This information aims to give you some basic dental knowledge, so you can be informed when you speak to your dentist and devise a plan to keep your mouth healthy.

The information here is for educational purposes only, and should not be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for a professional dental exam (no matter how much you hate going to the dentist!).

Dentures

You've just received your new dentures. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a new denture wearer, you may have questions. This information will help during your denture adjustment period.

• Learning to wear a new denture can take time. Don't become discouraged if you find some difficulty in the beginning. YOU'RE NOT ALONE! Please do not listen to friends who tell you how easy it was for them to get used to their dentures and how they can eat everything and anything. They are either bragging, have greater bone and gum support or their memories may be poor. The dentist will help you through any difficulties that arise during your adjustment period.
• A lower denture usually takes more time to adjust to than an upper denture. The tongue may feel restricted and will tend to play, sometimes even subconsciously, with the new prosthesis. It will soon adapt to the restrictions and to the new feeling that a denture presents.
• Try to eat only soft foods for the first couple of days. Then, as you progress to more solid foods try to eat slowly and deliberately, attempting to place equal amounts of food on both sides at the same time during the chewing cycle. By placing food on both sides of the mouth at the same time, you balance the biting forces on the new denture and help to make it more stable. The longer you take to eat your meal, the faster you will master eating with your new denture.
• Try to take small bites at first. Cut all your food into small portions. If and when your gum tissues are strong enough to try foods which are bitten off (bread, corn on the cob, etc.), try to press the food against the upper back teeth in order to stabilise the denture.
• It is perfectly normal to experience some discomfort associated with sore spots during the adjustment period. Nature did not intend for us to wear hard plastic against soft gum tissue. It takes a while for the gum tissues to firm up to accommodate the hard plastic denture.
• If sore spots develop, be sure to wear the denture for at least 24 hours prior to your adjustment visit! If the dentist can't see the sore spot, it is sometimes impossible to make the necessary adjustments.
• Reading aloud during the first couple of days will go a long way in reducing any minor speech problems which may result from wearing a new denture. If speech problems persist, let the dentist know.
• An unclean denture is not healthy, attractive or comfortable. Clean your new denture every morning and night using a denture toothbrush and one of the following cleansers: toothpaste, antibacterial soft soap or a commercially available denture cleanser. Please be sure to check with the dentist to make sure that the commercial cleanser will not interfere with the denture liner you may have in your denture. Permanent soft liners and temporary soft liners react poorly to most commercial cleansers.
• Schedule regular re-care appointments with the dentist or hygienist to have your denture(s) professionally cleaned. Hardened plaque (tartar) can build up on the dentures, especially on the cheek side of the upper back teeth and the tongue side of the lower front teeth. Homecare techniques do not remove this plaque.
• We prefer that you leave out one or both of your dentures at night. This allows your gum tissues to breathe and also relieves them from the constant pressures of chewing. When left out of the mouth, all dentures should be left in water to prevent warping.
• Gum tissues are in a constant state of change but dentures are not. Therefore, periodic relining of your dentures may be necessary. If you find your denture getting looser and chewing more difficult, this may be a sign that a reline may be needed. It is very important for the dentist to see you regularly to evaluate the state of your oral tissues and to determine if additional treatment is required. Dentures typically need to be relined or remade every 3-5 years.
• NEVER try to adjust your dentures yourself! Home remedies will only lead to trouble.

Dentures- Temporary Soft liners
Temporary soft liners require special care to produce the desired results.

• Do not remove the prosthesis from your mouth for the first 24 hours. This is extremely important! The material that is placed in your denture will stay soft for the first 24 hours and will shape itself to your oral tissues during that 24 hour period.
• After the first 24 hours, you may remove the denture once every 12 hours for the first two days. At each removal, rinse the denture with warm water only. Do not use any of the commercially available cleansers. If necessary, you can brush the tooth part of the denture (the white teeth) with toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. Remember: The soft liner is still very fragile and will tear if subjected to chemical or mechanical cleaning.
• During the next week you may remove the denture as often as you like. Keep in mind that the liner is fragile and must be treated with care. The pink plastic may be brushed gently, but try to avoid the soft liner.
• Try not to use any denture adhesive, especially during the first 72 hours. During this time we are trying to determine the available retention in your new dentures-using adhesives tends to confuse this issue.
• For the first 24 hours eat soft foods only. After that, you can eat as regular a diet as possible so that the soft liner can mould itself to your tissues under normal function.
• We may be replacing this soft liner on a regular basis until either the tissues heal adequately or we determine that the retention for your new denture is maximised.
• Bring your old dentures with you at each re-care visit just in case the dentist determines that relining your soft lined denture is required. This would require sending your denture to the laboratory.

- Top -

Fillings

Silver Fillings (Amalgams)
Once placed, it takes almost two weeks for your new filling to fully harden. You may, however, safely chew on it after twenty-four (24) hours. But, please, chew carefully!

New silver fillings can be sensitive to hot and cold liquids and other foods for the first four to six weeks or in some circumstances, even longer. If the sensitivity continues for an extended period of time or if the discomfort is extreme, call your dentist so that he/she can evaluate the situation and prescribe the appropriate therapy.

Sometimes the effects of local anaesthesia make it difficult to ensure that your bite is exactly right. If you feel any discomfort in chewing, call the dentist. A minor adjustment is usually all it takes to make you comfortable. Don't wait too long! Teeth can become quite sensitive if the bite is "high". You can generate in excess of 40,000 pounds per square inch when chewing on your back teeth. Fillings which have not had the appropriate amount of time to harden, or are "high", cannot stand this kind of pressure and may break.

- Top -

Implants

The home care needed for dental implants is probably more important than that required for your natural teeth. The appliances that we fabricate on top of dental implants are wonders of engineering but unfortunately, they're not maintenance free. There are many areas around the implant and restoration that need special attention to make sure that dental plaque does not accumulate. Dental plaque, the sticky substance that adheres to teeth and is a breeding area for bacteria must be removed at least every 12 hours to avoid potential periodontal (peri-implant) disease.

The care of your Implant restoration consists of three steps:

1. Educating and training you about proper oral hygiene techniques.
2. Removing plaque and calculus (hardened plaque/tartar) on a regularly scheduled basis by the dentist or hygienist.
3. Maintaining meticulous oral hygiene between your re-care visits.

- Top -

Home plaque control

Home plaque control is critical to your implant care. The following devices have proved extremely helpful in plaque removal and as tools in the proper maintenance of dental implant/restorations.

• Soft Toothbrush, End Tuft Brush, Interdental Brush
• Dental Floss (i.e. Post Care Dental Implant Floss, SuperFloss®, Shred resistant (PTFE) Teflon floss)
• Oral Irrigation Devices ( i.e. Water Pik®, Ivoclar Trisa®, Oral-B OxyJetTM)
• Mouthwashes - consult with a dental professional before using (i.e. ChlorhexidineTM, Oral-B Amosan®, warm salt water, etc.)

Ask one of the dental professionals in the practice for individual instruction sheets on the above mentioned cleaning aids. The dentist and hygienist are also available to assist you in any way they can. Remember, it's not the tool that counts, it's the technique.

The proper maintenance of your dental implant restoration must be a good blend of proper hygiene technique, appropriate instrumentation and adequate frequency. The dentist and hygienist will suggest a suitable re-care schedule for you based upon the complexity of your dental restoration. A dental professional skilled in patient education will also demonstrate every technique so that you can become familiar with the tools that are required for implant care. Then it's up to you. With a little effort, your dental implant restoration can provide you with years of comfort, satisfaction and service.

- Top -

White Fillings

We are constantly asked the same question, "When can I eat?" Well, after placement, as long as you brought your own food and you share, you may chew right away. These fillings are instantly hardened by the light. Your teeth may experience some degree of temperature sensitivity for a few days to a week. If it does not disappear within that period of time, contact the dentist.

- Top -

Porcelain Laminate Veneers

Porcelain Laminate Veneers have been placed to help you reach your aesthetic goals. With proper home care and scheduled evaluation visits, you'll have a beautiful smile for years to come.

• Brush and floss as you normally would to prevent oral health problems. Once placed, Porcelain Laminate Veneers are very kind to the gum tissues. Do not be afraid of damaging your veneers by flossing or brushing. Any non-abrasive toothpaste is acceptable.
• You might experience some sensitivity to hot and cold after the placement of your veneers. This relates to the amount of enamel left on your tooth after preparation, how close the preparation was to the nerve as well as several other factors. Some sensitivity is absolutely normal and usually goes away after one to two weeks. If this sensitivity continues or concerns you at all, call your dentist.
• Once placed, your laminates are very strong and will resist most of the forces placed upon them by a normal diet. Porcelain has great crushing strength but poor tensile strength. Therefore, you should avoid anything that will tend to twist the laminate. Opening pistachio nuts with your teeth, chewing on bones or jelly apples is probably not a good idea.
• If you know you grind or clench your teeth, inform your dentist. He/she will evaluate the need for a night guard (splint) to wear over your teeth to minimise the stresses placed upon them while you sleep.
• Approximately one week after the placement of your veneers you will be asked to return to the office for a treatment evaluation. This visit is extremely important. It gives the dentist the opportunity to evaluate both the placement of the veneers and the tissue response as well as answer any questions you might have regarding your new smile.

- Top -

Root Canal Therapy

1. Postoperative discomfort can occur after treatment due to irritation of the bone that surrounds the tooth. It may range from a mild discomfort in the area to an occasional episode of considerable pain. This discomfort will usually maximise in approximately 48-72 hours and then subside. Please avoid chewing on the treated tooth for a few days.
2. If a throbbing sensation occurs, keep your head elevated as much as possible and place extra pillows under your head when lying down. Avoid strenuous activity as much as possible.
3. If your tooth has been left open to aid in drainage of an infection, place cotton in your tooth as directed. Do not leave the cotton in the tooth between meals.
4. If swelling of the gum appears after a treatment visit, rinse the area every 1 to 2 hours with a solution of warm salt water prepared by adding a teaspoon of salt to an 8 oz. glass of warm water.
5. If swelling of the face occurs, apply an ice pack to the area for 5 minutes every 1/2 hour.
6. If antibiotic medication has been prescribed please take it as indicated until you have finished ALL of the medication. If you encounter any difficulty breathing, a skin rash, or gastric disturbance, discontinue the medication and call the office.
7. If medication for pain has been prescribed, please take it as indicated. It is important to keep in mind that medications such as Codeine and Pethidine may make you drowsy. Therefore, take caution if you are operating any potentially dangerous machinery or an automobile.
   

- Top -