At Karen J. Armstrong, D.M.D., Bethany K. Tant, D.D.S., we prioritize your comfort and healing post-operation. Please carefully read the provided post-operative instructions to ensure a smooth recovery. Your well-being is our top concern. If you have any questions or experience unusual symptoms, do not hesitate to contact us immediately. We are here to assist you every step of the way.
Pain Management Protocol
Ibuprofen (Motrin) & Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be taken together as an alternative to opioids for the management of dental pain in patients who are able to take these medications.
Dosage:
Up to 800mg of Motrin (4 regular 200mg tabs) AND
Up to 500mg (1 extra strength tab) of Tylenol
This can be taken every six hours for a maximum of 4 dosages per day.
POST OP INSTRUCTIONS-AFTER FILLINGS
When an anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. Risk of tongue or lip laceration can occur.
It is normal to experience some hot, cold and pressure sensitivity after your filling appointment. Your gums may be sore for several days. You can rinse three times a day with warm salt water (put a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit) to reduce pain and gum tenderness. It is also advisable to take Advil or Aleve for discomfort.
Since you are numb, sometimes it is difficult to determine if your bite is adjusted properly after a new filling. Do not chew hard foods or chew directly on your new filling if it is silver as it takes several hours for the amalgam to set up. You may chew right away on a white filling, since it will be set immediately by the curing light. After a day or so, if your filling is still tender to bite on, please call the office so that we can check your bite and adjust accordingly. There is a risk of tooth fracture and persistent pain if you do not follow up with our office. There is no charge for a follow-up visit.
If you experience prolonged persistent pain please call our office. Any time a cavity is filled, especially a deep cavity or a tooth with a fracture, there is the possibility of the tooth needing a root canal. It is very important to let us know early on if you are having problems so we can help prevent severe pain in the future.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office at 910-346-5600. If calling after hours, press Option 3 to leave a message with our after-hours employee, who will return your message shortly.
POST OP INSTRUCTIONS – AFTER CROWN AND BRIDGE
When an anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. Risk of tongue or lip laceration can occur.
Crowns and bridges usually take two or sometimes three appointments to complete. On the first appointment the teeth are prepared. Temporary crowns and bridges are custom made and placed with a softer temporary cement to protect the teeth while the lab is fabricating your restorations. Occasionally you will have to return to the office for additional impressions or records, which may require additional anesthetic.
It is normal to experience some hot, cold and pressure sensitivity after your Crown and Bridge appointment. Your gums may be sore for several days. You can rinse three times a day with warm salt water (put a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit) to reduce pain and gum tenderness. It is also advisable to take Advil or Aleve for discomfort.
Occasionally, temporary crowns and bridges will come off. Call us as soon as possible if this happens. Keep the temporary safe in a plastic baggie so we can re-cement it. It is very important for the proper fit of your final restoration that the temporary stay in place! If a crown or bridge does not fit due to prolonged loss of a temporary, you may be responsible for the lab bill that will be charged to re-make the restoration.
To keep your temporary in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum and sticky candy), hard foods, and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to brush, normally, but floss very carefully and remove the floss from the side to prevent uplifting and removal of the temporary crown or bridge.
Since you are numb, sometimes it is difficult to determine if your bite is adjusted properly. After a few days, if your temporary is still very tender to bite on, please call the office so that we can check your bite and adjust accordingly. There is a risk of temporary or tooth fracture and persistent pain if you do not follow up with our office. There is no charge for a follow-up visit.
If you experience prolonged persistent pain, please call our office. Any time a crown or a bridge is prepared, especially if there is a deep cavity or a tooth with a fracture, there is the possibility of the tooth needing a root canal. It is very important to let us know early on if you are having problems so we can help prevent prevent severe pain in the future.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office at 910-346-5600. If calling after hours, press Option 3 to leave a message with our after-hours employee, who will return your message shortly.
POST OP INSTRUCTIONS-AFTER DELIVERY
When an anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. Risk of tongue or lip laceration can occur.
Your lab custom fabricated crown(s) has been made to fit your mouth and your specific bite. Several adjustments may need to be made to the crown before it is cemented. It is normal for the new crown(s) to be slightly tender to bite on or have cold sensitivity for a few days.
If you are numb, sometimes it is difficult to determine if your bite is adjusted properly after a new crown is placed. After a day or so, if your crown is still tender to bite on, please call the office so that we can check your bite and adjust accordingly. There is a risk of tooth or restoration fracture and persistent pain if you do not follow up with our office. There is no charge for a follow-up visit.
If you experience prolonged persistent pain, please call our office. Any time a restoration is placed, especially if there is a deep cavity or a tooth with a fracture, there is the possibility of the tooth needing a root canal. It is very important to let us know early on if you are having problems so we can help prevent severe pain in the future.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office at 910-346-5600. If calling after hours, press Option 3 to leave a message with our after-hours employee, who will return your message shortly.