Patient information

Your new bite will take time to feel normal. When the bite changes, it takes several days for your brain to accept the new position or thickness of your teeth. If you still notice high spots or bite problems, call us and we’ll schedule an adjustment.

Some hot and cold sensitivity is normal, and your gums may be sore for a few days. Rinse with warm salt water (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) three times a day to reduce pain and swelling. A mild pain reliever such as Tylenol or ibuprofen can ease any remaining discomfort.

Your speech may feel different for the first few days, and you may notice extra saliva. Both should return to normal within about a week.

Brush and floss daily, and keep your regular cleaning appointments. Avoid hard or sticky foods (ice, nuts, hard candy, pencils, fingernails), and limit coffee, tea, red wine, and berries, which can stain. Let us know if you play sports so we can make a custom mouthguard, and wear your night guard if you grind your teeth.

Crowns and bridges usually take two or three appointments. At the first visit we prepare the teeth, take molds, and place a temporary crown or bridge to protect them while your permanent one is made. Don’t eat or drink anything hot until the numbness wears off.

If a temporary comes off, call us and bring it with you so we can re-cement it. Keeping it in place stops nearby teeth from shifting and helps your final restoration fit.

To keep temporaries in place, avoid sticky and hard foods, and chew on the other side if you can. Brush normally. When you floss, slide the floss out to the side instead of pulling it up.

Some sensitivity to temperature and pressure is normal and should fade within a few weeks after your final restoration is placed. If your bite feels uneven or the pain doesn’t go away, call our office.

A blood clot needs to form to stop the bleeding and start healing. Bite on a gauze pad for 30–45 minutes after your appointment. If bleeding continues, place a fresh pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes, repeating as needed.

For 72 hours, don’t rinse hard, use straws, smoke, drink alcohol, or brush next to the extraction site. All of these can dislodge the clot. Avoid vigorous exercise for the first 24 hours.

Hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) on the area to limit swelling, which usually goes down after 48 hours. Take any pain medication as directed. If you’re prescribed antibiotics, finish the full course. Drink plenty of fluids and eat soft, nutritious food on the day of your extraction.

Resume brushing and flossing after 24 hours. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, swelling that lasts more than 2–3 days, or a reaction to medication, call us right away.