Root Canal Treatment

We have started or completed root canal therapy on your tooth. The nerve was removed, and the inside of the tooth’s root canal system was smoothed and cleansed of infection. Finally, if the root canal was completed, we used a root canal filler and sealer to seal the tooth at the end of the root.

• Symptoms – When your tooth was infected, some infection may have spread out of the root into the bone. Until this infection is healed, you should expect tenderness and discomfort. These symptoms may persist for up to 10 days, but usually are gone in 48-72 hours.
• Pain –If you have been given a prescription, take the medication according to the written instructions thereon. DO NOT drink alcoholic beverages while taking the pain relief medication.
• Infection – In many cases, to aid the healing process and reduce the infection in the bone, we may have prescribed an antibiotic. Please be sure to take these medications as directed.
• . Swelling – If you have any swelling into the face or jaw area, please call the office im-mediately. This may indicate the localization of infection and require drainage. We may simply need to adjust or change your medication.
• Restoring your tooth – Be sure to return to the office for your permanent restoration.Without the crown, a root canal tooth can become brittle and possibly break and fracture .The tooth can be permanently damaged if the final restoration is not completed in a timely manner.
• Result – Following the crown restoration, this tooth, with the proper care and normal healing, should function as well as your natural tooth.
• Take and finish ALL antibiotics!! Please call us if you develop any allergic reaction, unexpected or unusual conditions, and if you have any questions.

Impacted Third molar /Tooth Extraction

• An anesthetic will be used, your cheek, lips and tongue might feel numb for a few hours after your appointment.
• Avoid chewing and hot drinks until the numbness has subsided so as not to accidentally burn or bite your cheek, lips or tongue.
• After an extraction the extraction site must be allowed to clot and begin its healing process. You will be asked to bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes after the procedure. Slight bleeding is not uncommon. Stop bleeding by applying a small gauze pad to the bleeding area. If bleeding continues after this, please contact us.
• Please refrain from rinsing or spitting for 24 hours.
• Keep fingers and tongue away from surgical area.
• Avoid smoking for 5 days after the surgery since Nicotine breaks down blood clots.
• Diet should be liquid and/or soft foods during the first 24 hours af-ter extraction. Ensure that you consume plenty of fluids
• Once the blood clot has formed care must be taken to avoid reo-pening the wound for the next 24 hours. Avoid smoking, sucking through a straw or vigorous cleaning of the mouth near the extraction site for the next 72 hours. Limit demanding exercise for the next 24 hours so as not to reopen the wound by increased blood pressure.
• An ice bag may be used to reduce swelling and pain. Swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.
• 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 feel comfortable.
• Sutures: If used, do not fail to return for their removal 7-10 days after the surgery.
• Make sure to resume your normal dental hygiene routine after 24 hours (flossing and brushing). but avoid brushing surgical area.
• Allergic reactions: For generalized rash, itching, etc., call the dentist im-mediately

Do not hesitate to call if any questions arise. In case of an EMERGENCY, call

Post-op instructions – Crown or Bridge Treatment

• After the final cementation of your fixed restoration, it may take a few days to get used to the new crown or bridge. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, be sure and call for an appointment for simple adjustment.Regular brushing and flossing are a must.
• Avoid hard foods that could chip your teeth. Keep in mind that Smoking, red wine, coffee and tea will stain your teeth, limit your intake as you see fit.
• If you engage in sports or grind your teeth let us know so that we can provide you with a mouth-guard

If you have any questions or if you’re experiencing and problem, please give us a call

Post-op instructions – implant placement

• BLEEDING: Small amounts of blood in the saliva can make your saliva appear quite red. This is normal and may be noticed the rest of the day after the procedure.
• SMOKING: Smoking should be stopped following surgery. Healing and success of the implant will be substantially reduced by the cigarette smoke chemicals in your body.
• PAIN: Some discomfort is normal after surgery. To minimize pain, take the prescribed medications, before the anesthesia wears off as instructed on the label. Don’t exceed the dose on the label.
• Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery when taking pain prescriptions. Do not drink alcohol while taking prescription pain medications.
• SWELLING: Applying an ice bag to the face over the operated area will minimize swelling. Apply for 15 minutes, and then remove for 15 minutes. Continue this for the first day.
• NUMBNESS: The local anesthetic will cause you to be numb for several hours after you leave the office. Be very careful not to bite, chew, pinch, or scratch the numb area. BRUSHING: Do not brush your teeth for the first 8 hours after surgery. After this, you may brush your teeth gently, but avoid the area of surgery for 3 days.
• RINSING: Avoid all rinsing or swishing for 24 hours after your procedure.
• ANTIBIOTICS: If you were given an antibiotic prescription, take all of them as directed until they are gone.
• REMOVABLE APPLIANCES, DENTURES:We will give you specific instructions about your pros-thesis. To avoid putting any pressure on the new implants before they have healed, your denture might be adjusted or significantly modified. In certain cases, you will need to go without your den-tures for a period (days or weeks) after the implants are placed. Sometimes a temporary removable appliance is made for cosmetic purposes, until a new non-removable one can be made.
• FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS: You may need to return to the office within the first 14 days to have sutures removed, or just for a brief follow-up healing check. You may need to return after the implant has integrated for a small second procedure to expose it in preparation for the final restora-tion.

Please contact us if you have:

• uncontrollable pain
• excessive or severe bleeding
• marked fever
• excessive warm swelling occurring a few days after the procedure
• reactions to medications, especially rash, itching, or breathing problems

Following these instructions very closely will greatly help your comfort, and promote uneventful healing of the area. If any of the instructions are not followed, you might have significantly more discomfort, and the success of the procedure may be affected.

New Dentures

• There will be an adjustment period for you to get used to your new dentures. Dentures cover areas of your mouth that are normally bare. This might alter your speech and require that your tongue and lips adapt accordingly.
• Sore spots may develop after your first few days of wearing the dentures. We can modify your denture during your follow-up ap-pointment to relieve those parts of the denture that cause exces-sive soreness or discomfort.
• Dentures acquire stains and odor just like regular teeth. Routine cleaning and care of your dentures is important
• You should never go to bed with your dentures on. Your gum tis-sues and jaw bones need to be given a rest from the dentures. To prevent tissue irritation, tissue infection or denture shrinkage, dentures should be kept in a cup of water with a denture cleansing agent.
• Bone recedes with time every year. Annual checkups will allow us to readjust your dentures to restore their fit or replace the denture as appropriate .