Your well-being is always important to us. To help ensure your dental procedure is successful and to give you the best tools for healing, please review the relevant post op instructions. If you have any questions, at any time, please do not hesitate to call us at (907) 337-0304.
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Dental Emergencies
Dental Emergencies can fall into several categories:
Accidents and Trauma
Allergic Reactions to Medications
Infections/Swelling and Pain
Lost, Broken, or Loose Temporary Crowns, Bridges, etc.
Our office does extend dental emergency coverage to our patients. If you have an emergency and need to reach Dr. Mishler or Dr. Esplin after hours, please call the office and leave a message for the office staff, so that they may follow up with you the next morning. If necessary, call the emergency number given on the answering machine.
Please contact the office if you experience any unusual symptoms.
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Home Care Temporary Bridge/Crown
Until your next visit to have your permanent restoration(s) placed, please follow a few simple home care tips:
Avoid extremely hot or cold food/beverages, as they will increase tooth sensitivity.
Brush at regular intervals, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride. Be sure to brush very gently so you will not loosen the temporary.
Floss very carefully around the area at least once a day.
Avoid chewing excessively hard foods such as candy, ice, raw carrots, etc., for at least one-half hour, as the cement we use to temporarily place the restoration(s) takes that amount of time to set up. if the restoration loosens, call us and we will be happy to re-cement it. If you are unable to contact us, simply go to your nearest pharmacy/drug store and purchase Fixodent (denture adhesive). Replace the temporary back on your tooth, holding it in place until it sets up. However, you will still need to see us as soon as possible.
Please contact the office if you experience any unusual symptoms.
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Home Care Following Periodontal Treatment
You can take over-the-counter, non-aspirin, pain medication for any discomfort you may have.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water today to remove any bacteria that is present.
Avoid eating crunchy, spicy or hot foods i.e. chips, raw carrots, crispy fried chicken.
Rinse with warm salt water if your gums are sore and tender.
Brush gently today, even if your gums are tender, to help remove the plaque that has started to reform. Always use a gentle fluoridated tartar control toothpaste.
If there is too much sensitivity, you don't have to floss or use any home care aids on the day of your treatment.
Starting the next day, do so daily.
Follow all of your home care instructions exactly. Additionally, keep all scheduled hygiene appointments. These appointments are very important to the success of your treatment.
Please contact the office if you experience any unusual symptoms.
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Home Care After Extraction
BLEEDING To control bleeding, bite firmly on the gauze for about 30 minutes. If bleeding persists, place a fresh folded gauze pad over the area and bite down firmly for another 30 minutes. Repeat as necessary.
SWELLING Use ice bag or chopped ice wrapped in a towel to help control swelling. Apply to area as soon as you get home and alternate periods of 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, the first 12 hours, if needed.
PAIN For mild to moderate pain, take two over the counter pain relievers such as Tylenol and Advil; then take doses as prescribed on the bottle as needed.
DIET Maintain an adequate diet by eating soft foods for the first 24 hours. Avoid hard crisp foods such as chips. Examples of soft foods are spaghetti, scrambled eggs, custards, Jell-o, baked potatoes, soups.
BONY EDGES Small, sharp bone fragments may work up through the gums during healing. These are not roots. If annoying, return to the office for their simple removal.
The proper care following oral surgical procedures will hasten recovery and prevent complications.
Please contact the office if you experience any unusual symptoms.
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Home Care After Fillings
CHEWING Avoid chewing hard foods such as hard candy, ice and raw carrots. These extreme forces can damage the resin material. Also avoid tobacco, red wine, coffee, blueberries, teas and other staining substances.
PREVENTATIVE CARE To care for your new restoration, practice daily:
Brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste after each meal.
Flossing at least once a day.
Swishing vigorously for 30 seconds daily, using a rinse that contains fluoride.
THE FUTURE You will enjoy years of satisfaction from your resin restoration although, some sensitivity may be experienced in the first few weeks. The following situations may occur:
Slight staining at locations around the structure of the tooth, where it was restored. If this situation arises, we can often remove these stains.
Slight chipping on the tooth/teeth with the restoration. Usually these chips can be smoothed out during a quick appointment.
Gums receding from the restoration to display an unfavorable appearance underneath. If this condition occurs, it may require reshaping or modifying the gums.
Regular six-month examinations are necessary to keep restorations healthy and for early detection of problems that can develop over time.
Please contact the office if you experience any unusual symptoms.
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Home Care After Bridge/Crown Placement
CHEWING Avoid chewing hard foods such as hard candy, ice and raw carrots. These extreme forces can damage the resin material. Also avoid tobacco, red wine, coffee, blueberries, teas and other staining substances.
SENSITIVITY There may be some mild sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverages in the first few weeks. Please contact us if it still persists longer than six weeks.
PREVENTATIVE CARE To care for your new restoration, please practice these daily:
Brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste after each meal.
Flossing at least once a day.
Swishing vigorously for 30 seconds daily, using a rinse that contains fluoride.
THE FUTURE You should enjoy years of satisfaction from your restorations. However, there may be some conditions that can occur. If any of them do occur, please contact us immediately to avoid further complications:
Movement or looseness in the restoration.
Sensitivity to sweet foods.
A peculiar taste from the restoration site.
Breakage of a piece of material from the restoration.
Sensitivity to pressure.
Regular six-month examinations are necessary to keep restorations healthy and for early detection of problems that can develop over time.
Please contact the office if you experience any unusual symptoms.
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Home Care After Root Canal Treatment
For 2-3 hours after the procedure, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth, as you will still be numb, and may chew on your cheek.
You may want to place an ice pack over the area, to help minimize the swelling. Apply the pack every hour for approximately 10-15 minutes at a time, until the swelling has decreased.
For the first 24 hours, DO NOT smoke and minimize the number of times you smoke during the remaining days of the healing process, as it may cause delays.
Frequent rinsing with warm salt water for 1-2 days after the procedure will aid the healing process.
Eat a soft diet for 2-3 days after the prcedure, and remember not to chew on the treated side. Avoid extremely hot or cold foods/beverages. Whenever possible chew on the opposite side of the tooth we just restored, until the permanemt crown has been placed. Until that time, your tooth is still temporary and may fracture.
Before going to sleep, if the area is still bothering you, we recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. (i.e. Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, etc.)
If any antibiotics have been prescribed, they are to be taken until finished.
Please contact the office if you experience any unusual symptoms.