What to expect from:
Fillings Root Canals	Crowns and Bridges Periodontal Treatment	Bleaching Extraction	Emergencies

It is difficult to predict which symptoms, if any, you may experience, and to what extent. In complicated cases, pain medicine may be necessary. If you experience swelling, call our office at (415) 255-0400. It may be necessary to prescribe an antibiotic for you.

A temporary filling may be used to seal the tooth between visits. This type of filling is used to seal the root canal area until the final restoration - usually a crown - can be placed. The temporary filling is soft and may become easily chipped. If you believe the filling has been severely broken or lost, call our office at (415) 255-0400.

Be extremely gentle on the tooth while eating until the final restoration is placed.

During endodontic treatment, the nerve, blood, and nutrient supply are removed. This will cause the tooth to become very brittle and prone to fracturing, which can result in the need to extract the tooth. In many cases, a full-coverage crown restoration (cap) may be needed to prevent this from happening.
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Crowns and Bridges
Following the first appointment for a crown or bridge procedure, a temporary crown is placed on the tooth or the teeth involved. This will protect them while your custom restoration is being made.

Temporary or provisional crowns are of a universal size and shade and they serve a cosmetic function for front teeth. Your final restoration will be custom shaped and shaded to match your teeth. These temporary crowns are designed to be used for a period of two to four weeks only.

Avoid chewing in the area of the temporary crown. Since most people tend to forget this, the next best thing to do is to watch what you eat. Don't eat anything sticky that can pull your temporary crown off.

We use a temporary cement on your temporary crown for easy removal at your next appointment. If your temporary crown comes off between appointments, slip it back on and call the office immediately. You can use denture adhesive inside the temporary crown before reseating it to make it stick better. It is extremely important that you have the temporary crown on at all times, otherwise the tooth may shift and prevent the permanent crown from fitting properly.

Many crowns fit between the gum line. You may experience some discomfort, sensitivity to cold, and pressure for a few days due to the irritation of that area.

After the final cementation of your fixed restoration, it may take a few days to get used to your new crown or bridge. If you feel your bite is not correctly balanced, be sure to call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.

Proper brushing and flossing is recommended to help you retain your final restoration.
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Periodontal Treatment
You can take over-the-counter, non-aspirin pain medication for any discomfort you may have.

Throughout the day, drink at least eight glasses of water to remove any bacteria that is present. Avoid eating crunchy, spicy, or hot foods (like chips, raw carrots, crispy fried chicken) for the rest of the day. Rinse with warm salt water if your gums are sore and tender. Brush gently even if your gums are tender to help remove the plaque that has started to re-form. Always use a gentle fluoridated tartar-control toothpaste. You don't have to floss or use any home-care aids the day of your treatment if there is too much sensitivity. Starting the following day, do so daily.

Follow all of your home-care instructions exactly as directed. 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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Bleaching
- While bleaching your teeth, normal oral hygiene measures should be followed (flossing and brushing).
- Bead the bleaching gel into your custom tray, using caution to not overload the tray with the bleaching gel.
- Insert the tray into your mouth over the teeth and gently wipe any excess gel off from around the edges of your tray, taking extra care not to leave any gel on your gums. Do not rinse your mouth, since this may dilute the bleaching agent.

We recommend you wear your tray for 30 minutes to 1 hour maximum. Never drink, eat, or smoke with your trays in.

After completing the daily bleaching session, remove the tray and gently clean it with a toothbrush. Rinse it completely and let dry thoroughly before using again.

What to Expect
You may experience a slight tingling around your gums. Once again, use caution to not leave the bleaching gel on your gum tissue. This usually happens when you are using too much gel in your tray.

You may have some sensitivity to hot or cold. Always let the office know if you are experiencing abnormal sensitivity. Using a toothpaste made especially for sensitive teeth is also recommended. If the sensitivity is too uncomfortable, stop treatment and advise the office. Usually, most sensitivity stops after several days.

Office Evaluations
It is extremely important that follow-up appointments are made during treatment. These brief appointments will allow us to monitor your progress and evaluate your gum tissue. If necessary, they may make adjustments in your treatment.
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Extraction
For the first 24 hours:
- No smoking
- No use of straws
- No carbonated beverages
- No hot liquids (lukewarm is okay)
- No milk or dairy products if you tend to have an easily upset stomach

After the procedure, do not rinse mouth until the next day. The day after the procedure, rinse mouth gently every three to four hours, especially after meals. Use one-quarter teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water. Continue rinses for several days.

Bleeding
Following extractions, some bleeding is to be expected. When you leave the office, continue to bite down on moist gauze pads for 30 minutes. Change the pads every 30 to 45 minutes depending on bleeding. If persistent bleeding occurs, call our office at (415) 255-0400.

Swelling
A bag of chopped ice wrapped in a towel should be applied to the affected area one-half hour on and one-half hour off for four to five hours. Some swelling is to be expected and is normal. If you experience abnormal swelling, please contact the office.

Pain
For mild to average pain, use any non-aspirin type of medication (for instance, Tylenol). If a pain medication has been prescribed for you, please take it according to prescribed directions.

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, soup.

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 a simple removal.

If any unusual symptoms occur, call our office immediately at (415) 255-0400.

The proper care following oral surgical procedures will hasten recovery and prevent complications. back to top

Emergencies
Emergencies usually fall into several different categories:
- Accidents and trauma
- Allergic reactions to medications
- Infections/swelling
- Pain
- Lost, broken, or loose temporary crowns, bridges, etc.

Our office provides after-hours emergency coverage to our patients. If you have an emergency and need to reach us after hours, please call the office and leave a message; the office staff will follow up with you the next morning.

If you are calling for medication, please have the phone number of the pharmacy you use available when the doctor returns your call.

Prescriptions for medications will not be phoned into a pharmacy after hours unless you are a patient of record in our office.

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