PATIENT INFORMATION

Home Care Instructions

CEREC Porcelain Onlay or Crown

Your inlay, onlay, or crown is now permanently cemented. Being numb and open so long can affect how you bite immediately after the inlay, onlay, or crown is placed. Because of this, it is possible that your bite may feel ‘high' or just not quiteright after the numbness wears off. If this happens, please call and come in so we can adjust thebite. A ‘high' bite can lead to long term problems if left for more than a few days. Your tooth may be sensitive after this procedure. This is a normal side effect and usually subsides within a few days to a couple of weeks. Be confident that you have a long lasting restoration. Studies have shown that Cerec inlays, onlays, and crowns have similar characteristics to your natural enamel, are more accurate then lab fabricated restorations, and are equal or better in longevity. It is because of this that we use CEREC and stand behind them. If anything feels out of the ordinary or if you have any problems or questions call 843-524-7645.

If you engage in sports let us know so we can make a custom mouthguard. If you grind your teeth at night, wear the night guard we have provided for you. Adjusting to the look and feel of your new smile will take time. If you have any problems or concerns, please let us know. We always welcome your questions.

Composite or Tooth Colored Fillings Post Operative Instructions

When an anesthetic has been used, your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off. It is very easy to bite or burn your tongue or lip while you are numb.

It is normal to experience some hot, cold & pressure sensitivity after your appointment. Injection sites may also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or aspirin (one tablet every 3-4 hours as needed for pain) work well to alleviate the tenderness. If pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to hot or cold increases, contact our office at (843) 524-7645.

You may chew with your composite fillings as soon as the anesthetic completely wears off, since they are fully set when you leave the office.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (843) 524-7645.

Once we have restored your teeth with tooth-colored materials, these restorations will serve you well for many years. The resin (plastic) material used contains small “filler” particles of glass-like material for strength and wear resistance.

They contain the finest and most up-to-date materials available today. However, you should be aware of the following information about your new restorations:

As with natural teeth, avoid chewing excessively hard foods on the filled teeth (hard candy, ice, raw carrots, etc.) because the resin material can break under extreme forces.
Composite fillings set up hard right away. There is no waiting time to eat. Children should be observed until the anesthetic wears off. Due to the strange feeling of the anesthetic, many children will chew the inside of their lips, cheeks, or tongue which can cause serious damage.
The gum tissue could have been irritated during the procedure and may be sore for a few days together with the anesthetic injection site.
The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different texture than the original tooth. Your tongue usually magnifies this small difference, but you will become accustomed to this in a few days

When a tooth has a cavity the Dentist removes the decay and fills the hole with a filling material, the tooth supports the filling. The ideal filling is no more than 50% of the tooth. This leaves half the tooth to support the filling. When you get a cavity that takes up 60%or more of the tooth, a crown is indicated. A crown covers the entire tooth and holds the tooth together.

Root Canal Post Operative Instructions

Refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia
has worn off to prevent possible injury to your lips and cheeks. This time interval will also allow the temporary filling to set to a reasonable hardness. We expect your tooth to be sore to chewing and biting pressure so you should avoid very hard or chewy foods. This should gradually decrease within 7-10 days after treatment. Be sure to take any antibiotic medication prescribed for you as it will help the area to heal. An analgesic may also be recommended for your comfort and can be taken as directed
To protect the tooth and keep the temporary in place, avoid eating hard and sticky foods (gum) and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. Continue to brush and floss normally.. If you have any of the following signs or symptoms please call our office 843-524-7645 as these complications do not occur routinely:

A reaction to the prescribed medication
Increasing tenderness or swelling in the area surrounding the
tooth
The temporary filling dislodges from the tooth
The tooth fractures

A crown or other final restoration should be placed within a short time interval after root canal therapy is completed unless we have advised you otherwise.

After Bridge Appointments

Bridges usually take two appointments to complete. In the first visit, the teeth are prepared and molds of the mouth are taken. Temporary bridges are placed to protect the teeth while the custom restoration is being made. Since the teeth will be anesthetized, the tongue, lips and roof of the mouth may be numb. Please refrain from eating and drinking hot beverages until the numbness is completely worn off.

Occasionally a temporary may come off. Call us at (843) 524-7645 if this happens and bring the temporary with you so we can re-cement it. It is very important for the temporary to stay in place, as it will prevent other teeth from moving and compromising the fit of your final restoration.

To keep your temporaries in place, avoid eating sticky foods (gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to brush normally, but floss carefully and don't pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary but pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.

It is normal to experience some temperature and pressure sensitivity after each appointment. The sensitivity should subside a few weeks after the placement of the final restoration. Mild pain medications may also be used as directed by our office.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office at (843) 524-7645.

Zoom Post-Whitening Care Instructions

The first 48 hours are most important in maximizing your whitening results for a long lasting, bright, healthy smile.

For the first 48 hours avoid foods and beverages that could stain, such as:

Coffee/Tea
Tobacco Products
Mustard/Ketchup
Cola
Red Wine
Soy Sauce
Berry Pies
Red Sauces

Maintain your Zoom! Smile by:

Avoiding staining related habits such as, tobacco and red wine.
Use an electric toothbrush - Sonicare
Seeking regular professional dental hygiene care to maintain your oral health.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact our office at 843-524-7675

Scaling and Root Planning Post Operative Instructions
Refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off.
Things to Avoid for the first 24 hours:

Vigorous physical exercise, but you may return to work

Drinking through a straw or sucking motions.
Do not smoke. It's better to refrain for 48 hours.
Drinking alcoholic beverages will retard the healing process.
Food that is extreme in temperature or spicy.
Avoid using any strong mouthwashes that contain alcohol.

Things to Do:

You may take a non-aspirin analgesic to relieve any tenderness or discomfort, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Eat a well balanced soft diet for today. You may chew on the opposite side of the treated area until it is comfortable to chew normally.
Rinse with a warm salt water rinse, a 1 teaspoon in an 8 oz. glass of water, 3 times a day.
Brush your teeth very lightly in the treated area the first night. Then begin flossing lightly as well the next day, gradually increasing to normal force by the week's end.
After flossing and brushing, rinse with chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex), if it was prescribed, for at least 60 seconds. Do this at least twice daily.

Several days after treatment your gums should begin to appear pinker, less swollen, and will bleed less when you floss. These are signs of healing and improving periodontal health. If you have any questions or problems, please call our office. 843-524-7645

After delivery of Dentures / Partials

The following suggestions are presented to assist you in learning to use and properly care for a new denture.

Sore Spots: Usually, your mouth will have a few “sore spots” after wearing the denture/partial for 24 hours. These areas can be relieved with very little effort during your next appointment.
Speaking: Learning to speak with your new dentures in place requires some patience and perseverance. Reading loud is a very good way to enunciate distinctly, especially those sounds or words that are not clear.
Chewing:The new bite may not feel completely comfortable for several weeks. We can adjust the contacting surfaces of your teeth after the dentures/partials have settled into place.
Hygiene of the Dentures/Partials and your Mouth: It is extremely important to clean you dentures by using a denture brush and a mild toothpaste. Periodic denture soaks once a week are also very useful (ex: Polident). We recommend leaving your partials out of your mouth at least for 6 hours and soaking in water. Food particles that are trapped under the denture can cause the inflammation of the gums and sore spots. Food particles will stick to soft tissue of your mouth; it is beneficial to brush the roof of your mouth and your tongue daily. Massaging and stimulating those tissues will reduce the incidence of inflammation and sore spots.
Partials only: Use special care to clean parts of the partial that contact any natural teeth. Both the partial and the natural teeth must be kept very clean on a daily basis to reduce the chance of new dental decay starting.

Be sure to check your dentures at least once annually as changes in the mouth, such as bone loss, and a wearing of the teeth will inevitably occur. Careful maintenance of the dentures and the supporting soft tissues will help to slow down these changes.

We have done our best to provide you with well-fitted, functional, and esthetic dentures/partials. We feel confident that after a few weeks of becoming adjusted to the new dentures/partials, you will have years of satisfaction from them. Over time, your jawbone and gums shrink when there are teeth missing. When this occurs, your dentures/partials will feel loose and may require relining. Wearing ill-fitting dentures/partials for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease. Please call our office if these symptoms occur.

After Tooth Extraction

After tooth extraction, it's important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That's why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.

After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and retard the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours as this will increase blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.

After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.

Use the pain medication as directed. Call the office at (843) 524-7645 if the medication doesn't seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluid and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.

It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.

After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately at (843) 524-7645.