Arkansas Family Dental Patient Resources.

Post Op Instructions

Extraction:

Bite on your gauze for 30 minutes to stop any bleeding. If bleeding continues, place another gauze and continue to apply pressure. For at lease 24 hours DO NOT: Smoke, drink through a straw, drink alcohol, carbonated beverages (such as soda or pop), or hot liquids, blow your nose, participate in strenuous exercise, or spit excessively. Maintain a soft diet for the remainder of the day. Suggestions: warm soup, ice cream, milk shakes (remember no straw), etc. If your pain or discomfort continues call our office for a re-examination. If you were given medications, take them according to the instructions. The following day start rinsing gently with warm salt water (1/4 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of water) for every four hours for the first two days.

Temporary Crown:

Temporary crowns are designed to last 3-4 weeks while the permanent crowns are being customized to your tooth. The temporary protects the tooth underneath and maintains the space necessary for the perfect fit of your permanent crown. That is why we want the temporary to stay intact and on the tooth. Temporary crowns are usually quite fragile, unlike your permanent crown, and can break if put under the stress of eating hard or sticky foods such as candy, chips, etc. Please avoid the chewing of these foods on the temporary crown. If your temporary crown comes off rinse it off and push it back on. If it does not stay in place call our office. It is common for a tooth to be sensitive if the temporary crown comes off. The anesthetic used may affect your bite. If you are hitting this tooth first or harder than other teeth when biting down, contact our office for an adjustment. A high bite can lead to pain and sensitivity. You may brush regularly around the temporary crown but when flossing pull the floss straight down between the teeth then pull it straight out. Do not pull the floss back up as you normally would as this can pull the temporary off.

Periodontal Disease Treatment

You may experience tenderness of your gums following this treatment. If you experience pain or discomfort you may take an over the counter non-aspirin pain medication. If this does not alleviate your pain please call our office. You may also rinse with warm salt water. Please avoid hard, crunchy, and spicy foods until the tenderness goes away. Brush your teeth at least twice a day even if your gums are tender or slightly bleed. Follow all home care instructions given by your dental hygienist. The most important part of periodontal disease treatment is to keep your recall appointments as directed. This is what insures the success of your treatment.

For more patient resources (Emergency Questions, FAQ, Patient Forms), click on the links provided above!