Troy Dentist Post Op Instruct - Advanced cosmetic and family dentistry in a comfortable environment.

Thank you for allowing us to care for you.  If you have any questions regarding the post-op instructions below or need assistance, please call our office.  Our after hours emergency phone number is  816-304-7515.

Crown and Bridge

Today we prepared your tooth for a crown. We will be placing the permanent crown in approximately 2 weeks. At that appointment the temporary crown will be removed, the tooth cleaned and dried, and following some fitting adjustments the crown will be permanently cemented. After today's appointment you may notice some of the following:

• You've had a local anesthetic. It will likely last 2 to 4 hours. When it begins to go away, you will experience a tingling or prickly sensation followed by return of feeling. Occasionally patients report soreness at the area of injection. This usually subsides within 24 hours. Rinsing with warm salt water will help. Mix ½ tsp. of salt in an 8 oz. glass of body temperature water.

• The temporary crown is used to protect from food and mouth fluids while the permanent crown is being made. It may feel bulky or rough because it is not custom made for your tooth. Rarely does a temporary crown comes off, but if it should come loose or come out, replace it on the tooth and contact us immediately so that we can re-cement it. The permanent crown will feel like a normal tooth and you will hardly know it is there.

• You may find some small pieces of temporary cement that have come loose from around the crown. Do not be concerned as this is normal.

• A temporary crown is made so we can easily remove it when we place your permanent crown. Please avoid sticky foods, gum or hard or crunchy foods. You may eat on it; just use good judgment.

• The tooth may be sensitive to cold or sweet, but this usually subsides when the permanent crown is placed.
  
  We know dental procedures are not an every day event for you and we want to share our experience with you. We feel that if you know what to expect following your treatment, it will not seem so strange and hopefully you will feel more at ease. If at anytime your feel you are having any difficulty, or have any questions, please contact us. We have 24 hour phone service every day.

What you should do following Extractions and other Oral Surgery Procedures

A certain amount of bleeding, pain and swelling is normal.

Reduce your activity as much as possible for several hours. Avoid eating, drinking, and unnecessary talking. Do not rinse mouth or brush teeth. These activities may hinder formation of a blood clot which is necessary for proper healing.

Do not be alarmed if your vision is blurred for a time following anesthesia or if a "black and blue' bruise should appear at the site of an injection.

Follow the simple instructions below to minimize complications and help ensure prompt recovery:

To control bleeding

Immediately following procedure…keep steady pressure on the bleeding area by biting firmly on the gauze pad placed there by your doctor. Pressure helps reduce bleeding and permits formation of a clot in the tooth socket. Gently remove the compress and replace it with a fresh, folded gauze pad every one-half hour, or as needed.

After 24 hours---continue to take your medication if pain persists, and use an ice bag if needed.

To relieve pain

Immediately following procedure…begin taking medication as directed by your doctor to minimize discomfort when the anesthesia wears off. Application of an ice bag can also help relieve discomfort.

After 24 hours… continue to take your medication if pain persists, and use an ice bag if needed.

To minimize swelling

Immediately following procedure…apply an ice bag over the affected area. Use 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off to help prevent development of excessive swelling and discomfort. If an ice bag is unavailable, simply fill a heavy plastic bag with crushed ice. Tie end securely, and cove with a soft cloth to avoid skin irritation.

After 24 hours…it should not be necessary to continue with cold applications.


Special Considerations:

Some patients are prone to painful "dry sockets" after extractions, a condition that results from improper clotting at the extraction site. To reduce the chance of this, follow these tips:

1.  Avoid hot foods. Cool or cold foods are recommended.
2.  Avoid carbonated beverages.
3.  Do not drink through a straw.
4.  If you are a smoker, be sure to cover the socket with a folded gauze pad, biting firmly on it while you smoke.

Oral hygiene is important

Eight hours after bleeding has stopped, rinse mouth gently with a solution of one-half teaspoonful of salt dissolved in a glass of lukewarm water. Repeat every two or three hours for several days. Rinsing is important because it removes food particles and debris from the socket area and thus helps prevent infection and promote healing.

Resume your regular habits of oral hygiene, but avoid disturbing the surgical site so as not to loosen or remove the blood clot.

Maintain a proper diet

Have your meals at the usual time. Eat soft, nutritious foods and drink plenty of liquids – with meals and in between. Have what you wish, but be careful not to disturb the blood clot. Add solid foods to your diet as soon as they are comfortable to chew.

In case of problems

You should experience no trouble if you follow the instructions and suggestions as outlined.

But if you should have any problems such as excessive bleeding, pain, or difficulty in opening your mouth, call your doctor immediately for further instructions or additional treatment.

Remember your follow-up visit

It is often advisable to return for a post operative visit to make certain healing is progressing satisfactorily. A follow up visit will be suggested if necessary.

In the meantime, maintain a healthful diet, observe rules for proper oral hygiene, and visit your dentist for regular checkups.

Root Canal

You've just had a root canal treatment. While root canals are one of the most successful treatments in dentistry, occasionally experience some of the following symptoms after treatment

• You've had a local anesthetic. It will likely last 2 to 4 hours. When it begins to go away, you will experience a tingling or prickly sensation followed by return of feeling. Occasionally patients report soreness at the area of the injection. This usually subsides within 24 hours. Rinsing with warm salt water will help, Mix ½ tsp. Of salt in an 8 oz. glass of body temperature water.

• Due to the rubber dam clip, some patients report some soreness at the gum line of the tooth. This usually goes away the following day. Rinsing with salt water will help.

• Usually, following root canal treatment, the tooth contains a temporary seal or treatment fillingmade of soft cement. It would not be advisable to chew hard, crunchy or tough food on the tooth or extremely sticky foods such as caramels until after the placement of the final restoration. If part of the treatment restoration should chip off, do not be concerned because this occurs frequently, however, if all of the treatment restoration should come out, please contact us so we can replace it for you.

• Occasionally patients will report that the tooth hurts when they bite down. Most of the time, this is due to irritation of the tissues at the tip of the root caused by the root canal instruments passing through the tip of the root during treatment or some of the root canal sealant being expressed through the tip of the root. This will go away in 48 to 72 hours. If it doesn't, call us. Following root canal treatment, the tooth will need to be repaired, usually with a crown to prevent it from breaking. Teeth with root canals are more brittle and require stronger restorations.

If you experience any pain or swelling 24-48 hours following your dental treatment, please call us, because you may need and antibiotic.

We know dental procedures are not an every day event for you and we want to share our experience with you. We feel that if you know what to expect following your treatment, it will not seem so strange and hopefully you will feel more at ease. If at anytime your feel you are having any difficulty, or have any questions, please contact us. We have 24 hour phone service every day.



Scaling and Root Planing

You're scheduled for the first of your periodontal treatments soon. In your periodontal evaluation, we measured the "pockets" around the affected teeth with a probe to determine how far along bacterial infection has progressed. We found you're pretty much on the safe side – meaning we can stabilize the disease with treatment.

Now we're going after that bacteria. Here's how:

Scaling and root planning are something like routine cleaning. But we reach further beneath the gum line to clear away the toxins causing inflammation. Under local anesthetic, we remove plaque and calculus (tartar) deposits, and then smooth the root surface of each tooth to encourage re-attachment of the gum tissue. These simple procedures go a long way to eliminate the source of gum problems. Deeper pockets may require additional surgical care to thoroughly clean away infected tissue and repair the damaged jawbone.

After that, it's your turn. We'll take time with you to explain how to maintain tissue health at home. Home care – more than anything else – is the key to successful periodontal therapy.

Your visit should take about one hour. Then give yourself a pat on the back. You're heading off periodontal disease – and saving your teeth.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact our on-call staff member @ Emergency #816-304-7515.