Home Care Instructions

Crowns, Bridges, Dental Implant Restorations, Porcelain Veneers, and Fillings

It may take time to adjust to the feel of your new bite. When the bite is altered or the position of the teeth is changed the brain must recognize the new position of your teeth or their thickness as normal. Your speech may also initially be affected, however, you should quickly adapt and be soon speaking normally. 

Some hot and cold sensitivity is normal, as teeth require some time to adapt after treatment. Your gums may also be sore. Warm salt water rinses (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) three times a day will help reduce discomfort. A mild over-the-counter pain medication (Tylenol or ibuprofen) can be used as the label instructs at your discretion.

If you have received a local anesthetic, your lips and tongue may be numb for several hours. Avoid any chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has worn off, as it is easy to bite or burn your tongue while numb.  

During treatment, temporary crowns or bridges may be placed to protect the teeth while the final restoration is being made. Occasionally a temporary crown may come off. You may use a small amount of toothpaste or denture adhesive inside your temporary to help keep it on until arrangements can be made to have it re-cemented. You should 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 crown but pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.

Anything that can crack, chip or damage a natural tooth can do the same to your new teeth. Refrain from biting your fingernails and all foreign objects, such as pens, pencils, paper clips, staples, etc.  

Smoking, coffee, red wine, tea, soda, and berries may stain your new teeth. Minimize their use or consumption to maintain the best appearance of your smile.

If you engage in sports or grind your teeth, let us know so we can make a custom mouthguard to protect your new teeth.  

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. We will arrange to have your cleaning appointments in our office or coordinate with your referring dentist to ensure ongoing maintenance.

If you have any problems or concerns, please let us know. We always welcome your questions.

Dentures and Partials

Infinite patience is required to learn to adapt to your new dentures. It will take time to learn to function and chew. Chewing with dentures is only about 25% as efficient as natural teeth. Begin with soft foods and gradually learn to eat other foods. Many people find that certain foods are always extremely difficult to eat with dentures.

Soreness may develop at any time. If soreness persists, please call to arrange an appointment for an adjustment. Your denture can be more accurately adjusted if the denture is worn during the daytime 24-48 hours prior to your adjustment.

Leave your dentures out of your mouth at night to allow your oral tissues a chance to rest. When not in your mouth, place the dentures in cool water or a cleaning solution.

Clean your dentures at least once a day with a commercial cleaning product and denture brush. It is your personal choice which product you choose to use, however, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  

Never put your dentures in boiling water. This may cause them to warp or distort.

Shrinkage or distortion of your ridges will occur over time. This may result in soreness or the dentures not fitting as tight. The length of time over which these changes occur varies for each individual. When these changes occur, it may be necessary to reline your existing dentures or make a new denture.  

Even the best-made denture may require adhesive. Proper use of adhesive may improve the stability of your denture, however, it should not be used with old, ill-fitting dentures to make them “fit better”. In these cases a reline or a new denture is required.