Dallas After Care Instructions
Caring for Your Teeth After Treatment
At Skulman Dental, we are committed to providing the highest quality, compassionate care for our patients. On this page, you will find after care instructions for Dallas patients. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
Call (714) 855-4571 at any time of the day or night with concerns after treatment.
Crowns, Veneers & Bridges
At the first visit, your teeth are prepared for restorations. It is common to experience some soreness in the gums. You can use Anbesol to numb the gums, if needed. Wait until the numbness wears off before eating and avoid sticky foods that can damage temporary restorations.
When brushing your teeth:
- Wet your toothbrush with hot water to soften the bristles
- Brush very gently with a soft brush
- Don’t floss with temporary crowns
- Call if the temporary comes off
After your permanent restorations are cemented in place, you should wait at least an hour to eat to give the cement time to set. When possible, chew on the opposite side of the mouth for the first day to keep pressure off your new crown.
Root Canal
Soreness is common in the gum around the tooth that was treated, but not usually from the tooth. Usually soreness is minimal, and many patients return to work after the procedure. If you do have any swelling, please call our office. Teeth may become brittle after a root canal and a crown may be recommended.
Scaling & Root Planing
After scaling and root planing treatment, your gums will be less swollen and red. You may have some discomfort immediately after treatment, but that will subside quickly. In addition, you may have some slight bleeding and tooth sensitivity.
You can minimize the symptoms by:
- Eating a soft diet
- Take acetaminophen for pain
- Brush your teeth gently for the first few days and use an anti-microbial mouth rinse or warm salt and water for the first week or so
For most patients, symptoms are relatively minor and resolve within the first few days or a week. If your systems are severe or persist, please contact our office.
Mini Implant
If you don’t have sutures, keep your denture in for the first 24 hours. Then, remove it and brush it as you would your normal teeth. It is common to have a bit of soreness, but that goes away in a few days. Begin brushing the implants on the second day with the special brush that is provided. Use a circular motion to keep the implant clean. If you have sore spots, please let us know.
If you do have sutures, remove the denture after 24 hours and rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Clean the denture and put it back in. Don’t brush the implants for the first week until the sutures are removed. Then, you can brush the implants carefully.
Filling Restoration
After a filling, you may experience sensitivity to hot and cold. If your bite doesn’t feel normal, call to make an appointment to have it adjusted. You can eat normally after the numbness wears off.
Sedative fillings are used for deep decay that is close to the nerve. We use this procedure to help prevent a root canal, whenever possible. The tooth will get less sensitive in a few weeks. If you have swelling or extreme pain, please call our office.
Tooth Extraction
Put an ice pack on the affected area as soon as possible and use ice packs for the first day to prevent swelling. On the second day, you can use moist heat for any swelling. Change your gauze every 15 minutes for the first one to two hours and then remove it to avoid irritation.
After a filling, you should:
- Avoid using a straw for 3 days
- No vigorous swishing for the first 3 days
- Avoid carbonated beverages
- Use hot water to soften the bristles of your toothbrush
- Gently brush your teeth
- Stick to a soft diet for a few days
- Follow instructions for medications
- Do not use tobacco or spit, as it can cause the blood clot to come out of the socket
Some bleeding is normal on the first day. If you have pulsating bleeding from the socket, you can use a wet tea bag on the area and close your mouth to apply pressure for five minutes. If the bleeding continues, go to the hospital.
If you have any problems or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us at (714) 855-4571.
