Home Care Instructions
Partial and Complete Denture Care
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Reaching ideal adaptation and comfort will typically require approximately 3 adjustment appointments.
- Delivery ( the day you wear the denture home) – adjustments
- After 24-48 hours – adjustments
- After about 7 days – adjustments
The initial adjustments and modifications will be made at the delivery appointment. After you have worn the denture for a day, while speaking and eating you will typically develop “sore spots”. These are places that the denture rubs and the pressure may cause an ulcer-like area. The second and third adjustments develop harmony with the denture and your individual chewing movements. No two people are identical and no two dentures are identical, these modifications adapt the denture to you.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DENTURE:
Leave the denture out at night so your mouth tissues can rest.
You may brush the denture with toothpaste and a toothbrush or a denture brush and leave in a dry container each night. You do not have to soak in commercial cleaners. If you choose to soak them for stain collection, beware that some cleaners contain chlorine and may bleach the pink color out of the denture. “Stain-Away” as a safe cleaner for your denture. You are welcome to purchase it from us or buy anywhere the product is sold.
Bring the denture to your dental cleaning appointment and your hygienist will professionally clean the denture for you at no extra cost.
Do not make any modifications to your denture, come to see your dental team if you feel an adjustment is necessary.
VALPLAST DENTURES AND VALPLAST PARTIALS:
To maintain the beauty of this material use “Stain-Away” products. Do not use any cleaners that have chlorine in them. Never use a brush of any kind to clean this type of material, as the scratches from the brush will cause stain to stick to the denture and make the appearance less attractive.
Bring the denture to your dental cleaning appointment and your hygienist will professionally clean the denture for you at no extra cost.
HOME CARE FOR EXTRACTION OF TEETH
Proper care of the mouth following most dental procedures can reduce complications and speed the healing of the surgical area:
- PROTECTION OF THE BLOOD CLOT: Maintain gentle pressure by biting on the gauze sponge that has been placed over the surgical area for at least one hour.
- DO NOT RINSE OR USE MOUTH WASH FOR 24 HOURS: After 24 hours you can rinse gently with warm salt water (1/2 tsp salt in 8 oz of warm water) every 1-2 hours, do not use commercial mouth wash during the healing process.
- DISCOMFORT: It is normal to experience a moderate amount of discomfort. If medication has been prescribed, take as directed.
- BRUSHING YOUR TEETH: Brush as normal in all areas of your mouth beside the area where the extraction was performed. A CLEAN MOUTH HEALS FASTER<
- EATING: Adequate food and fluid intake following surgery and/or general extractions is most important. If you find that eating your regular diet is too difficult you may need to eat softer foods and drink plenty of liquids. Nutritional foods are necessary for the healing process.
- AVOID: All excessive activity, do not pick at the surgical area, don’t consume liquids through a straw, avoid alcoholic beverages, gum and no sucking on hard candies.
- SUTURES: If they were used, do not fail to return for their removal on the appointment date given. Some sutures may dissolve on their own. If you have any questions please call the office.
- CONTROL OF SWELLING: Gently apply an ice pack to the area for 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off for the first 24 hours.
- ALLERGIC REACTION: For generalized rash, itching, etc call the dentist immediately.
- DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL IF ANY QUESTIONS ARISE
Post-operative instructions following Root Canal Therapy
A local anesthetic was utilized to thoroughly numb the area being treated. Caution should be taken while you are numb not to bite your cheek, lip or tongue. It is recommended that you wait until the anesthesia has subsided before eating.
A temporary filling now covers the treated tooth. This material takes approximately one half hour to harden. It may chip or flake off the tooth prior to placement of the permanent filling or crown, which is not a cause for concern.
Following this procedure your tooth will be prone to fracture. Do not chew anything hard on the treated tooth until your dentist has placed the final restoration or crown. If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. Continue to brush normally.
Following this procedure you may have soreness and tenderness in the area of the root canal. This is especially true if the tooth was infected or painful prior to the procedure. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for pain relief, which may include the use of over the counter medications or prescription pain medicine. If your doctor has prescribed antibiotics take them as directed and complete the entire regimen.
After Crown and Bridge Appointments
Crowns and 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 Myrtle Beach Office Phone Number 843-449-4372 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 and don’t pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary but 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 Myrtle Beach Office Phone Number 843-449-4372.
After Composite Fillings (white 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 appointment. Injection sites may also be sore. Ibuprofen (Motrin), Tylenol or aspirin (one tablet every 3-4 hours as needed for pain) work well to alleviate the tenderness. If pressure sensitivity persists beyond a few days or if the sensitivity to hot or cold increases, contact our office at Myrtle Beach Office Phone Number 843-449-4372.
You may chew with your composite 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 Myrtle Beach Office Phone Number 843-449-4372.
Immediate Dentures
- Day One — Do not remove your denture, leave the denture in place overnight.
- Day Two and Three – The denture can be removed and cleaned. Rinse your mouth gently with warm salt water. Do not keep the denture out of your mouth for more than 5 minutes. Leave the denture in place, in the mouth overnight, as directed by the dentist.
- After the First Three to Four Days – The dentures should be removed nightly for proper cleaning, and left out of the mouth while you sleep. This gives the tissues proper time to rest, rebound and relax. Place the dentures back in the mouth the next morning. Approximately 6-8 hours of non-denture wear is needed to keep the oral tissues healthy.
- First week – No commercial mouth rinses, mouth washes or peroxide.
- If there are sutures they will be removed by your dentist, or dissolve in approximately one week. Follow the direction of the dentist.
- Typically a new denture will require approximately three adjustments to achieve proper fit and bite relationship corrections.
Discomfort is most likely to occur between 48-72 hours after extractions. It is best managed by communication with your dentist and dental team. If you were prescribed medicine, then please take as directed.
Adjustments are always needed. You will typically be seen at 24 hours, 72 hours, and in 7 days following the extraction and denture placement.