Sierra Dental Office Green Bay, WI Sierra Dental Office Green Bay, WI

Post Op Instructions

Post Scaling and Root Planing Instructions
Root Canel Pre-op
Root Canal Post Op
Silver Filling
Tooth Colored Filling
Equilibration
Temporary Crown or Bridge Work

Post Scaling and Root Planing Instructions

Please read and follow these procedures. They will make you more comfortable and prevent any possible complications.

ANESTHETIC: Numbness will remain for a few to several hours. Drinking may be difficult due to the loss of feeling. Avoid eating until feeling returns to avoid injuring your lip, tongue or cheeks.

BLEEDING: Slight bleeding is natural at this stage of healing. Do not let it alarm you. Apply pressure with gauze or a wet tea bag for 3 minutes.

DISCOMFORT: Ibuprofen or Tylenol is normally sufficient for any discomfort. Do not take aspirin, unless directed by your physician, as it may increase bleeding or prolong healing time.

SWELLING: Swelling or jaw stiffness occur very rarely. However, if it does occur, place warm moist towels to the face in the area of stiffness.

RINSING: Rinse your mouth 2-3 times per day with warm salt water. Mix one teaspoon of salt/8 oz water. Rinse several times daily until tenderness is gone. Swish for 1-2 minutes.

EATING: Yom next meal should be soft. Avoid any hard foods, like Fritos, potato chips, nuts, small seeds, popcorn, etc. for the next 3-4 days.

TOOTH SENSITIVITY: Sensitivity to cold or touch may temporarily occur. Removing all plaque from the tooth and placing a dab of toothpaste for sensitive teeth (Sensodyne or Crest Sensitivity) on the "touchy" tooth will decrease cold or touch sensitivity in a few days.

CARE OF YOUR TEETH: It is essential that you keep the teeth as clean as possible/bacteria-free after your visit to allow for optimal healing. If gum tissues are tender, brush your teeth gently but thoroughly with a rolling motion away from the gum line. Begin flossing and using stimudents the following day.

NEGATIVE HABBITS: Avoid tobacco products and alcohol consumption. Either of these will act as a barrier to effective healing.

Root Canel Pre-op

The purpose of root canal treatment is to retain teeth that would otherwise have to be extracted due to extensive decay, abscess or fracture. Retaining a tooth by root canal treatment is usually better and less expensive than extraction of the tooth and replacement options.

The sequence of treatment for root canal therapy is:

  • Opening, cleansing, and enlarging of the root canals
  • Disinfection of the canals
  • Filling sealing of the canals to prevent re-infection

    • Root canal therapy is recommended only when we feel it will be successful. Approximately 95% of teeth respond to our normal root canal procedures. In those instances where the normal root canal procedures are not effective, a surgical procedure may be required. You will then be referred to an endodontist (root canal specialist) for this treatment.

    Following root canal and restorative treatment and with subsequent good oral hygiene, such teeth can remain useful as long as other remaining natural teeth. After root canal treatment, a final restoration must be placed on the treated tooth.

    If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Thank you for your confidence and trust allowing our office to provide for your dental needs.

    Root Canal Post Op

  • After completion of root canal therapy, the cause of the infection has been eliminated.
  • The root canal or canals have been sealed to prevent re-infection. Nature must now have time to repair the damage the original infection caused.
  • The tooth may be or become slightly tender for several days. Aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Ibuprofen or Aleve are generally sufficient to restore comfort. If any of these do not work well, please call our office for a stronger medication.
  • To finish treatment on this tooth a final restoration will need to be placed at the earliest convenience.
  • In six months to one year, you will have an x-ray taken on the tooth to determine the healing progress. This x-ray is included in the original root canal fee.

    • If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 662-1600

    Silver Filling

    For optimal care of your new amalgam filling, please follow the instructions listed below:

  • The decay in your tooth has been removed. The resulting cavity has been filled with an amalgam restoration, more commonly known as a silver filling.
  • Nature must have time to repair the tooth from the infection that was present. You may experiences some sensitivity to temperature extremes for a while.
  • Final hardness of the filling will not be reached for 24 hours. Therefore, we ask that you not eat anything on this filling for one hour and keep your diet soft for 24 hours. Nothing hard, sticky, or chewy.
  • If your procedure required anesthetic (numbing), we ask that you avoid eating until the numbness is gone to avoid injuring your lip or tongue. Drinking fluids may be difficult due to loss of feeling. The numbness will remain in some areas for a few to several hours.
  • If you experience any undue discomfort or prolonged sensitivity, please contact our office at (920) 662-1600. This may be a sign that the filling is too high or that the tooth is not healing from the infection and may require further treatment.

    • Thank you for your confidence and trust allowing our office to provide for your dental needs.

    Tooth Colored Filling

    For optimal care of your new tooth colored filling. Please follow the instructions listed below:

  • The decay in your tooth has been removed. The resulting cavity has been filled with a resin restoration, more commonly known as a tooth colored filling.
  • Nature must have time to repair the tooth from the infection that was present. You may experience some sensitivity to temperature extremes, especially cold.
    • This could last anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on the amount of decay that was present in the tooth. If you feel that you are biting down on the filling first, please call us so that we can adjust that for you.
  • If your procedure required anesthetic (numbing), we ask that you avoid eating until the numbness is gone to avoid injuring your lip or tongue. Drinking fluids may be difficult due to loss of feeling. The numbness will remain in some areas for a few to several hours.
  • If you experience any undue discomfort or prolonged sensitivity, please contact our office at (920) 662-1600. This may be a sign that the filling is too high or that the tooth is not healing from the infection and may require further treatment.

    • Thank you for your confidence and trust allowing our office to provide for your dental needs.

    Equilibration

    Now that your teeth have been smoothed, please let us know if something does not feel right, or if one tooth feels "high" or not smooth.

    Your teeth may feel as if they meet together better. It may feel different because some teeth that were not meeting before your appointments are now meeting. Also you may notice you can slide your jaw from side to side and from front to back more easily.

    Your equilibration can remain stable for years. If your jaw joints are not stable, your bite may need to be smoothed over the years. If you clench or grind your teeth, a bite splint or mouth guard can help prevent excessive wear of your teeth.

    Once again, if you note any concerns with your bite, please advise so your concerns may be addressed.

    Temporary Crown or Bridge Work

    For optimal care of your temporary crown or bridge work, please follow the instructions listed below:

    Your gums and teeth may be very tender after crOWn preparation(s). Use a mixture of 1 teaspoon of salt in an 8 ounce glass of warm water and swish 2 to 3 times a day.

    When brushing use a soft bristle brush. Gently massage gums with your finger to stimulate tissue. The healthier your gums, the better your temporary crowns will feel. Floss your temporary crowns gently. Once floss is in between your teeth, pull floss out to the side, so the temporary crown will not come off.

    If the crown should come off or loosen, please call the office to have it recemented as soon as possible. It is very important the temporary crown(s) stay in place while waiting for permanent crown(s) to be placed in the mouth.

    In the event that you are unable to return to the office to have the crown(s) recemented, you may purchase temporary cement found in the dental aisle of the pharmacy, toothpaste (not gel), or denture adhesive placed sparingly in the temporary crown and pushed onto the tooth.

    If the nerves of your teeth were unhealthy before treatment, they may become symptomatic at this time. If the tooth does not settle down after the initial tenderness, please contact our office at 662-1600.

    Hot food or beverages can be harmful to anesthetized tissues. Please avoid drinking hot coffee, etc. until the numbness wears off.

    Thank you for your confidence and trust allowing our office to provide for your dental needs.