Question 1

Teeth whitening

Accepted Answer

Using Your Custom Whitening Trays:   Place the whitening gel in the center of each tooth position on the tray so that the gel will rest against the front surfaces of the teeth once it is placed in your mouth.  Wear trays for the time your dentist recommends.   Remove trays and thoroughly rinse your mouth. Gently remove any gel remaining on your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush.   Clean the trays after each use with a toothbrush and clear liquid soap.   Following Whitening, teeth are more susceptible to staining for the first 48 hours. During this time period, you should avoid dark-colored foods or beverages that can stain your teeth. Any item that can stain your clothes can also stain your teeth. Be wary of foods like berries, cola or other dark sodas, red wine, coffee and tea, tobacco, ketchup, soy sauce or other dark sauces.

Question 2

Dental extractions and oral surgery

Accepted Answer

Dental Extractions & Bone Grafting It is expected that you will experience bleeding after surgery. Following surgery, apply pressure to the surgical area by biting onto a gauze pad for up to 1 hour. Replace the gauze as needed during this time. After this time, sufficient clotting should be achieved. Some “oozing” of blood from the area is normal and will continue up to 24 hours. Please contact our office immediately if you experience “gushing” of blood even after maintaining firm pressure on the surgical site for 1 hour.  Children who have had a dental extraction should be carefully supervised while the anesthesia is still in effect. Many children inadvertently bite and injure their lip, cheek, or tongue during the recovery period.   Please fill any prescriptions that have been prescribed to you and take the medicines as directed. On occasion, antibiotics are prescribed to help prevent infection. If you have been placed on antibiotics, it is critical to take the medicine as directed.   You may experience swelling around the face, eyes, or surgical site. This could occur up to 3 days post-surgery. Apply a cold compress to the face near the surgical site to help minimize swelling. You may apply the cold compress for up to 20 minutes on and at least 20 minutes off as needed. After 36 hours the cold compress will have no further impact on swelling. After this period, the application of moist heat to the sides of the face can help reduce swelling.   Do not suck on a straw or smoke for 3 days following surgery Avoid hot temperature foods, spicy foods, and carbonated and alcoholic beverages for 24 hours post-surgery. Avoid brushing your teeth, rinsing your mouth, or spitting forcefully for 24 hours post-surgery. Limit rigorous activities on the day of your surgery such as heavy lifting or exercise. The day following surgery, resume with normal activities as feels comfortable. Starting the second day post-surgery, gently rinse with warm salt water (one-half teaspoon of salt in an eight ounce glass of water) 3-4 times a day. During the first few days after surgery restrict your diet to liquids and soft foods. Occasionally, surgery requires the placement of sutures. Most sutures we use in our office will dissolve on their own in 7-10 days. If you have sutures that do need a follow-up visit for removal, we will let you know at the time they are placed. Please call our office if you experience severe pain, excessive bleeding or swelling, or if you have any questions or concerns. If you are experiencing a serious or life threatening emergency, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.

Question 3

Scaling and Root Planing

Accepted Answer

If your scaling and root planing treatment today involved anesthesia, it’s important to avoid hot liquids or chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. You may accidentally bite or burn your lips, tongue or cheek!   Mild to moderate discomfort can be expected and varies from patient to patient. Your teeth, gums, and jaw can all be sore or sensitive to pressure or changes in temperature. You may have injection site soreness. An ice pack applied to this area can help. Usually, any discomfort experienced after treatment goes away after a few days.   We recommend that you take a single dose of an over-the-counter pain medication before your anesthetic wears off. The ideal dosage and medication is 400 mg of ibuprofen (Advil). If you are not able to take this medication, 500 mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the second best choice. Additional pain medications/prescriptions, if provided, will be explained to you. Do not take any medication to which you are allergic or which any doctor has instructed you not to take.   Your gums will likely feel sore; you can swish ½ ounce of warm, salty water for 30 seconds and spit out. This can be repeated 5-6 times per day.    Please use your CTx Rinse that was given to you as directed.   Good oral hygiene and regular visits to a dental professional to check the health of your mouth is a critical part of maintaining your gums and the effectiveness of your treatment today.

Question 4

Invisalign

Accepted Answer

To place the aligners, position them over your front teeth, then use your fingers to push the aligner down over your molars. Do NOT bite your aligners into place. Aligners should fit all the way down on the teeth with minimal space between the aligner and the teeth. Aligners will fit snugly at first but should fit well at the end of the two-week period. Use “chewies” to apply pressure to your aligners to get them to seat fully.   Your aligners should be worn 22 hours a day for maximum effect. Take your aligners out only when flossing, brushing, eating or drinking warm beverages such as coffee and tea. Rinse your mouth after consuming food/drink, and replace the aligners in your mouth.    To remove your aligner, pull it off both sides of your back teeth simultaneously and then lift it off of your front teeth.   When not using your aligners, use the storage case that was provided to you.  Do NOT place your aligners in a napkin or tissue. Many aligners have accidentally been thrown out this way! There is a fee to replace aligners, so be careful with the ones provided to you.  Clean aligners with a toothbrush and clear liquid soap.   Your aligners should be worn for 2 weeks unless directed otherwise by our office. Wear aligners in the correct numerical order. Each aligner is labeled by number and with a “U” or an “L” to differentiate the upper from the lower.   Keep all of your old aligners and bring them to your orthodontic appointments.   Do not use boiling water on your aligners. Do not chew gum with your aligners in. Avoid smoking while wearing aligners. The smoke can stain the aligners as well as your teeth.   If you lose the attachment to your tooth that helps the aligner snap on, please call our office right away so that we can determine if you need to come in before your next scheduled appointment.   If you lose one of your aligner trays, please call our office right away so that we can determine if you need to come in before your next scheduled appointment.

Question 5

Night Guard

Accepted Answer

It’s important to properly use and care for your night guard to increase its longevity and protect your teeth. Your night guard should be worn and cleaned daily.    After each wear, rinse your night guard with warm water and lightly brush it with a toothbrush. You can use your normal toothbrush or elect to use a separate toothbrush for your night guard. Do NOT apply toothpaste to clean your night guard as it is abrasive and can scratch or otherwise damage your night guard.   Allow for your night guard to dry completely before storing it in its case. Keep the night guard stored in its case when not in use. Beware that dogs and other pets like to chew on night guards, so keep them out of their reach.   Your night guard should be deep-cleaned at least once a week. There are several ways to accomplish this. The first is by using an over-the-counter denture cleaner. Place your night guard in a glass with water and allow the cleaner to dissolve completely into the water. Alternatively, you can deep clean your night guard by using a mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. Soak the night guard in distilled white vinegar for at least 30 minutes. After soaking, rinse the night guard and the bowl with water. Then soak the night guard in hydrogen peroxide for at least 30 more minutes. Once finished, rinse with water and allow the night guard to dry completely.   The final way you can deep clean your night guard is to use a mixture of mouthwash and water. Pour a capful of mouthwash into a glass and then dilute with water until the night guard is submerged in the solution. Let your night guard soak for about 30 minutes and then rinse the night guard and allow it to dry completely on a clean flat surface.   Don’t ever leave your night guard soaking in anything for longer than one hour. Extended time in the liquid can damage the material your night guard is made out of.   Keep the case clean by hand washing it every few days with regular dishwashing detergent. Do not place the case in the dishwasher. After washing, allow the case to dry as to prevent bacteria growth. Plastic night guard cases do wear out over time, so we recommend replacing your case every 6-12 months or as needed.   Bring your night guard to your appointments so that it can be professionally cleaned and adjusted as needed. It also gives us an opportunity to inspect your night guard for signs of wear and to help ensure that it is continuing to fit properly.

Question 6

Recommended Foods

Accepted Answer

The following foods are appropriate to consume if advised to eat a soft food diet: Soup Pasta Scrambled eggs Chopped meats Mashed potatoes Macaroni & cheese Sugar-free gelatin Liquid dietary supplements Drink plenty of plain water.  The following foods must be avoided Hard foods (e.g., nuts, popcorn, chips) Sticky foods (e.g., chewing gum, taffy, candies) Hot foods and liquids Carbonated beverages (e.g., beer, soda, mineral water)

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