Post-Op Instructions for Patients of Shorewood Dental

At Shorewood Dental in Shorewood, WI we offer a variety of general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry options designed to renew your oral health and enhance your smile.

For the convenience of our patients, we offer post-op instructions for our most common dental services. If you have any questions about your treatments or the post-op process, or you experience unusual symptoms after your completed procedure, please contact us. At Shorewood Dental, we want you to feel comfortable during your treatment and experience a quick recovery!

• Immediate Dentures
• Root Canal Treatment
• Crown or Bridge Treatment
• Composite Restorations
• Tooth Extraction
• Oral Sedation

Immediate Dentures

• Biting pressure on the denture will promote clotting and will decrease the initial flow of blood. Slight bleeding can last up to 2-3 days though.
• Use an ice compress on affected side for 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off for the first 36 hours.
• Limit your diet to soft nurturing foods and plenty of fluids for the first week.
• Don’t take the denture out today, but rinse your mouth with warm salt water before going to bed. (1 tsp. salt in 1 cup warm water)
• Starting tomorrow, carefully remove the denture twice a day and clean with toothbrush and a low abrasive toothpaste or denture cleanser. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
• Sleep with the denture in your mouth for one night unless otherwise instructed. Then you should take it out when sleeping in order to relax the gum tissues.
• Due to the gum shrinkage that occurs within the first 6 months, you may go through periods of a loose fitting denture. A temporary liner will be inserted as needed. Denture adhesives can be used during this period also.
• Following the gum shrinkage period (approximately 6 months) a more permanent reline will be placed.
• You may experience sore spots caused by the denture being too long or from uneven pressure being applied to the healing gum tissues. We will adjust the denture as these problems occur.

Root Canal Treatment

• Endodontic treatment can take 1, 2 or 3 appointments depending on each case. It is possible to experience any of the following symptoms after any one of these appointments: sensitivity to hot and/or cold; sensitivity to pressure; possible swelling.
• It is difficult to predict which symptoms, if any, you may experience and to what extent. In complicated cases, pain medication may be necessary.
• If you experience swelling, call our office immediately; it may be necessary to prescribe an antibiotic for you.
• A temporary filling may be used to seal the tooth between visits.
• Be gentle on the tooth while eating until the final restoration is placed.
• During endodontic treatment the nerve, blood and nutrient supply to the tooth is removed. This will cause the tooth to become brittle and prone to fracturing which can result in the need to extract the tooth. In many cases a full coverage crown restoration (cap) may be recommended to prevent this from happening.

Crown or Bridge Treatment

• Following the first appointment for a crown or bridge procedure, a temporary is usually placed on the tooth or teeth involved. This will protect them while the custom restoration is being made.
• Temporary crowns are of a universal size and shade that also serve a cosmetic function for front teeth. Your final restoration will be shaped and shaded better than the temporary to match your other teeth in both color and function.
• The use of temporary cement is for easy removal on your next appointment. If your temporary comes off between appointments, slip it back on and call us for an appointment.
• Many crowns fit below the gumline. Therefore, you may experience some discomfort for a few days due to the irritation of that area during the procedures. Sensitivity to cold or pressure is also possible.
• 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 a simple adjustment.
• Proper brushing and flossing is recommended to help you retain your final restoration. The only area that a crowned tooth can decay is at the edge of the crown at the gumline.

Composite Restorations

• 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.
• Sensitivity, especially to cold, is common for a few days following a dental restoration. Usually, the deeper the cavity, the more sensitive the tooth will be.
• Sensitivity is usually most noticeable the first 12 to 24 hours after the anesthetic wears off.
• 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.

Tooth Extraction

• Bleeding – After an extraction, a wet gauze pack is placed over the extraction site to prevent excessive bleeding and to promote the healing blood clot. Keep pressure on it for 30 – 45 minutes and replace if bleeding continues. Slight bleeding may occur up to 2 days. Avoid activities that could apply a suction action to the blood clot such as smoking or sucking through a straw.
• Rinsing – Do not rinse your mouth today. Tomorrow you can rinse your mouth gently with a glass of warm water mixed with a ½ teaspoon of salt. You can do this every 3 – 4 hours a day especially after meals.
• Swelling – Following an extraction, some swelling and skin bruising may occur. A cold moist cloth or an ice bag applied to the cheek will keep it to a minimum. Place on affected area for about 15-20 minutes of every hour for the next 6 hours.
• Medications – If non-aspirin pain medication doesn’t relieve the discomfort you may experience, a stronger medication can be prescribed. Be sure to use all medications as directed.
• Food – A light diet with plenty of fluids is recommended the first day. Avoid carbonated or hot beverages. Chewing should be done away from the extraction site.
• Oral Hygiene – Continue brushing and flossing. Being extra gentle near the extraction site.
• Chips – During healing you may notice small bony fragments working their way through the gums. We can easily remove them if they are too annoying.

At Shorewood Dental, we want you to experience the art of positive dentistry! Let us give you back your oral health and beautify your smile with our wide array of general, cosmetic, and restorative dental services! We serve the communities of Shorewood, Milwaukee, Whitefish Bay and it’s surrounding areas. Make your appointment today!