Treatment Care Instructions
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Post-Whitening Care Instructions for in-office Zoom!™ Bleaching
Congratulations! You’ve just experienced a revolutionary tooth whitening procedure.
The next 48 hours are important in enhancing and maximizing your whitening results for a long lasting, bright and healthy smile. For the next 48 hours, dark staining substances should be avoided. If it stains your clothes, it will eventually stain your teeth! Beware of:
- Coffee and/or tea
- Cola
- Berry pie
- Tobacco products
- Red wine
- Red sauces
- Mustard or ketchup
- Soy sauce
Additional ways to maintain your sparkling Zoom!™ smile:
- Avoid staining related habits
- Use an electric toothbrush
- Seek regular professional dental hygiene care to maintain oral health, keep staining to a minimum and determine the need for whitening touch-ups.
- Practice good oral hygiene including thorough tooth brushing, flossing to remove debris from between the teeth, and tongue cleaning.
We will assist you in selecting the best products to maintain not only a white smile, but a healthy one
as well!
At your Zoom!™ visit you will be given custom-made trays. These trays are used for two reasons:
- Place the Satin Finish fluoride gel in the trays (to cover the teeth) if your teeth are sensitive for the first 24 hours. Some patients experience sensitivity such as “zingers” or thermal sensitivity 12 to 36 hours after Zoom!™ whitening. Placing the Satin Finish in the trays and seating them over the teeth will help calm the teeth down during a sensitive episode. You are also welcome to take any type of over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil, Motrin or Extra-strength Tylenol.
- You will also be asked to utilize (for a few applications over the next three to five days) a bleaching solution to be put in the trays and worn for a minimum of one hour. Your teeth are very porous for the first 48 hours after in-office bleaching and that is why we ask you to refrain from foods that easily stain. It is also ideal for us to “top off” your bleaching sessions with some take home products; which you were given today upon completion of your bleaching appointment.
In summary, avoid staining-type foods for the next 48 hours, if you have sensitivity in the first 24
hours; utilize the Satin Finish™ fluoride gel in the trays to cover your teeth and help protect them from sensitivity (remember it’s okay to use over-the-counter pain relievers as you would normally for minor pain) and when your teeth are not too sensitive any longer try bleaching a few more times with the take home product during the first three to five days after your office visit to maximize your results and
attain the whitest shade possible.
If you have ANY questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Home Care Instructions After Oral Surgery
Discomfort: Following any surgical procedure some amount of pain or discomfort is expected. Do not be alarmed. Take the pain medication that was prescribed or call your doctor at 503.636.3641. If no prescription was given, take 2 tablets of Tylenol (or acetaminophen as per package instructions for your age) every 3-4 hours or Advil (or ibuprofen) 50 mg per 50 pounds of weight every 6 hours as needed for pain relief.
Swelling: Commonly develops and is expected to some degree. Apply an ice bag for the first 24 hours – 15 minutes on, then 15 minutes off as frequently as possible the first day.
Bleeding: Protect the area where surgery has occurred. Bite on the gauze provided for at least an hour after surgery, and change the gauze every 20-30 minutes. Oozing is expected, however, if bleeding does not stop place a moist tea bag and hold firmly in place over the extraction site by biting down on it for one hour.
Diet: It is important to eat and drink following surgery, however only soft and/or liquid foods for the first 24 hours. After 24 hours eat or drink whatever is most comfort- able. Avoid chewing directly on the extraction site(s) when possible. Avoid drinking with straws for two weeks following surgery.
Rinsing: DO NOT RINSE YOUR MOUTH FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS! After that it is helpful to very gently rinse with warm salt water gently (8 ounces warm, not hot water and 1 teaspoon salt).
Following: After surgery some small bone chips or sharp fragments may work loose and come through the gums. These are not roots, but they may be removed by your dentist if they cause discomfort.
Activity: Avoid any excessive activity after surgery. Do not pick at the extraction site. Do not drink any carbonated beverages, NO straws for drinking, NO spitting or rinsing vigorously, NO ALCOHOL or SMOKING.
If any of the following occur: Contact the office immediately! Severe bleeding, high fever, rapidly expanding swelling with difficulty in swallowing or breathing, persistent nausea or vomiting.
If you have ANY questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Local Anesthetic and What to Expect
When you receive local anesthetic in your mouth there are a few things to remember:
- Chew on the opposite side of the mouth until the numbness has gone
- Don’t drink or eat hot foods or smoke until the numbness wears off to prevent burning yourself
- Some people experience a little trouble swallowing while numb, so be careful of choking as well
- Use caution that you don’t bite your lip, cheeks or tongue while numb
New Fillings and Their Care
Now that your new filling or fillings have been placed there are a few directions you need to follow:
- First, read the information above about receiving local anesthetic if you were numbed up to have your restorations (fillings) done
- These fillings are complexly hardened when you leave the office. You can eat on them as soon as the numbness wears off
- Although the fillings are polished before you leave, they may feel slightly gritty at first. This should go away after a couple of days. If not please call back.
- Sometimes after a filling is done and the numbness has worn off, the filling may seem high. If this occurs call our office for an adjustment. The filling will not wear down and the sensitivity will likely increase if it is left unadjusted.
- Teeth are sometimes cold sensitive after a filling is placed. This can be a normal reaction from the nerve following decay removal. If you use whitening products, take a break from them and try using sensitivity protection type toothpaste (Sensodyne or Crest for Sensitivity). Taking over the counter pain relief, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Aleve) for a day or two. If these measures do not bring you relief within a few days, please call our office for an appointment.
Your new filling does not require any additional care other than daily brushing and flossing. We recommend fluoride toothpaste to help prevent further decay.
If you have experienced recurrent decay or have had multiple recurring cavities you may want to use a fluoride rinse like Act or other fluoride containing rinses. There are also prescription strength fluoride paste and gels that our office can recommend. Please ask at your next visit or call (503.636.3641).
Call our office if you experience:
- Discomfort that is not alleviated with OTC medication
- Discomfort wakes you up in the middle of the night
- Warm or hot liquids or food cause discomfort
- Tooth has a dull achy feeling that is progressively worse each day
A tooth that was restored and was cracked or had severe decay may sometimes need endodontic treatment (root canal).
Care After a Crown and/or Bridge Prep and Temporary Crowns
Read the section above on care after receiving anesthetic. Here are some tips to follow to help you until your permanent restorations are placed:
- Try to chew on the opposite side of the mouth from where the temporary crowns are until the permanent are placed. Avoid chewing on the temporary at all.
- Be cautious about chewing hard or sticky foods. They can loosen a temporary.
- Floss like normal except around the temporary; pull the floss through rather than straight up so as not to loosen the temporary crown(s).
- The tissue may be tender around where the crowns were prepared. If so, rinse with warm, salt water two to three times daily for several days or until you feel relief.
- Advil or Aleve by manufacturer’s instructions. If stronger pain medications are needed please call our office so that we can check the health of the tooth/teeth.
If the crown comes loose, do not be alarmed. Contact our office and we can cement it back on for you on short notice (503.636.3641).
After the permanent crown(s) is placed the information provided in the “New Filling and Their Care” section would apply (see above).
Call our office if you experience:
- Discomfort that is not alleviated with OTC medication
- Discomfort wakes you up in the middle of the night
- Warm or hot liquids or food cause discomfort
- Tooth has a dull achy feeling that is progressively worse each day
A tooth that was restored and was cracked or had severe decay may sometimes need endodontic treatment (root canal).