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Serving Newark and the Surrounding Areas
H-50 Omega Drive, Newark, DE 19713
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POST-OP DENTAL INSTRUCTIONS

Helpful Post-Op Dental Instructions

Informative Tips on Dental Care

At Christiana Family Dental Care, we care for your wellness. Our dental services are aimed at restoring your oral health.

If you have gone through any of the following dental procedures at our clinic, read the list of dos and don'ts to keep your teeth in good condition.
Tooth filling

Fillings

  1. Do not eat on your new filling for one hour and until your numbness is gone.
  2. If you are supervising children who had fillings done, make sure they don’t bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue).
  3. Do not bite hard or chew on silver Amalgam fillings for 24 hours.
  4. You may experience cold and heat sensitivity and some soreness on your gum; this usually subsides in a few days.
  5. Call our office if you experience pain or discomfort for more than a few days after the fillings, or if you have any questions.
Tooth cleaning

Teeth Cleaning (Deep Cleaning)

  1. You may experience some cold and heat sensitivity (especially after deep cleaning).
  2. If you have received anesthesia do not eat anything until the numbness has worn off.
  3. Continue your regular brushing and flossing.
  4. Some bleeding for a day or two after cleaning is normal, but if you experience any excessive bleeding, call our office.
  5. Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.
Dental tools and documents

Extraction

  1. Pressure should be placed on the gauze pad that has been placed on the extraction site for one hour. If the bleeding continues, new gauze should be placed and pressed on for another 45 minutes.
  2. If you are supervising children who have had an extraction done, make sure they don’t bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue).
  3. Avoid eating or drinking anything hot on the day of your extraction. Do not rinse your mouth; do not use a straw for drinking. Do not spit and do not drink carbonated beverages. Do not brush on the day of the surgery; you can resume your brushing and flossing the day after, gently.
  4. You may experience some pain, bruising around your lips and/or some swelling, especially after extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Ice bag application and medication prescribed for you will help to minimize your discomfort.
  5. Please take all the medication you have received based on the instructions given to you.
  6. During the first 2 to 3 days after the surgery, a diet of soft food and liquids is recommended (soup, yogurt, milkshake and juice).
  7. For more complex surgical procedures, including impacted wisdom tooth extraction, implant surgical procedures, etc., you will receive an ice wrap which should be worn for the rest of the day and until you go to bed on the day of the surgery only (10 minutes on and 5 minutes off). Individual instructions for various surgical treatments will have some unique directions which will be supplied to you at the time of your treatment.
  8. Call our office if you experience excessive bleeding, severe pain or swelling or if you have any questions or concerns. In case of serious emergencies, call 911.

Root Canal Treatment

  1. You may experience moderate pain and sensitivity to pressure on your tooth. You may feel gum soreness for a few days after your treatment. The healing process may take several days, but the pain and discomfort should subside gradually.
  2. Take any medication that was prescribed for you according to instructions.
  3. Usually, a temporary filling has been placed on your tooth; do not bite on the tooth for one hour and while you are numb. Until the permanent restoration is placed, be very gentle with the tooth. Try to chew with the opposite side.
  4. Continue your brushing and flossing.
  5. Follow up with the placement of your permanent restoration as you have been advised. Any unnecessary delay on placement of final restoration may damage the tooth permanently.
  6. Call our office if you are in severe pain or experience swelling or if you have any questions.

Crown and Bridge (Also Inlays and Onlays)

  1. Crowns and bridges usually take 2 or 3 appointments to complete. During the first appointment, the tooth / teeth are prepared and impressions are taken and a temporary crown is placed on your tooth / teeth.
  2. You may experience sensitivity, gum soreness and slight discomfort on the tooth / teeth; it should subside after the placement of the permanent crown.
  3. Whenever anesthesia is used, avoid chewing on your teeth until the numbness has worn off.
  4. A temporary crown is usually made of a plastic based material or soft metal. It could break if too much pressure is placed on it. The crown also may come off; if it does, save the crown and call our office. The temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth and prevent other teeth from moving. If it comes off, it should be replaced. To avoid losing your temporary crown, avoid chewing on sticky and hard food (chewing gum, ice). Try to chew on the opposite side of the mouth as much as possible.
  5. After the permanent restoration is placed, you may feel slight pressure for a few days. The bite may feel different for a day or two. But if the bite feels uneven or you feel discomfort on chewing on the tooth after 2 to 3 days, call our office. Delaying the necessary adjustments may damage the tooth permanently.
  6. Continue your normal brushing, but be careful while flossing around the temporaries (remove the floss gently from the side).
  7. Call our office if you are in pain or if you have any questions.

Denture Delivery

  1. You will experience some discomfort with any new denture for a few days. All new dentures need several adjustments to completely and comfortably fit your mouth.
  2. You should take the dentures out every night and keep them in a clean container containing water or a denture cleaning solution. Your gum needs rest and to be without the dentures every day for a period of time.
  3. Clean dentures thoroughly with brush and water before putting them back in your mouth.
  4. It may be difficult to talk normally with the new denture for a few days. A way to practice is to read a book or newspaper out loud for a period of time every day. Your tongue and muscles will get used to the new denture and you will talk normally very soon.
  5. Call our office if you are experiencing pain, discomfort or if you have any questions.
Contact Christiana Family Dental Care today at 302-533-7649 for all of your Newark, DE post-operative dental instruction needs.
Schedule an appointment for your dental service.
302-533-7649
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