Post-crown care and precautions

Remember, temporary dental crowns are just that, a provisional fix until a permanent crown is ready. Hence, there are a few precautions you must take when it comes to temporary crowns:

1. Do not eat sticky foods that adhere to your teeth like chewing gum. It might grab and pull off the temporary crown.

2. Try not to use the side of your mouth with the temporary crown and chew with the other side of your mouth.

3. Do not eat hard foods like carrots, apples, etc. which could dislodge or break the crown.

4. Slide floss out rather than lift it out. Lifting the floss out may pull off the temporary crown.

After your permanent crown is in place, continue practicing good oral hygiene; as a crowned tooth is not protected from decay or gum disease. Here are a few things you should watch out for:

1. You shouldn't feel any discomfort or sensitivity. If you notice pain or sensitivity when you bite, you should contact your dentist. Usually this means that the crown is too high on the tooth. This can be fixed easily.

2. You may notice a dark line next to the gum line on your crowned tooth, particularly if you have a porcelain fused-to-metal crown. This dark line is the metal of the crown showing through and is normal.

3. Sometimes, the cement may wash out from under the crown, but the crown does not fall out. When this happens, bacteria can leak in and cause decay. If your crown seems loose, get in touch with your dentist.

4. Your crown may fall out, due to a lack of cement or an improper fit. If this happens, contact your dental clinic immediately and try to schedule a visit for the next day.

1. Dress comfortably.

2. Eat a meal before going to the dental clinic.

3. Prepare small bags of ice to be used after the dental implant surgery.

4. Do not take aspirin or any product containing aspirin 7 days prior to surgery.

5. Do not drink alcoholic beverages for at least 3 days prior to surgery.

Here are some tips for care immediately after your dental surgery:

1. Drink ice water for the first 24 hours.

2. Do not drink hot liquids for the next 24 hours following the surgery.

3. Eat soft, easy-to-chew foods for a week (avoid chewing near the affected area).

4. Use a new toothbrush after surgery.

5. Do not use toothpaste until the sutures are removed.

6. Rinse with water after each meal to cleanse the surgical wound.

When your temporary dental crown is in place:

1. Do not eat sticky foods that adhere to your teeth like chewing gum. It might grab and pull off the temporary crown.

2. Try not to use the side of your mouth with the temporary crown and chew with the other side of your mouth.

3. Do not eat hard foods like carrots, apples, etc. which could dislodge or break the crown.

4. Slide floss out rather than lift it out. Lifting the floss out may pull off the temporary crown.

1. Keep your dentures clean at all times.

2. Remove your dentures at night to rest your gums and give them a chance to come in contact with your saliva.

3. Brush your dentures and soak them in a glass of cold water when you don't have them on. Some special cleaning tablets are available, which you can add to the water when you soak the dentures.

4. Always brush your dentures before putting them back into your mouth.

5. If your dentures begin to collect food or get stained and you are not able to clean them by normal brushing, your dentist can do it for you.

6. Go for regular dental check-ups. The dentist will check if your dentures are alright and are fitting your gums exactly as they did on the first day. The shape of your gums and underlying bone can change with time. Loose-fitting dentures can irritate your gums and cause problems with eating and speech.

The life cycle of porcelain veneers depends a lot on how well you care for them. Though porcelain is long-lasting and the bond between the laminate and the tooth is very strong, it is always good to remember that the exposed part of the tooth is still vulnerable to decay.

Here are a few steps to ensure the longevity of your veneers (they can last from 10-20 years with good care):

1. Brush and floss regularly and diligently.

2. If you notice puffiness in the gums or bleeding around the teeth with veneers, get in touch with your dentist.

3. Go to the dental clinic at least four times a year for maintenance. This will give your dentist the chance to polish the margins, thus prolonging the veneer's life.

4. A porcelain veneer is highly stain-resistant, but coffee, tea, wine, tobacco products and other chromogenic products can over time stain the cement that is used to bond the veneer and the tooth. This can spoil the aesthetic effect achieved by the veneers. Hence, it would be advisable to avoid such foods.

5. Avoid abrasive toothpastes, as they can scratch the margins.

6. Porcelain veneers are durable and strong, but they are not designed to withstand sharp impacts. Biting pins, nails, etc., and striking them with hard objects may cause them to break. If you participate in contact sports, wear a mouth protector.

1. Initially, after the treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive or you may feel pain, especially if there was pain or infection before the root canal. Over-the-counter pain medications can be used to minimize such discomfort.

2. You can also try to rinse the area three times a day with salt water to reduce the discomfort. Another method to alleviate pain and swelling is ice bags. Put ice cubes in a plastic bag and wrap it with a towel. Place this pack on your jaw for about 15 minutes every hour.

3. Till your root canal procedure is done, avoid chewing on the tooth being repaired.

4. After a root canal, you can brush and floss normally.

5. Visit your dentist at the scheduled intervals.

6. If you have gone for further restoration of your teeth like a crown, call the dentist if your bite feels uneven, if your tooth feels "tight" or if you have problems flossing around the tooth.

7. Gently brush your teeth or rinse your mouth 2 to 3 times every day, preferably once after each meal. Your brush must have soft bristles. After brushing and flossing, rinse with an anti-plaque mouthwash.

8. Eat soft foods for a day or two after your first root canal appointment.

9. Do not bend over or lift heavy things for 2 to 3 days, if this makes you feel pain.

1. After your teeth whitening treatment, you need to avoid dark foods (chocolates) and beverages (coffee, red wine, etc.) for some days. Also, do maintain dental hygiene for a longer-lasting sparkle.

2. There are some short term discomforts associated with teeth whitening like sore gums or teeth. Teeth may also become sensitive to hot and cold foods for some time. However, these disadvantages stop after the teeth whitening process is complete.

After the procedure, the patient must follow some extra instructions in order to take care of the filling.

1. Not eat with the new filling for one hour and until the numbness is gone. Try to be extra careful and don´t bite hard or chew on silver Amalgam fillings for at least 24 hours. It is possible the patient will experience cold and heat sensitivity and some soreness on the gum for a few days.

2. If you are supervising children who had fillings done, make sure they don´t bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue).

This procedure is the removal of dental plaque from teeth, to prevent cavities (dental caries), gingivitis, and periodontitis. It helps prevent plaque bacteria build-up on the teeth. This cleaning procedure (Prophylaxis) is recommended at least once every 12 to 24 months in order to remove tartar (mineralized plaque) that may develop even with careful brushing and flossing, especially in areas that are difficult for a patient to reach on his own at home.

1. During this kind of procedure, you may experience some cold and heat sensitivity (especially after deep cleaning). If you received anesthesia do not eat anything until the numbness has worn off.

2. After this, continue your regular brushing and flossing at home. Some bleeding for a day or two after cleaning is normal, but if you experience any excessive bleeding please contact your dentist.

1. Pressure should be placed on the gauze pad that has been placed on the extraction site for one hour. If the bleeding continues new gauze should be placed and pressed on for another 45 minutes. If you are supervising children who have had an extraction done, make sure they don t bite on their numb lips or tongue (it can cause serious injury to their soft tissue).

2. Avoid eating or drinking anything hot on the day of the extraction. Also, do not rinse your mouth; do not use a straw for drinking.

3. Do not spit and do not drink carbonated beverages.

4. Do not brush on the day of the surgery; you can resume your brushing and flossing the day after, gently.

5. You may experience some pain, bruising around your lips and/or some swelling, especially after the extraction of impacted wisdom teeth. Ice bag application and medication prescribed for you will help to minimize your discomfort. Please take all the medication you received based on the instructions given.

6. During the first 2-3 days after the surgery a diet of soft foods and liquids is recommended (soups, yogurt, milk shakes and juice).

7. For more complex Surgical Procedures including Impacted Wisdom Tooth Extraction, Implants, etc; an ice wrap should be worn for the rest of the day and until you go to bed on the day of surgery only (10 minutes on and 5 minutes off). Individual instructions for various surgical treatments will have some unique directions which will be supplied to you at the time of your treatment.