Faq's

Healing following Dental Implant placement is usually fast and uncomplicated if you follow the directions below.

• Often with Dental Implants there is very little bleeding. To control any bleeding you may have, bite on gauze with firm pressure for 30-60 minutes or as directed, to encourage bleeding to clot. Remove the gauze and if site if still bleeding, replace with a new gauze, Repeat as necessary until heavy bleeding stops. Remember that Blood and saliva mix in the mouth and make it look like more bleeding than there actually is. The site could ooze for as long as 24-48 hours.
• Certain medications can make you bleed for longer periods. Elevate your head with a towel on your pillows to reduce bleeding and swelling. If you notice Swelling and bruising, Ice packs can be used, 20 minutes on-20 minutes off, for the first 24 hours.
  If you wear or were given a removable prosthetic (Denture or Partial) we will give you specific instructions about wearing it while you heal.
• We encourage NO SMOKING for several months to ensure the long-term success of Dental Implants. Absolutely NO SMOKING or use any Tobacco Products for at least 72 HOURS. Tobacco slows healing and increases the risk that your body will reject the implant(s).
• Do not spit, suck on the wound or drink through a straw for 72 hours.
• Do not Blow your nose Hard. Do not sneeze, if you must, do so with your mouth open.
• In most cases you will be given a rinse specially to use while healing. Start using this rinse the day after your implant is placed and rinse 2 times per day for 1 week. Do not rinse vigorously or spit, instead hold the rinse in your mouth and allow it to fall out gently. After the first week you can use warm salt water (1 tablespoon to a small glass of warm water) 2-3 times per day if necessary. Do not brush the area for 1 week or until directed. You can use a gauze or thin cloth to wipe the surrounding teeth if necessary.
• Do not drink Alcoholic drinks (No Mouthwash unless directed), No Carbonated drinks or Hot Drinks.
• Avoid chewing until the numbness has worn off completely to prevent possible injury to soft tissue. For the first 48 hours chew on the opposite side and eat soft foods. Avoid spicy and crunchy foods such as chips, nuts, popcorn for 7 days.
• Limit activities such as exercise, heavy lifting or activities that require you to bend for 48 hours. It is normal to experience some pain for several days after surgery.
• If you were prescribed medications to control discomfort take it before the anesthetic has worn off, then as recommended or needed. You can also control pain with Over the Counter Ibuprofen or Tylenol. If Antibiotics were prescribed take them as directed until gone, even if symptoms and signs of infection are gone. If Sutures were placed, you will be given an appointment to return. Some sutures may come out or change position while healing. This is normal.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our office for assistance at 209-523-2100.

It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue. This will also allow the temporary restorative material to harden.
You will most likely feel soreness in the area as well as pressure when you bite down. For this reason, you should avoid hard and chewy foods. Do not eat on the treated side of your mouth for at least 24 hours. The soreness should decrease within a week.
If the doctor prescribed medications take the medications as prescribed to you by the doctor as this will eliminate any remaining infection in the tooth.
If you notice any of the following symptoms please contact our office:
- A reaction to the medication
- Loss of the temporary filling material
-Tooth fracture

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our office for assistance at 209-523-2100.

It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue.
Temporary: Please be careful when cleaning around the temporary restoration. Do not pull up on the temporary when flossing this area. Make sure to brush this area gently and not to chew any hard or sticky foods on the restoration.
If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you.
Sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.
For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages.
It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an over the counter pain relivers if the discomfort persists.
Permanent Crown /Bridge: When the final restoration is placed, your bite may feel a little different. This is just your mouth adjusting to the new addition. If it still feels off in a few days, please call the office for a slight adjustment.
Home Care: It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately.
A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our office for assistance at 209-523-2100.

It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue.
Sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.
For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an over the counter pain medication if the discomfort persists.

Home Care: It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our office for assistance at 209-523-2100.

After your scaling or root planning, it is best to rinse your mouth 2-3 times per day with warm salt water. One teaspoon salt / 8 oz. water. You should start home care immediately, although you should be extremely gentle with the treated areas.
If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue where you had treatment, an over the counter pain medication may be taken to relieve this feeling. The treated areas will probably be sensitive to hot and cold.
It is best to refrain from eating any hard or chewy foods for the next 48-72 hours while the treated area begins to heal.
You may also experience some swelling or jaw stiffness. If this does occur, you can place a cold compress on the swelling or a hot towel on the stiffness.
Smoking should be terminated for a period of 48-72 hours following these procedures. Please contact the office if the pain or swelling persists.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our office for assistance at 209-523-2100.

It is best to refrain from eating for at least 2 hours and until the anesthesia has worn off to prevent possibly injury to your soft tissue.

Temporary: Please be careful when cleaning around the temporary restorations. Do not pull up on the temporary when flossing this area. Make sure to brush this area gently and not to chew any hard or sticky foods on the restoration.

If your temporary comes off between appointments, please call our office so that we can reapply it for you.

Sensitivity: Sensitivity to hot and cold is to be expected following treatment.
For the first few days, try to avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages. It is normal to have discomfort in the gums around the tooth after the anesthesia wears off. If you feel discomfort in the gum tissue, rinse the area with warm salt water. You can also take an over the counter pain medication if the discomfort persists.

Permanent Veneers: When the final restoration is placed, your bite may feel a little different. This is just your mouth adjusting to the new addition. If it still feels off in a few days, please call the office for a slight adjustment.

Home Care: It is important to resume regular brushing and flossing immediately. It is very important to thoroughly clean the area between the veneer and the tooth at the gumline. A consistent daily home care routine will increase the longevity of the restoration.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our office for assistance at 209-523-2100.

Congratulations on your new dentures! This information will assist you with your adjustment to new dentures. The adjustment period can last anywhere between a few weeks to few months depending on: the type of denture you receive, your dental history, and other factors. Even long-term denture wearers will undergo adjustment periods with a new set of dentures. Please remember that dentures are not permanent, as changes continue to occur in the bone and soft tissues of your mouth.
Periodically, your dentures will require adjustments and relines to ensure a long service life and comfort. If you have any questions about your new dentures please call our office.
BREAKING IN PERIOD: Most new dentures require a breaking in period before they become comfortable. This length of time varies with each individual patient depending upon their ability, determination, and perseverance to learn how to use them. First, you must learn to keep them in place, and then gradually begin to use them.
WHAT TO EXPECT: At first, it’s normal to feel awkward with your new dentures. Your appearance will probably undergo a slight change, your speech may seem altered, and some areas of your mouth may feel too full. You may also experience excess saliva initially until your mouth is used to wearing dentures. Time, patience, and some training will soon bring about a relaxation of the facial muscles and begin to alleviate some of the apparent problems.
SORE SPOTS: Soreness from uneven pressure on the gums may develop at any time. This is not unusual and should be expected, especially if you have not worn a denture before. Sore spots are best corrected if the dentures are worn for at least 3-6 hours before returning to the office for an adjustment appointment. This will allow a more precise detection of the offending areas inside the denture, which are corrected by trimming.
SPEAKING: Learning to talk with your new dentures in place requires some patience and perseverance. Reading aloud is a very good way to learn to enunciate distinctly, especially those sounds or words that are not clear. Try to avoid any movements of the lips and tongue that tend to displace the dentures or cause them to click. Careful practice and repetition may help to expedite the process and produce a return to your normal, confident speech.
EATING: Start with soft foods. Take small bites, chew slowly and try to overcome the difficulties as they arise. Keep the food distributed evenly on both sides and chew on the back teeth. To bite foods that normally require the front teeth, such as apples or corn on the cob, apply pressure backwards against the front when closing. If the denture begins to dislodge, biting with the side teeth may be an easier alternative. More difficult foods such as steak and carrots will require a gradual learning curve. Initially, it is recommended that you avoid eating sticky, hard, or chewy foods.
LOOSENESS: If you have had teeth removed immediately prior to placement of the denture, it will soon feel loose, mainly due to the gum shrinkage that occurs as the gums heal. Complete healing of the gums and the underlying bone takes many months. During this period, a temporary liner may be placed inside the denture to keep it relatively snug. In addition, denture adhesives will help to retain a loose denture, once healing is complete, a permanent reline will be needed. In some cases, a new denture may need to be made for the best fit and function. There will be an additional charge for any necessary future denture relines or replacements.
MOUTH AND DENTURE HYGIENE: It is extremely important to clean your dentures with a soft brush, a cleaning paste, or soapy water after each meal. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or bleach. Food particles that are trapped under the denture can cause inflammation of the gums and sore spots. Remove your dentures and rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash after each meal, if possible. If you had teeth removed immediately before insertion of your new denture, wear your denture day and night for the first 48 hours, removing only to clean them. Your denture will act as a bandage and promote healing. You should remove your dentures for at least 6 hours daily, usually when going to bed at night, to give your gum tissues a rest. During this time, the dentures can be cleansed and placed in a small tub of water to prevent them from drying out which can cause the denture to distort and not fit well. At least once a week, place them in an enzymatic or special denture cleaning solution to remove those otherwise insoluble stains and proteins. Because foods will stick to the soft tissues of your mouth, it is also beneficial to brush the roof of your mouth and your tongue daily. Massaging and stimulating these tissues will reduce the incidence of inflammation and sore spots.
BREAKAGE: Dentures are made of acrylic (plastic) material and can break easily when misused or dropped. Never wrap your denture in a tissue or napkin and put it in your pocket or purse. When going outside of the house, keep a denture case or container to stow away your denture safely if you need to remove it for a short period of time. At home, keep your denture in a tub of water to prevent warping.

REGULAR EXAMS: Be sure to have your dentures checked at least once annually as changes in the mouth, such as, bone loss, and wearing of the teeth will inevitably occur. When supporting gums and bone change, causing your denture to become loose or uncomfortable, your denture may need to be adjusted, relined or replaced. Careful and timely maintenance of the dentures and the supporting soft tissues, will help to slow down these changes.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our office for assistance at 209-523-2100.