Post Operation Instructions

Crowns

• If a temporary crown breaks or comes off, put it back on the tooth with denture adhesive from the drugstore and call us for an appointment. It is important to put the temporary onto the tooth so that your permanent crown fits correctly. Do not floss a tooth with a temporary crown.
• A temporary is just that—temporary—and is not the same size, shape and color of the final crown.
• Your temporary may be sensitive to hot, cold, pressure or sweets. Temporary restorations may leak saliva or food onto the tooth. If you feel your bite is not balanced, please call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.

Permanent Crowns

• It may take a few days to get used to the new crown or bridge. Your tooth may be sensitive to hot and cold for a few weeks. If your bite doesn’t feel balanced, please call us for an appointment.
• Avoid chewing hard or sticky foods on the new crown for about 24 hours.
• Daily brushing and flossing and regular cleanings help keep the tooth under a crown healthy. Regular checkups mean that decay can be caught and corrected early.

Dentures and Partials

• If you have a few sore spots in your mouth after wearing your denture or partial, please let us know. We can relieve this pressure during your next appointment.
• It may take a few weeks until your new bite feels completely comfortable. We can adjust your bite after your dentures or partial have settled into place.
• Clean your dentures or partial with a denture brush and toothpaste, and soak them in a denture cleanser periodically. We also recommend soaking partials in water at night. You may want to brush your gums daily to clean them. If you have a partial, take extra care to clean both the partial and your natural teeth daily to reduce the chance of decay.

Root Canals

If you have had a root canal, your tooth may be sensitive to hot, cold or pressure. Please call our office for an appointment if you experience swelling after a root canal. If the tooth with the root canal feels higher than others when you bite your teeth together, please call us for an appointment for a simple adjustment. A “high” bite can make the tooth sensitive for a longer period of time. If you have a temporary filling, please eat carefully until the final restoration is placed. The gums around the tooth and the injection site may be sore for a few days. After a tooth has a root canal, it becomes brittle and can break easily. If it breaks it has to be removed. To prevent this problem, your dentist will recommend a full coverage crown over the tooth to protect it.

Veneers

• You will have temporaries for a short time while your permanent veneers are being made. Temporaries are attached only slightly to the underlying teeth and can be removed easily.
• If a temporary comes off, call us for an appointment to replace it immediately. If you can’t come in immediately, put the temporary in place with a denture adhesive from the drugstore and see us as soon as possible.
• Temporaries are not the same size, shape and color of the permanent veneers.
• Your teeth may be sensitive to hot, cold, sweets and pressure. You also may notice some stains under temporaries. These stain will be removed before your permanent veneers are placed.
• Brush your temporary veneers gently and do not floss them as they may come off.
• As with regular teeth, avoid chewing very hard food, such as hard candy and ice, because a veneer can break under extreme force.
• Brushing, flossing and regular cleanings are essential for the stability and appearance of your veneers. Regular checkups mean that any potential problems can be found early and repaired easily.
• Your gums may recede from the veneers and show discolored teeth underneath. Usually this occurs after many years and requires veneer replacement.