blood pressure and potentially cause more bleeding.
Managing Pain and Swelling: It's normal to experience some pain and swelling after your tooth is extracted. Applying an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas or corn to the outside of your face in the area of the extraction can help minimize swelling. Take any prescribed pain medication as directed. Typically, swelling will begin to subside after about 48 hours.
Medications and Diet: Take your prescribed pain medication exactly as instructed. If it doesn't seem to be providing relief, please call our office. If you have been prescribed antibiotics, be sure to complete the entire course, even if you start feeling better. On the day of your extraction, focus on drinking plenty of fluids and eating soft, nutritious foods. You can gradually return to your normal diet as you feel comfortable.
Resuming Oral Hygiene: After the first 24 hours, it's important to gently resume your regular dental routine, including brushing and flossing at least once a day, being careful around the extraction site. This will help promote healing and keep your mouth clean and fresh
When to Contact Us: You should start feeling much better after a few days and be able to resume your normal activities. However, if you experience heavy bleeding, severe pain, swelling that continues or worsens after 2-3 days, or any reaction to your medication, please call our office immediately at (817) 473-0291.
A Note About Anesthesia: If anesthesia was administered, your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours post-appointment. To prevent accidental biting or burning, please avoid all chewing and hot liquids until the numbness has completely resolved.
Managing Post-Treatment Sensitivities: It's typical to experience some sensitivity to temperature and pressure after your dental work. Injection sites may also be tender. Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen (Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or aspirin (one tablet every 3-4 hours as needed) can help. Please contact our office if pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if your sensitivity to hot or cold increases.
Eating with Composite Fillings: You can resume normal chewing on your composite fillings immediately once the effects of any anesthesia have completely worn off. They are fully set when you leave our care.
Please call our practice to schedule your consultation at (817) 473-0291
Dental Implants, Root Canals, Sedation Dentistry, Tooth Extractions, Porcelain Veneers, Crowns, Dentures, Bridges, Nitrous Oxide, Teeth Whitening, Inlays & Onlays, Bonding, Fillings / Restorations, Dental Sealants, Invisalign®, Sleep and Snoring Issues
Mansfield Family Dentistry serves the Texas communities of Mansfield TX, South Arlington TX, Watsonville TX, Kennedale TX, Sublett TX, Britton TX, Venus TX, Midlothian TX, Irving TX, Grand Prairie TX, Haltom City TX, Bedford TX, Burleson TX and the Greater Arlington TX Area
