Post Op Instructions: Crowns, Veneers and Bridges or Fillings

Temporary crowns :-Temporaries are not strong. They may break or come off occasionally. If so, slip it back on the tooth with some Fixodent™ (Denture Adhesive) and call us for an appointment, please be careful until you come to us so as not to swallow it. If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t put the temporary back in with Fixodent, just bring it to us in a zip lock bag. We will re-cement the temporary ASAP. Please see us asap to replace your temporary as leaving the temporary out of your mouth will move the teeth and the final restoration will not fit. Please floss as directed.

• The size, shape, and color of the temporary do not resemble the final restoration.
• Temporary restorations may leak saliva or food onto the tooth. Sensitivity to hot, cold, pressure or sweets is not uncommon. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, please call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.

Permanent fillings,Crowns, onlays, veneers and bridges:-

• It may take a few days to get used to the new restoration. Gums may have been irritated due to anesthetic or mediceines and will be sore . They usually will heal in few days. Hot and cold sensitivity is possible for a few weeks and occasionally lasts for several months. Usually,the deeper the cavity, the longer the sensitivity. In rare cases of severe persistent sensitivity a root canal treatment might be needed. If the bite doesn’t feel balanced please call us.
• Do not chew hard or too hot or too cold foods on the restoration for a week as your teeth are getting used to the new restoration.
• Proper brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings at prescribed intervals are required to help you retain your final restoration. The only area that a restored tooth can decay is the natural tooth, mostly at the edges . Often, small problems that develop around the restorations can be found at an early stage and corrected easily, but waiting for a longer time may require redoing the entire restoration.
• The gums may recede from the restoration, displaying discolored tooth structure underneath. This situation usually takes place after many years and requires restoration replacement.

Important Information on restorations-Gold, Porcelain, composite, no matter what manmade material is used , it can break or come off. All Crowns are the same for practically all cases except that porcelain, composite can chip and gold /zirconia crowns can come off if excessive pressure is placed. Success of the restoration depends on your caries susceptibility, maintenance, bite and habits. This should be taken into consideration when choosing between a porcelain and gold crown. Although rare, this mostly happens, in cases where patients have severe clenching /grinding or other harmful habits, or have extremely heavy bite and might have to be redone with gold.