Home Care Instructions

After Fillings

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 dental filling appointment. Injection sites may also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or aspirin work well to alleviate the tenderness.  Follow instruction on the bottle or contact the office for recommended dosage. If pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to hot or cold increases, contact our office at Dickinson Office Phone Number 701-227-1193.

You may chew with your 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 Dickinson Office Phone Number 701-227-1193.

After Dental Reconstruction

Remember that it will take time to adjust to the feel of your new bite. When the bite is altered or the position of the teeth is changed it takes several days for the brain to recognize the new position of your teeth or their thickness as normal. If you continue to detect any high spots or problems with your bite, call our office at Dickinson Office Phone Number 701-227-1193 so we can schedule an adjustment appointment.

It is normal to experience some hot and cold sensitivity. The teeth require some time to heal after removal of tooth structure and will be sensitive in the interim. Your gums may also be sore for a few days. Warm salt water rinses (1 tablespoon of salt in 8 oz. of warm water) three times a day will reduce pain and swelling. An over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin) should help ease any residual discomfort. Follow the instruction on the bottle.

Don’t be concerned if your speech is affected for the first few days. You’ll quickly adapt and be speaking normally. You may notice increased salivation. This is because your brain is responding to the new size and shape of your teeth. This should subside to normal in about a week.

Daily brushing and flossing are a must for your new dental work. Daily plaque removal is critical for the long-term success of your new teeth, as are regular cleaning appointments.

Any food that can crack, chip or damage a natural tooth can do the same to your new teeth. Avoid hard foods and substances (such as beer nuts, peanut brittle, ice, fingernails, or pencils) and sticky candies. Smoking will stain your new teeth. Minimize or avoid foods that stain such as coffee, red wine, tea and berries.

To help protect your new smile, always wear a mouthguard if you participate in sports. Talk to Dr. Dahl if you have concerns that you may grind your teeth at night. 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.

After Tooth Extraction

After a 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. If bleeding continues, biting on a clean wash cloth or a moistened tea bag may help. Tea contains Tannic Acid which may help to reduce the bleeding. Keep your head elevated.

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 discomfort and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area the first 12 to 24 hours will keep swelling to a minimum. Apply alternately, 10 to 15 minutes on, 10 to 15 minutes off. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.

Use pain medication as directed. Do not drive if using prescription pain medication. 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. (See ‘After A Tooth Extraction’ pamphlet you received from the dental office for further instructions on diet.) You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.

After 24 hours you should gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water 4 times daily. One Tablespoon salt in 8 oz. of warm water. This will help remove food particles and keep the extraction site clean.

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 Dickinson Office Phone Number 701-227-1193.

After Crown and Bridge Appointments

Dental crowns and dental bridges usually take two or three appointments to complete. In the first visit, the teeth are prepared and molds of the mouth are taken. Temporary crowns or 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 crown may come off. Call us at Dickinson Office Phone Number 701-227-1193 if this happens and bring the temporary crown 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. Don’t pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary, instead 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 Dickinson Office Phone Number 701-227-1193.

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