After Dental Extractions:

1. Please bite on the gauze for 1/2 hour after surgery (replace with a folded fresh piece every 15 minutes)
2. Make a concentrated effort to not bite your lip. (Remember….you’re frozen!)
3. Don’t rinse your mouth out, you may however, drink luke warm or cool beverages, just not through a straw
4. Next day, gently rinse with a solution of 1 teaspoon of salt mixed with 1/2 glass of warm water, 4 times throughout the day
5. If bleeding continues, fold the gauze into a firm wad, placing directly over operative site, bite down maintaining steady pressure for twenty minutes or longer. (A tea bag is a good substitute if you are out of gauze)
6. Please call us anytime at “Orchard Heights Dental”  if you are unsure about these instructions, or if any other problems arise.

After Implant placement:

 We routinely place dental implants in our office with the use of simple local anesthetic agents. Following implant placement it is important to follow these instructions:

1. Do not disturb the area around where the implant has been placed, avoid rinsing, spitting, and physical exercise on the first day as this may cause bleeding and throbbing.
2. Some light bleeding and mild swelling may occur around the area, gauze pressure for 15 minute intervals may be used if necessary for bleeding.  A cold compress may be used to help limit any swelling.
3. Pain: mild discomfort can be anticipated for a day or two following implant placement.  We often recommend Tylenol (one to two tabs every 3-4 hours) or Advil (two to three 200mg tabs every 4-6 hours) be taken once you freezing is wearing off- do not take these types of medications if you are allergic to them or if you doctor has advised against them. 
4. Diet: drink plenty of fluids, avoid hot drinks or food at least until your freezing has worn off and avoid chewing on the side where the implant was placed- As a general precaution, try to protect the site from being chewed on for 8-12 weeks after implant placement.
5. Oral Hygiene: Gently clean the metal top of the implant with a q-tip and the Peridex solution provided to you 2-3 times per day beginning on the day after surgery, continue this routine for at least four weeks (or longer).  Brush your teeth around the dental implant gently for the first two weeks.
6. please don't hesitate to call us if you have any concerns 

After New Fillings

New fillings often feel a bit strange to bite on for the first day after they are placed. They may also be occasionally momentarily sensitive to hot and cold or to bite on for about a week, you should expect this to progressively diminish over the course of a few weeks as inflammation to the tooth nerve goes away.

Bonded white fillings are fully hardened in the office and can be chewed on immediately following your appointment although we recommend you wait until you freezing goes away.

Please contact our office if sensitivity to bite or to hot and cold persists or worsens

After New Crowns or Bridges:

  Your new crown or bridge is designed to last for many years; however, the glue that attaches the crown or bridge to your tooth needs time to set and harden.  Left undisturbed, this glue will securely attach your new dental work to your tooth.  We recommend  that you chew nothing at all for a two hour period after your crown or bridge is cemented (drinking during that time is permitted).  After the two hours we advise that you then chew on the opposite side of the mouth for another two hours avoiding any kind of sticky food, gum or candy.  After this ‘setting time', you can chew normally on your new dental work.

Oral hygiene should include regular daily brushing and flossing. 

After New Dentures:

1. New dentures can often take a week or two to get used to wearing!
2. People often comment on subtle changes in pronunciation of certain words as well as changes in both the chewing and taste of foods. Over a short period of time, speech and chewing should improve. 
3. It is also not uncommon with a new denture for sore spots to occur in the mouth as the denture rubs on the gums.  These sore spots should not be ignored and a quick visit to our office for a denture adjustment often resolves this problem. We can also adjust how loose or tightly your denture fits to suit your comfort level.
4. You should remove your denture after meals and rinse out any food from around your teeth or under your denture. Denture cleaning agents are available at the drug store in the dental section.  Just like your natural teeth, your dentures should be cleaned twice daily. 
5. Please don't hesitate to ask us for advice if you have any questions.  

After New Veneers

After Root Canal

Typically one can expect immediate relief from any hot or cold sensitivity as well as acute pain after root canal is completed. 
Following root canal therapy, the tooth is often tender to touch or bite on for 7-10 days, chewing on it should be avoided during that time.

Most people find that simple over the counter type pain medications (such as Advil,Tylenol or Aspirin) are adequate to control any discomfort

We recommend a protective crown be placed on most root canal treated teeth within 3-6 months after root canal is completed in order to protect the tooth from breaking

If pain persists,worsens or any swelling occurs, please contact our office

After Dental Hygiene visits:

After Local Anesthetic:

Dental local anesthetic, (freezing) produces a temporary numbing of the teeth, gums, lips, chin, cheek and tongue. The effects may last anywhere from 2-5 hours and are often shorter lasting on upper teeth, and longer lasting on the lower teeth.

Children should be closely monitored following dental appointments where freezing was given as they will often chew on numb areas such as the cheek, tongue, and lips. This will result in swelling, pain and bitten tissues in the area- please remind them often not to do this and check the inside of their mouths.

Avoid eating much while your mouth is frozen or choose easy to eat foods such as pasta that is not to hot.

Please advise or our office if any of the effects of numbness last for more than a day

After Tooth Whitening:

These are some of the questions we commonly hear during and after tooth whitening:

1. Can I drink coffee while during the time I am whitening? We reccomend that you avoid staining foods and liquids during the time are doing tooth whitening and for a few days after (this includes dark pop, juices, coffee, red wine and foods such as blueberries, black currents etc.)

2.How much whitening gel do I place in the trays for at home tooth whitening?

3.My teeth are sensitive during whitening, what can I do?

4.My teeth appear blotchy white during tooth whitening, will it go away?