Instructions for Nightguards

• Each morning, clean your nightguard with liquid soap and warm water. Effervescent cleansers such as Efferdent may be used if the directions are followed. After cleaning your nightguard, place it in the provided case and allow it to air dry.
• Bring your nightguard to every dental appointment. We may need to adjust it after certain procedures. We will also clean it at no charge.
• Do not wear your nightguard for more than 8-10 hours per day. Wearing your nightguard for longer periods of time may result in changes to your bite.
• Animals love nightguards! Keep your nightguard out of reach.
• Never place your nightguard in hot water or in extreme heat as it may melt.
• If you experience any discomfort, please stop using your nightguard and let us know.

Do

• Use your fingers to put your aligners in place. First place the aligners over your front teeth, and then use your fingers to push the aligner down gently over your molars. When aligners are correctly inserted, they will fit all the way down on the teeth, with no space between the top of the aligners and the top of the teeth. Aligners will fit tightly at first but should fit well at the end of the two week period.
• Keep aligners in except when flossing, brushing, eating. It’s also best to remove the aligners when drinking warm beverages such as coffee or tea.
• Remove the aligner by pulling it off both sides of your back teeth simultaneously then lifting it off of your front teeth. Place your aligners in the case we provided any time they are not being worn.
• Clean aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
• Wear each set of aligners for two weeks unless our office directs you to vary from this schedule.
• Wear aligners in the correct numerical order. (Each aligner is labeled by number and with a U or an L to designate upper or lower.)
• Keep all of your old aligners and bring them to your orthodontic appointments.

Don't

• Don’t place your aligners in or on a napkin or tissue. Many aligners have accidentally been thrown out this way!
• Don’t use your teeth to “bite” your aligners into place.
• If you have pets, don’t place your aligners anywhere that your pets can reach them. Pets are attracted to saliva and would enjoy chewing on your Invisalign trays!
• Do not use Denture cleaner, alcohol, or bleach to clean your aligners.
• Do not use boiling water or warm water on your aligners.
• Don’t chew gum with your aligners in.
• It would be best not to smoke while wearing aligners. The smoke can stain the aligners as well as your teeth.

Just in Case

• If you lose the tab attached to your tooth that helps the aligner snap on, please call our office right away so that we can determine if you need to come in before your next scheduled appointment.
• If you lose one of your aligner trays, please wear the next tray if you have it. If you do not have the next tray, please wear the previous tray. It is extremely important to use a tray to keep teeth from shifting. Call our office to let us know which tray was lost so that we can determine if a replacement tray is needed. There will be a fee if replacement trays are required.

Following Bleaching:

Following Custom Trays:

• For the first 24 hours you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity.
• Do not consume hot foods or beverages until the anesthesia and numbness have worn off.
• Avoid vigorous physical exercise as well as extremely hot or spicy foods for the first 24 hours.
• Do not consume alcoholic beverages or smoke for at least 48 hours following treatment.
• Some bleeding following a deep cleaning is normal, but if you experience excessive bleeding, please call our office.
• You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen as needed according to the instructions on the label or those provided by your doctor.
• A warm salt water rinse, approximately one teaspoon in an eight-ounce glass of water, three times a day can be helpful.
• Brush and floss gently following a deep cleaning, resuming normal brushing and flossing when the soreness is gone.
• Follow any other instructions provided by our office during your visit.
• Please take all medications as prescribed.

Please follow the guidelines below and contact us with any questions.

• No eating or drinking for the first 30 minutes following your treatment. Also, avoid feeling around your tooth with your tongue. This is to allow the temporary filling sufficient time to harden.
• If you were given any prescriptions, please have them filled promptly and take them as directed. If no prescriptions were given, you may choose to take ibuprofen medications such as Motrin or Advil (as long as you do not have any allergies to these medications) for alleviation of discomfort and swelling. Alternatively, you may use Tylenol. Do not exceed the guidelines printed on the label for any medication. If you are unable to achieve adequate pain control, please call our office.
• Applying a cold compress to the face near the treatment area will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but place a cloth between the ice and your skin at all times. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off for the next 6-8 hours as needed.
• Once you resume eating and drinking, avoid chewing or biting on the treatment area until your permanent restoration is placed. The temporary filling or crown placed immediately following root canal treatment is usually a soft composite that is vulnerable to fracturing (cracking). For this reason, it is important to avoid chewing on hard substances such as peanuts, pretzels, hard candy, ice cubes, etc.. You may experience increased sensitivity prior to the placement of the final restoration. You will need to see a restorative dentist within a month to have a permanent crown or filling placed. Please contact your restorative dentist to make an appointment at your earliest convenience. Waiting longer than a month increases the chances that the temporary will fracture or that decay will develop in the affected area.
• Please keep the treated area clean by gently brushing and flossing regularly.
• It is rare for a temporary filling to fall out although it may divot while in use. If the temporary falls out, please contact your general dentist as soon as possible. If your temporary falls out after office hours, you may purchase some temporary filling material from a pharmacy and follow the included instructions to cover the area until you can be seen in our office.
• Some discomfort is normal for 2 to 4 days following root canal therapy. In some cases, the tooth and surrounding tissue may be sore for a few weeks following treatment.
• Please brush and floss as usual unless otherwise instructed by our office. Follow any other instructions provided by our office during your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed.

THIS SECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

While flare-ups are rare, they occur in about 5% of cases and may cause significant pain. They generally only occur with teeth that are extremely irritated and/or infected or with teeth that have a history of prior treatment. These sometimes occur randomly, even on patients that have had root canals done in the past without problems. If you have a flare-up, you may experience moderate to severe pain, swelling, throbbing, or general discomfort; please contact our office right away. You may be prescribed additional medication such as antibiotics, and/or you may be asked to come to the office for further treatment.

• Some pain, bleeding, swelling, and seeping is normal following oral surgery. Please do not try to view the site by pulling on your lip and do not probe the area with your tongue or fingers. If you experience excessive bleeding or discomfort after 48-72 hours, please call our office immediately.
• You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen according to the instructions on the label or those provided by our office as needed.
• Swelling around the face, eyes, and surgical site is not uncommon and may become more noticeable two to three days following surgery. Applying a cold compress to the face near the implant site will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply ice directly to your skin but place a cloth between the ice and your skin at all times. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 36 hours the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling.
• A warm salt water rinse, approximately ½ teaspoon in an eight-ounce glass of water, three times a day can be helpful.
• Avoid brushing your teeth near the surgery site but brush and floss the rest of your mouth as instructed by our office.
• For 24 hours following your surgery, do not suck on a straw, brush, rinse, spit, or smoke.
• For the first 24 hours, you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity. Avoid hot and spicy foods as well as carbonated and alcoholic beverages.
• Restrict your activities on the day of your surgery. Avoid excessive work or play, and resume normal activity the following day as tolerated.
• After the first day, gently rinse with a warm salt water rinse, approximately one-half teaspoon of salt in an eight-ounce glass of water, three times a day.
• During the first few days after surgery restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods such as soups, yogurt, juice, and smoothies.
• Follow any other instructions provided by the office on your visit. Please take all medications as prescribed including your prescribed antibiotics to help prevent infection.
• If you have a denture that overlaps the implant site, please minimize the use of the denture following surgery to allow the site to heal. After the first week, you should be able to gradually increase the amount of time you can wear your denture.
• It is extremely important to keep your follow-up appointment(s) so that we can monitor the healing process.
• If pain and swelling are increasing after a few days, please call our office right away.

The following soft foods are recommended:

• ✔ Soup
• ✔ Pasta
• ✔ Scrambled eggs
• ✔ Chopped meats
• ✔ Mashed potatoes
• ✔ Macaroni & cheese
• ✔ Sugar free gelatin
• ✔ Liquid dietary supplements
• ✔Drink plenty of plain water.

The following foods must be avoided:

• ✔ Hard foods (e.g., nuts, popcorn, chips)
• ✔ Sticky foods (e.g., chewing gum, taffy, candies)
• ✔ Hot foods and liquids
• ✔ Carbonated beverages (e.g., beer, soda, mineral water)

• It is important that you avoid chewing and hot liquids until all of the numbness has worn off. You may unknowingly bite or burn your tongue, cheek, etc.
• Some mild discomfort is to be expected. Your gums, teeth, and jaw all have the potential for being sore or sensitive to pressure or changes in temperature. Generally, this only lasts for a few days.
• We recommend that you take a single dose of an over-the-counter pain medication before your anesthetic wears off. The ideal dosage and medication is 400 mg of ibuprofen. If you are not able to take this medication, 500 mg of acetaminophen is the second best choice. Additional pain medications/prescriptions, if provided, will be explained to you. Do not take any medication to which you are allergic or which any doctor has instructed you not to take.
• Please take the provided antibiotic to help clear/prevent infection.  It is important that you take the antibiotic as directed and complete the full course of the antibiotic. Do not take any medication to which you are allergic or which any doctor has instructed you not to take.
• If provided, gently rinse your mouth with the chlorhexidine oral rinse after breakfast and before bed to keep the surgical area clean in the absence of brushing and flossing in that area.
• It is important that you respect the fragility of the bone graft area. Eat only recommended soft foods for 1 week. Eat slowly and carefully. Concentrate on chewing your food away from the area of the bone graft. Drink plenty of fluids.
• You may experience minor bleeding for the next 48 hours. If bleeding occurs, bite down on the provided gauze for 30 minutes at a time until the bleeding stops. Do not brush or floss in the area of the procedure for 1 week. Avoid significant exercise for the next 24 hours as it may negatively affect your healing.
• Do not use drinking straws, spit, smoke, or drink alcohol for the next 72 hours.
• Sometimes the cover dislodges from over the bone graft. It looks like a small, mushy sponge. If this occurs, it is of little consequence, and you do not need to let us know. Also, the sutures may become loose. Unless the loose strands are bothersome, you do not need to let us know about this.
• We would like to see you for a quick post-treatment visit in about 1 week. Any sutures will be removed at this appointment. Removing sutures does not require any needles or anesthetic.
• If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately.

It is important that you avoid chewing and hot liquids until all of the numbness has worn off. You may unknowingly bite or burn your tongue, cheek, etc.

Some mild discomfort is to be expected. Your gums, teeth, and jaw all have the potential for being sore or sensitive to pressure or changes in temperature. Generally, this only lasts for a few days.

We recommend that you take a single dose of an over-the-counter pain medication before your anesthetic wears off. The ideal dosage and medication is 400 mg of ibuprofen. If you are not able to take this medication, 500 mg of acetaminophen is the second best choice. Additional pain medications/prescriptions, if provided, will be explained to you. Do not take any medication to which you are allergic or which any doctor has instructed you not to take.

Sometimes, due to the condition of your tooth, it is necessary for us to manipulate your gums during treatment. If your gums feel sore, swish with warm salt water 5 times per day until the soreness goes away.

As with natural teeth, always avoid hard and sticky foods. These can cause a host of problems, including fractures, dental decay, and failed restorations.

It may take some time to get used to your new restorations. Hot and cold sensitivity may be present for a few weeks. Your tongue may notice small, grainy pieces of excess bonding material (cement). These small pieces normally come off on their own within a few days of regular brushing and flossing. If you still notice them after 3 days, please contact our office; we can schedule an appointment to quickly remove them. Lastly, your bite may feel strange for a few days. If this persists for more than 3 days, please contact our office; we can schedule an appointment to quickly adjust your bite.

Proper brushing and flossing and regular professional cleanings are necessary to maintain your restorations. This cannot be overemphasized.