Post Op Instructions

Post Op Dental Hygiene Instructions

Oral Hygiene:

Rinse Gently
Brush

Floss:

Other Acids

Possible Complications:

Bleeding:
Normal: Pink saliva 1-2 days from area scaled when you brush teeth or rinse out. You may also notice small blood clots between teeth. Do not remove these small blood clots or rinse vigorously. Abnormal: If you notice, large blood clots, heavy or light continuous bleeding which last through the night and until the next morning. Please call the office 714-842-5593.

Discomfort:
Tissue Soreness: You may have some tissue soreness in the area scaled for approximately 1-3 days. This will subside with good oral hygiene. Root Sensitivity: You may experience root sensitivity along the gum line on areas that have been scaled. Cold sensitivity is the most common symptom. With good oral hygiene, professional and home fluoride, these symptoms will subside.

Tooth Mobility (Looseness):
If you have lost a significant amount of bone around one or several teeth due to periodontal disease, you may experience some increased tooth mobility after your treatment here. The reason for increased mobility after scaling is due to extra stress that was placed on the tissue fibers that help hold the tooth in place. This will decrease dramatically as you heal and your homecare improves.

Recession:
If your gum tissues were very inflamed before treatment, you may notice some shrinkage and a return to health as you continue your homecare regimen.

Abscess Formation:
If you noticed a localized, tender swelling in any area of the mouth along the gum line, you may have an abscess forming. Please call the office 714-842-5593.

Diet:
Avoid hard, sharp or highly spiced foods for 24 hours after treatment.

Crowns and Bridges

You have just had some crowns or fixed bridges cemented onto your teeth. They will replace your missing tooth structure or missing teeth and should give you years of service if you observe the following suggestions:

CHEWING:
Do not chew hard foods on the restorations for 24 hours after they were cemented. The cement should mature for about 24 hours to have optimum strength.

RECALLS:
Visit us at your regular hygiene period. Often any problems that are developing around restorations can be found at an early stage and corrected easily. Waiting for a longer time, may result in redoing the entire restoration. We will notify you of your recall appointment.

SENSITIVITY:
You may experience mild sensitivity to hot or cold foods. It will disappear gradually over a few weeks.

AGRESSIVE CHEWING:
Do not chew ice or very hard objects. Avoid chewing very sticky or "hard tack" candy because it can remove the restorations.

PREVENTIVE PROCEDURES:
To provide optimum longevity for your restorations and prevent future dental decay and supporting tissue breakdown, please use the following preventive procedures that are checked.

Brush and floss after eating and before bedtime.
Brush with 1.1% Sodium Fluoride toothpaste dispensed by us or by prescription.
Use a 0.4% stannous fluoride gel after brushing and before bedtime.
Use bridge cleaners as advised by us.

Problems: IF ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS OCCURS, CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID FURTHER PROBLEMS.

A feeling of movement or looseness in the restoration.
Sensitivity to sweet foods.
A peculiar taste from the restoration site.
Breakage of a piece of material from the restoration.
Sensitivity to pressure.

We have done our best to provide you with the fines quality restoration available. However, as with a fine automobile or watch, only your continuing care and concern can assure optimum service longevity.

OCCLUSAL Guard (Night Guard)

Every effort has been made to provide you with the most comfortable therapeutic dental appliance to meet your specific treatment objectives. Proper care and maintenance by you at home will help insure that the appliance will continue to function properly and minimize any deterioration of its excellent qualities.

Never allow the appliance near high temperatures nor allow prolonged dehydration.
When the appliance is in regular use, allow it to air dry after cleaning until the next use. If the appliance will not be worn for periods of time exceeding one week, it would be stored in a humidor. A seal able Tupperware type container with a wet paper towel is suitable.
Soften the appliance under warm tap water prior to placement.
Harden the appliance under cold tap water prior to cleaning using a soft brush if necessary to remove debris.
If mineral deposits or discoloration appear, or you have difficulty keeping the appliance clean, contact your dentist whose laboratory can provide the appropriate cleanser.
In normal use, the appearance of the retentive portion may vary from crystal clear to mildly opaque.
If you notice any changes in your symptoms, appearance of y our mouth or gums, or changes in the appliance itself, contact your dentist.
Removal of the appliance is best accomplished by using equal pull on both sides of your mouth. This will minimize the chance of damage to the resilient portion of the appliance.

Post-Oral Surgery Instructions

First Hour: Make sure that the gauze remains in place and maintain pressure as you were instructed.

Apply Cold Packs: Apply ice ina small plastic bag to your cheek in the area of surgery. A better alternative to ice is the use of bags of frozen peas - they can be better adapted to your cheek to keep the area cold. Buy extra bags so they can be refrozen while the others are in use. Apply for 20 minutes and then remove for 20 mintues. Repeat this prcedure until bedtime. Continue this procedure in the mjorning until 24 hours have passed since your surgery.

Rinse: Starting 24 hours after surgery rinse 4 to 6 times a day with warm salt water (dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a 8-ounce glass of warm water). A diluted solution of Chloraseptic mouthwash may be used if you prefer. This should be continued for 4 to 5 days.

First 3 Days: Suck on ice chips or crushed ice. This things the saliva and keeps the surgery site cold. Rest as much as possible.

Nausea: If you experience any nausea, take one ounce of a carbonated drink every hour for 5 or 6 hours. Then drink mild tea, clear broth and soft foods before resuming your regular diet.

Bleeding: A little bleeding or oozing is normal. If bleeding continues after you have removed the gauze, it can be controlled with simple pressure. Apply gauze to the wound area that is thick enough to apply light pressure when the mouth is closed. Do this for 20-30 minutes and repeat if necessary. If you have persistent bleeding, bite on a moistened tea bag for 20 minutes. Apply an ice bag to the cheek and lie down with your head elevated on 2-3 pillows.

Swelling: A certain amount of swelling is to be expected but it will be minimized by following the above instructions. After 24 hours apply heat to the outside of your face using a warm, moist dressing. DO NOT use heat continuously--only 20 minutes out of every hour.

Sharp Edges: If you feel something hard when you place your tongue on the surgical site, you may think it is part of the tooth. This is the hard bony wall that originally supported the tooth. Leave it alone and it will heal nicely.

Diet: A nutritionally balanced diet is very important. During the first 24 hours eat soups and soft foods that are easily chewed and swallowed. Meats, vegetables, and fresh fruits can be liquefied in a blender. Gradually progress to solid food...DON'T SKIP MEALS.... If you take nourishment regularly, you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort and heal faster. Take any prescribed food supplement as directed. If you are a diabetic, maintain your normal diet and take medication as usual.

Medications: Continue to take any medication that you normally take and BE SURE to take regularly any medication that has been prescribed for you. Pain medication may sometimes cause nausea and if this occurs discontinue taking it or take it after having eaten.

IF YOU HAVE ANY DISCOMFORT OR PROBLEMS THAT CONCERN YOU, BE SURE TO CALL THE OFFICE AT 714-842-5593

Tooth Colored Restoration

Diagnosis - During the preliminary examination, the dentist checks the location of the blood vessels, nerves and air pockets in the jaw. Based on the results of a panoramic X-ray or CT, the dentist decides on the most suitable implant, its length, width and location in the jaw.

Chewing: As with unrestored natural teeth, avoid chewing excessively hard foods on the restored teeth (hard candy, ice, bones, popcorn kernels, etc.) because the resin material can be broken from the tooth with extreme force. In the event that a breakage occurs, replacement of a restoration is not difficult. Natural teeth can be broken also with similar forces.

Recalls: Visit us at your regular examination period. Often small problems that may be developing around the restorations can be detected at an early stage and repaired easily. Waiting for a longer time may require redoing the entire restoration. We will contact you when it is time for your recall appointment.

Preventive Procedures: ITo provide optimum longevity for your restorations and prevent future dental decay and supporting tissue breakdown, please use the following procedures.

Brush and floss in the morning, after eating, and before bedtime.
Brush with 1.1% Sodium fluoride toothpaste dispensed by us or by perscription.
Use a 0.4% stannous fluoride gel after brusing....before bedtime.

The Future: We expect that you will receive several years of service from these resotration. However, some unavoidable situations may oocur, which may require restoration replacement at a future time:

Depending on the foods you eat and other factors, there may be a slight change in color of the restoration over a period of years. If the color becomes objectionable to you, they can be replaced.
Some restorations may demonstrate slight stains at locations around the edges. Please tell us if this occurs.
If you had veneers placed on your upper front teeth, after a period of time the gums (gingiva) may recede from the veneers, displaying discolored tooth structure underneath. This usually takes place over several years and may require replacement.

We have done our best to provide you with the finest quality oral restorations available today. However, as with a fine automobile or watch, only your continuing care and concern can assure optimum service longevity.

Scaling and Root Planing

Periodontal disease (also known as gum disease or pyorrhea) is an infection of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in place. It is often painless and you may not be aware that you have a problem until your gums and the supporting bone are seriously damaged. The good news is that periodontal disease can be treated in the early stage with scaling and root planing.

During a checkup, the dentist and hygienist examine your gums for periodontal problems. An instrument called a periodontal probe is used to measure the depth (in millimeters) of the spaces between your teeth and gums. At the edge of the gum line, healthy gum tissue forms a very shallow, V-shaped groove (called the sulcus) between the tooth and gums. The normal sulcus depth should be 3 millimeters or less. With periodontal disease, the sulcus develops into a pocket that collects more plaque (bacteria) and is difficult to keep clean. If gum disease is diagnosed, your dentist may provide treatment or you may be referred to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of periodontal disease. Treatment often depends on how far the condition has progressed and how well your body responds to therapy.

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention includes a good daily oral hygiene routine. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth once a day with floss or another interdental cleaner help prevent plaque from forming. Regular dental checkups and cleanings are important. Scaling and root planning (commonly referred to as “deep cleaning” is a method of treating periodontal disease when pockets are greater than 3mm. Scaling is used to remove plaque and tartar (calcified plaque) beneath the gum line. A local anesthetic may be given to reduce any discomfort. Using an instrument called a scaler or ultrasonic cleaner, the dentist or hygienist carefully removes the plaque and tartar down to the bottom of each periodontal pocket. The tooth’s root surfaces then are smoothed or planed; this allows the gum tissue to heal. The smoother surfaces also make it more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces. Your dentist may recommend, prescribe and administer medications to helcontrol infection and pain or to facilitate healing. At a follow-up you appointment, the dentist or hygienist checks how the gums have healed and how the periodontal pockets have decreased. When pockets greater than 3mm persist after treatment, additional measures, such as surgical therapy may be needed. You’ll be given instructions on how to care for your healing teeth and gums. Maintaining good oral hygiene and continued, sometimes lifelong, follow-up by your dentist are essential to help prevent periodontal disease from becoming more serious or recurring.

Patients Instructions Follwoing Scaling and Root Planing

Your oral hygiene will determine the type of healing response that occurs in your mouth. On the day of scaling and root planing, gently brush around the gum line. Start flossing the day after the procedure is done. Tenderness when brushing and flossing may last for several days. Thorough plaque removal must be accomplished and will help reduce tenderness and sensitivity. Maintaining an adequate diet is essential to ensure proper healing. There is no restriction regarding diet, but be careful of foods that can get lodged between the gums and tooth (i.e. popcorn, nuts, chips, etc.) Smoking and the heat it produces can irritate the gums, retarding the healing response. It is advisable to not smoke for a few days following the scaling and root planning in order to insure proper healing. The majority of patients experience an uneventful post-operative healing period, yet please be aware of the following potential side-effects.

Bleeding: Slight bleedinga nd tissue irritation following hte procedure for the first few days is not unusual.
Tooth Sensitivity: varying degrees of root sensitivity following the scaling and root planing can occur. This can result from exposure to cold and or hot air and liquids, sweet, salty, spicy and or acidic foods, as well as mechanically from brushing and flossing. In most individuals this sensitivity will last a few weeks before gradually subsiding.
Gum sensitivity: discomfort following scaling and root planing varies from patient to patient. Usually ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Advil, Motrin, Tylenol) taken as directed will relieve any discomfort. Warm salt water rinses (1 tsp. salt to 8 ounces water) every 6 hours for the first few day will aid in healing irritated areas.