Post-Op Instructions

Instructions Following Placement of a Composite (Tooth Colored) Filling

1. When anesthetic has been used, your lip, tongue and teeth may be numb for 3-6 hours. Avoid chewing and hot drinks until the numbness is completely gone.
2. Sensitivity to hot or cold is likely to occur and varies for every patient. Sensitivity may last 2-3 weeks but can last longer. If sensitivity does not decrease please contact our office. A bite adjustment or additional treatment may be necessary.
3. The gum tissue around the filling may be irritated and it is common to have tenderness at the injection site. You may also experience muscle/jaw pain from holding your mouth open. Ibuprofen (Advil) or Tylenol, along with salt water rinses, will help reduce these symptoms.
4. Your new filling may have different contours and have a different texture than your original tooth. Your tongue may magnify this small difference but you should become accustomed to this in a few days.
5. As with natural teeth, you should avoid chewing excessively hard foods (ice, raw carrots, hard candy, etc.) to reduce the risk of tooth fracture or damage to your composite filling.
6. Please call us @ 614-846-2222 if your bite feels uneven, you have persistent pain, or you have any additional questions or concerns.

Instructions following Crown (or Bridge) Preparation Appointments

The crown and bridge procedure takes two visits. The first visit includes preparation of the teeth and placement of a temporary crown. The second visit is to custom fit and cement the permanent crown.

1. When anesthetic has been used, your lip, tongue and teeth may be numb for 3-6 hours. Avoid chewing and hot drinks until the numbness is completely gone.
2. The gum tissue around the tooth may be irritated and it is common to have tenderness at the injection site. You may also experience muscle/jaw pain from holding your mouth open. Ibuprofen (Advil) or Tylenol, along with warm salt water rinses, will reduce these symptoms.
3. You will be wearing a temporary crown until the final restoration is placed. To help keep your temporary in place, you should avoid eating sticky or hard foods, and chewing gum. If possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
4. If your temporary crown comes off, place it back on your tooth with a small dab of toothpaste until you can come into the office to have us recement it. It is important that this this temporary remain in place to hold the space for the permanent crown. It is common for your tooth to be sensitive to cold, hot and sweets while wearing a temporary crown.
5. It is important to continue to brush normally, but modify your floss technique. In that area, carefully pull the floss between the teeth as usual, but then pull the floss out from the side.
6. At your second visit, we will custom fit and cement your crown. We advise you to not eat or drink for hours after this visit to allow the cement to completely set.
7. Please call our office @ 614-846-2222 if you have any questions.

Care Following Extractions

1. Maintain gentle pressure by biting on the gauze for at least 30 minutes. If bleeding continues replace with gauze provided or place a dampened tea bag on the socket with pressure for 30 minutes.
2. No rinsing, drinking through a straw, or using mouthwash for 24 hours. After 24 hours rinse with warm salt water every 1-2 hours. (1/2 teaspoon in 8 ounces warm water.)
3. Take Tylenol or prescribed medication as needed. Some discomfort is normal after an extraction.
4. Intake of adequate food and water following extractions is important. If eating your regular diet is too difficult, try a liquid diet.
5. AVOID excessive activity, alcoholic beverages, spicy foods, scrubbing the area with a toothbrush and refrain from smoking until healing is well established.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our office @ 614-846-2222.

Instructions Following a Root Canal

1. When anesthetic has been used, your lip, tongue and teeth may be numb for 3-6 hours. Avoid chewing and hot drinks until the numbness is completely gone.
2. The gum tissue around the tooth may be irritated and it is common to have tenderness at the injection site. You may also experience muscle/jaw pain from holding your mouth open. Ibuprofen (Advil) or Tylenol, along with warm salt water rinses, will reduce these symptoms.
3. Root canal therapy often takes 2 or more appointments to complete. A temporary filling is placed to protect the tooth between appointments. It is common (and not a problem) for a small portion of the temporary filling to wear away or break off. If the entire filling falls out call our office so it can be replaced.
4. To help keep your temporary filling in place, you should avoid eating sticky or hard foods, and chewing gum. If possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
5. It is normal to experience some discomfort for a few days after a root canal appointment, especially when chewing. To control discomfort, take pain medication as recommended. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take all of the medication for the indicated length of time even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.
6. It is important to continue to brush and floss normally.
7. If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office @ 614-846-2222.

Preventive Sealant Care

1. You can eat or drink immediately following sealant application. They are completely hardened.
2. Avoid chewing ice and sticky or hard candy. These can break and remove sealants.
3. Continue to regularly brush and floss.
4. Sealants may feel like your bite is different tonight. This is normal and will subside over the next few days as the excess material wears off, leaving only what is needed in the deepest grooves.
5. We will examine the sealants during your regular cleaning appointments and repair or replace them as needed. We guarantee your sealants for 3 years.
6. Please call us @ 614-846-2222 if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Instructions following Fluoride Varnish

Fluoride varnish has been placed on your teeth to provide added strength to enamel to help prevent tooth decay.

To ensure maximum uptake into the teeth, please adhere to the following for the first four hours after application:

• Maintain soft diet (pasta, eggs, smoothies are good choices)
• Avoid hot drinks
• No tooth brushing until bedtime
• Intermittent sloughing of fluoride is normal

Bite Plane Instructions

Today you have received a custom fit dental appliance that is designed to protect your teeth and gum tissues from a clenching/grinding habit and to alleviate TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) pain and possible headaches associated with your habit.

Prior to inserting your appliance at bedtime, brush and floss your teeth as recommended by our office. It is advised that you wear your bite plane consistently for the best results. Most people have very few problems adjusting to wearing their bite plane, however some minor adjustments may be required after having worn the bite plane for several weeks. Please call the office to schedule an appointment for any adjustments that might be needed.

In the morning, remove your bite plane and brush it with a toothbrush and liquid soap and rinse with room temperature water. You may want to purchase a “denture” brush to use. At weekly intervals soak your bite plane in a commercial denture cleaning solution. Store your appliance out of reach of pets and children. Please bring your bite plane with you to your regular professional cleaning visits and our staff will be glad to clean it for you in our ultrasonic cleaner. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our office at 614-846-2222.

Instructions for Taking Xanax (Alprazolam)

Xanax is a prescription medicine used to reduce anxiety. The most common side effect is sleepiness. Most people can drive and function normally while taking Xanax, however, we suggest that you take one in an evening a few days before your dental visit (when not driving) to see how it affects you. If you feel that you are unable to drive, have someone bring you to your appointment. Do not take if you are pregnant. Do not drink alcohol while taking Xanax. Directions: Take one tablet at bedtime the evening before your dental visit and then one tablet two hours before your scheduled appointment time.

Instructions for Taking Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCI)

Before your child’s next dental visit, Dr. Carolyn Molzahn would like your child to take a dose of Benadryl. Benadryl has an effect of temporarily reducing the salivary flow. If the teeth are not as “wet” the procedure is easier for your child, and for the doctor. Another side benefit is that Benadryl may allow your child to feel a little tired, so he/she will be more relaxed while the doctor is working.

We request that you read the package directions for your child’s correct dosage; based on his/her age and weight. Please take this dose on hour before the dental appointment.

Please call if you have any questions, 846-2222.

Prescription Fluoride Toothpaste

Apply a thin ribbon of Prevident to toothbrush. Do not add water. Brush thoroughly at bedtime in place of your regular toothpaste for 2 minutes. After brushing – spit, but do not rinse. Prevident does not get “foamy” like regular toothpaste. Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes. You may use your regular toothpaste throughout the day. Choose a toothpaste without additional whitening ingredients which can cause sensitivity.