Home Instructions
After Cosmetic Reconstruction
Remember 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 302-732-3852 so we can schedule an adjustment appointment.
It is normal to experience some hot or 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 (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) three times a day will reduce pain and swelling. A mild pain medication (one tablet of Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin) every 3-4 hours) should ease any residual discomfort.
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 new 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 dental cleanings. We also support the use of prescription or over-the-counter fluoride agents to help protect your new dental work from dental caries.
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, tea, red wine, and berries.
If you engage in sports let us know so we can make a custom mouthguard. If you grind your teeth at night, wear a nightguard that has been professionally made for you. 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 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 302-732-3852 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 the way we demonstrate at your appointment. Do not pull up on the floss which may dislodge the temporary but pull the floss 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 302-732-3852.
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, and 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 and cold increases, contact our office at 302-732-3852.
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 302-732-3852.
After the insertion of Complete Dentures
Getting use to your denture may take some time.
It is normal for your denture to feel odd or bulky for the first few weeks. Keep wearing the denture until you get used to it.
- The lower one may feel loose until your cheek and tongue muscles learn to hold it in place.
- You may have extra saliva for a short time.
- Some soreness should be expected for the first week or two. Call your dentist if you develop a sore or irritation that does not go away. Your denture may need to be refit.
- Your dentist will check on your progress and make any adjustments needed to make you more comfortable.
Early on, you may have trouble eating with a new denture.
- Begin by eating soft foods cut into small pieces
- Chew on both sides of your mouth to keep the pressure even.
- Do not chew gum or eat very sticky or hard foods.
You will also need to practice talking with your new denture.
- Try reading out loud and repeating tricky words in front of a mirror.
- Talk slowly to prevent muffled speech.
- If your denture slips out of place when you laugh, cough, or smile, bite down and swallow to reposition it.
Give your dentures a break
When you get new dentures, your dentist may tell you to wear them most of the time. Dentures should not be worn 24 hours a day unless recommended by your dentist during the adjustment period. Your dentist may tell you to take them out when you go to bed and put them back in when you wake up.
Wearing your denture around the clock can cause the tissues in your mouth to become irritated.
Denture Adhesive
Your dentist may tell you to use denture adhesive as you get used to wearing your denture. But, a denture that fits correctly usually only needs saliva to create a tight seal that holds it in place.
Denture Adhesives can help a loose-fitting denture for a short time, but if you need to use adhesive all the time, it may be because your denture doesn’t fit correctly. A denture that does not fit well may cause irritation and can lead to mouth sores and bone loss. If your denture is loose, have your dentist check it. If you are using an adhesive, make sure you follow the instructions for use.
You must still take good care of your mouth
Even if you wear dentures, it’s important to take good care of your mouth.
Brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth twice each day with a soft-bristled brush before you put in your denture. Eating a balanced diet also is important to keep your mouth healthy.
You will still need regular oral exams by your dentist even after you have lost your natural teeth. During a visit, your dentist will look for signs of disease such as fungal infection (also called thrush), oral cancer, or cancer of the head and neck. Your dentist will also check to see if your dentures fit well or need adjustments.
Caring for your Denture
Like natural teeth, your must take good care of your denture. Plaque and stains can still form on dentures. Here are some tips on how to care for your dentures:
- Clean your denture every day. Take it out of your mouth and rinse off food particles. Use a special brush made for cleaning dentures or a toothbrush with soft bristles. Brushes with hard bristles can scratch the surface of the denture. Wet the brush and, if you like, you may use a nonabrasive denture cleanser paste to gently clean the surfaces of the denture. You may also submerge your denture in a solution containing a denture cleanser for the recommended time.
- Do not use toothpaste to clean your denture. Some toothpaste has abrasive particles that can damage the denture base and teeth. Brush with a nonabrasive denture cleanser instead.
- Keep your denture in water or in a specially made denture soaking solution when you are not wearing it. This will help your denture keep its shape.
- Rinse your denture well after using any denture cleanser. The cleanser may contain chemicals that should not go in the mouth.
- Look for denture cleansers with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance, a symbol of safety and effectiveness.
- Be careful when handling your denture. It is delicate and can break if dropped. When removing, handling, or cleaning it, try to stand over a sink covered with a towel or fill it with cool water in case it falls. Keep your denture away from children and pets when you are not wearing it.
Don’t try to adjust your denture yourself!
Your dentist is the only person who should make repairs to your denture. Trying to make your own adjustments can harm your denture and your mouth. Don’t use over-the-counter reline materials or glues on your denture. They may contain harmful chemicals and aren’t a long-term solution for fixing your denture.
Denture Replacements
The normal lifetime of dentures is 5 to 10 years, but this can vary widely depending on the patient, your gumline and dental ridge will continue to change in shape and shrink, even if you wear dentures. Over time, dentures may need relining or replacing.
Relining is when your dentist adds new material to the underside of the denture base to fit your gums. Most of the time the denture will need to be sent to a laboratory for a few days for this repair.
It’s important to replace worn or ill-fitting dentures before they cause problems. Your mouth changes naturally with age. Your jaws may line up differently as bones and gum ridges recede and shrink. At some point, your dentures might not fit well and may need to be remade. Your dentist will let you know when it’s time to replace your dentures.
After the insertion of Removable Partial Dentures
Your new removable partial denture
It takes practice to put and take out a removable partial denture. It may feel a bit odd or tight for the first few weeks. But in time, you will get used to it. Never force the denture into place by biting down. This could bend or break the clasps or damage your teeth. Your dentist will show you how to place and remove it.
You should not wear your removable partial denture 24 hours a day
Your dentist may tell you to take out the partial denture at bedtime and put it back in when you wake up. Usually, your dentist will make follow-up appointments to look for pressure points or sore spots. They will also adjust your partial denture so that it fits comfortably.
Eating and speaking
When you replace missing teeth, eating is much easier. But, it takes practice.
- Begin by eating soft foods cut into small pieces.
- Chew on both sides of the mouth to keep the pressure even.
- Do not chew gum or eat very sticky or hard foods.
If you have missing teeth, wearing a removable partial denture can help you speak more clearly. If you find that some words are hard to say at first, try reading out loud in front of a mirror. With time and practice, you should be able to speak well.
Caring for our removable partial denture
Like natural teeth, you must take good care of your removable partial denture. Here are some tips:
- Clean your partial denture every day. Take it out of your mouth and rinse off food particles. It’s best to use a special brush made for cleaning dentures, but you can use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Wet the denture brush and put denture cleaner on it. Or, you can use a little bit of liquid dish soap.
- Do not use toothpaste to clean dentures. Some toothpaste have abrasive particles that can damage the denture base and teeth. Brush with a nonabrasive denture cleanser instead.
- When brushing your partial denture, hold it over a folded towel or a sink filled with cool water. Your partial denture is very delicate and can break easily.
- Keep your partial denture in water or in a specially made partial denture soaking solution when you are not wearing it.
- Rinse your partial denture well after using any denture cleanser. It may contain chemicals that should not go into the mouth.
- Look for denture cleansers with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance, a symbol of safety and effectiveness.
- Brush your natural teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice each day. Floss or use another between-the-teeth cleaner once a day.
- Pay extra attention to cleaning the teeth that fit under the denture’s metal clasps. Your dentist or dental hygienist can show you how to properly brush and clean between these teeth.
- Keep your denture away from curious children and pets when you are not wearing it, because damage can occur.
Adjustments and repairs
As you get older, the fit of your removable partial denture can change. Your jaw bone can shrink, making a space under the denture. Food can get trapped. The denture clasps also may get loose from normal wear.
If your partial denture needs adjusting do not try to adjust it yourself. You can harm both the denture and your mouth. And, don’t use household glues to repair it because they can contain harmful chemicals.
If your removable partial denture breaks, cracks, or chips, or if one of its teeth becomes loose, see your dentist as soon as possible. Also, your partial denture may need to be adjusted if you lose one of your supporting natural teeth. Most repairs will need to be sent to the dental laboratory and you may be without your denture for a few days. The sooner you make the appointment, the sooner you can have a well-fitting partial denture again.
Your dentist will tell you how often to schedule dental visits. Regular dental exams and professional cleanings are very important to keep your smile healthy.