Post Procedure Dental Care Instructions

Composite Fillings

Follow these simple tips and tricks after your composite filling.

General measures:

• Feel free to eat and drink normally as soon as the appointment is over
• Brush and floss your filled tooth the same as you would a normal tooth
• Expect sensitivity to cold and biting pressure, especially in the first few weeks
• Seek regular check ups so the doctor can check the status of your filling

Notify your Williams & Daily dentist if:

• You have spontaneous pain that lingers for over 30 minutes
• It feels as if you are hitting the filling first when you bite down

Crowns

Crowns and veneers are convenient ways to restore a malfunctioning tooth. Here’s how to get the most out of your restored tooth.

General measures:

• Do not bite on your new crown for at least an hour after it has been set to let the cement harden
• Brush and floss the crown just like your natural teeth
• Expect sensitivity to foods and liquids, perhaps even for several weeks
• Avoid sticky sweets like taffy, as they may be strong enough to pull the crown off

Notify your Williams & Daily dentist if:

• The crown becomes loose or moves when you bite
• The tooth is sensitive to pressure three days after it is cemented
• Gums become swollen around the new cap

Endodontic (Root Canal) Therapy

Tooth infections are often treated with root canal therapy to control the infection and allow healing. This treatment will save your tooth and avoid the harmful effects of tooth loss. There are, however, critical post-procedure instructions that all patients should follow.

General measures:

• Avoid heavy biting between procedure appointments
• Brush and clean your mouth daily
• Medications: If prescribed an antibiotic during treatment, take the medication exactly as directed on the prescription

Notify your Williams & Daily dentist if:

• There is swelling in the gum around the tooth
• Your body temperature rises above 101 Fahrenheit
• The tooth becomes loose
• You are in so much pain that Aspirin, Tylenol or Ibuproufen do not help

Routine Dental Extraction

When a tooth is no longer supported by the surrounding tissue, or when it is severely damaged or infected beyond repair, your Raleigh dentist may suggest a dental extraction. Though a routine procedure, there are many patient guidelines to be aware of.

General measures:

• Keep mouth closed firmly to maintain the gauze sponge in place to prevent bleeding
• Leave gauze sponges in place for three to four hours, changing them every 30 minutes
• Do not spit
• Apply an ice pack for ten minutes at a time to the cheek where the tooth was extracted from
• DO NOT suck on cigarettes, cigars, pipes or straws for the next 24 hours
• After 24 hours, use a warm salt water mouth rinse to soothe discomfort and to prevent accumulation of food particles. Rinse gently. (1 tsp of table salt in a glass of warm water)
• Diet: Follow a soft or liquid diet for 24 hours or more. Do not drink any alcoholic beverages
• Medications: You may take Aspirin, Tylenol or Ibproufen

Notify your Williams & Daily dentist if:

• Heavy bleeding develops
• Socket bleeding occurs after 18 hours
• You experience severe nagging or “gnawing” pain after 24 hours
• Your oral temperature is greater than 101 Fahrenheit

Traumatic Dental Injury

When a person is hit in the face, the upper front teeth and/or the nose are usually the first structures to be injured. In the event of such an accident, get to your Raleigh dentist and follow these important instructions.

General measures:

• Apply ice packs close to the injured area in 10-20 minute increments for 24 hours
• Do not rinse your month for 24 hours
• Do not place biting pressure on the injured area for several days
• Diet: Follow a soft or liquid diet for 24 hours or more. Gradually work back to your normal diet
• Medication: Take any prescribed medicines according to the instructions on the prescription

Notify your Williams & Daily dentist if:

• There is swelling around any of the treated teeth
• You experience sharp pain more than three days after the accident

Composite Fillings

Follow these simple tips and tricks after your composite filling.

General measures:

• Feel free to eat and drink normally as soon as the appointment is over
• Brush and floss your filled tooth the same as you would a normal tooth
• Expect sensitivity to cold and biting pressure, especially in the first few weeks
• Seek regular check ups so the doctor can check the status of your filling

Notify your Williams & Daily dentist if:

• You have spontaneous pain that lingers for over 30 minutes
• It feels as if you are hitting the filling first when you bite down

Crowns

Crowns and veneers are convenient ways to restore a malfunctioning tooth. Here’s how to get the most out of your restored tooth.

• Do not bite on your new crown for at least an hour after it has been set to let the cement harden
• Brush and floss the crown just like your natural teeth
• Expect sensitivity to foods and liquids, perhaps even for several weeks
• Avoid sticky sweets like taffy, as they may be strong enough to pull the crown off

• The crown becomes loose or moves when you bite
• The tooth is sensitive to pressure three days after it is cemented
• Gums become swollen around the new cap

Endodontic (Root Canal) Therapy

Tooth infections are often treated with root canal therapy to control the infection and allow healing. This treatment will save your tooth and avoid the harmful effects of tooth loss. There are, however, critical post-procedure instructions that all patients should follow.

General measures:

• Avoid heavy biting between procedure appointments
• Brush and clean your mouth daily
• Medications: If prescribed an antibiotic during treatment, take the medication exactly as directed on the prescription

Notify your Williams & Daily dentist if:

• There is swelling in the gum around the tooth
• Your body temperature rises above 101 Fahrenheit
• The tooth becomes loose
• You are in so much pain that Aspirin, Tylenol or Ibuproufen do not help

Routine Dental Extraction

When a tooth is no longer supported by the surrounding tissue, or when it is severely damaged or infected beyond repair, your Raleigh dentist may suggest a dental extraction. Though a routine procedure, there are many patient guidelines to be aware of.

General measures:

• Keep mouth closed firmly to maintain the gauze sponge in place to prevent bleeding
• Leave gauze sponges in place for three to four hours, changing them every 30 minutes
• Do not spit
• Apply an ice pack for ten minutes at a time to the cheek where the tooth was extracted from
• DO NOT suck on cigarettes, cigars, pipes or straws for the next 24 hours
• After 24 hours, use a warm salt water mouth rinse to soothe discomfort and to prevent accumulation of food particles. Rinse gently. (1 tsp of table salt in a glass of warm water)
• Diet: Follow a soft or liquid diet for 24 hours or more. Do not drink any alcoholic beverages
• Medications: You may take Aspirin, Tylenol or Ibproufen

Notify your Williams & Daily dentist if:

• Heavy bleeding develops
• Socket bleeding occurs after 18 hours
• You experience severe nagging or “gnawing” pain after 24 hours
• Your oral temperature is greater than 101 Fahrenheit

Traumatic Dental Injury

When a person is hit in the face, the upper front teeth and/or the nose are usually the first structures to be injured. In the event of such an accident, get to your Raleigh dentist and follow these important instructions.

General measures:

• Apply ice packs close to the injured area in 10-20 minute increments for 24 hours
• Do not rinse your month for 24 hours
• Do not place biting pressure on the injured area for several days
• Diet: Follow a soft or liquid diet for 24 hours or more. Gradually work back to your normal diet
• Medication: Take any prescribed medicines according to the instructions on the prescription

Notify your Williams & Daily dentist if:

• There is swelling around any of the treated teeth
• You experience sharp pain more than three days after the accident