Post Op. Care      >  Dental Implants   >  Bone Grafts   >  General Oral Surgery   >  Tooth Extraction   > Cosmetic and Restorative   > Zoom!

Post Operative Instructions - Cosmetic / Restorative      Congratulations on your new smile! We are confident that your dental enhancement will provide you with confidence and personal satisfaction for many years to come. The following are important aspects to help care for your new smile: VISUAL ADJUSTMENT Adjusting to your new smile may take time. For many patients, the initial look of their new smile may be shocking, especially if there were significant changes made. The shade, size, bite, positioning of the teeth, may have been altered and that may take time to get used to. Whether your procedure was simple or involved, you will look different than you did before. The finished restoration may be contoured slightly different and have a different texture than the original teeth SENSITIVITY You may experience tooth sensitivity to hot or cold substances for a few days. Ibuprofen, Advil or Motrin are excellent means to control this sensitivity. Sensitivity can be caused by many things; deepness of the cavity, the bonding agents used, types of dental cements used and the number of teeth involved. During the procedure, we used a desensitizing agent to minimize the sensitivity, however, some generalized sensitivity may occur.   BITE ADJUSTMENT It may take time to adjust to your new bite. If your bite or occlusion has been altered, it may take time for your body to adapt to the new configuration. We will meticulously adjust your bite to your comfort before you leave, but if you detect any high spots over the next few days, please contact us and we will adjust it to your satisfaction. Similarly, your speech may be slightly altered. Once your body is accustomed to the change, this will diminish.   ORAL HEALTH Daily plaque removal is necessary for your new smile design. You now have a wonderful new smile and it is important that you keep it looking its best with regular daily home care as well as routine professional cleanings twice a year. Even if your gums are sore at first, keep them clean. You may use rinses as needed to help your gums stay healthy.   PROTECTION Protect your new teeth. Your dental restorations were manufactured using the highest quality of dental materials available. Please use caution when eating particular foods or biting hard objects. Anything that may chip or crack natural teeth would more than likely do the same to your new teeth. We recommend a night guard to help protect these teeth at night, when playing sports or when under stress. ZOOM! POST PROCEDURE CARE AND INSTRUCTIONS   Congratulations! You’ve just experienced a revolutionary tooth whitening procedure with us. The next 24 hours are important in enhancing and maximizing your whitening results for a long-lasting, bright and healthy smile. What to expect after your ZOOM! whitening: Everyone’s teeth have a protective layer called the acquired pellicle. This layer contains the surface dental stains and is removed during a regular dental cleaning or the whitening process. It takes up to twenty-four hours for the barrier to fully develop again. During this period we ask that you avoid the items listed above. You may also experience some tooth sensitivity during this period. If you do have any sensitivity symptoms, you may take over the counter pain medications such as Motrin or Advil. Sensitivity toothpaste such as Sensodyne may also help eliminate some of the sensitivity sensations.  Should you need stronger medications, please feel free to contact us.   For the next 24 hours, dark staining substances should be avoided, such as: Coffee and/or tea Red wine Lipstick Tobacco products Soy sauce Toothpaste with color Mustard or ketchup Berry pie Smoking Cola Red sauces (such as A-1)   For the next 24 hours, substances that may be consumed are: Milk, water, clear soda Bananas, apples (no peel) White bread, flour tortillas Oatmeal, cream of wheat White rice, baked potato Plain pasta and white sauce Turkey, chicken breast (no skin), white fish Plain yogurt, white cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese Additional ways to maintain your sparkling ZOOM! smile: Avoid staining-related habits Use an automated toothbrush Seek regular professional dental hygiene care to maintain oral health, keep staining to a minimum and determine the need for whitening touch-ups. In addition, continue to practice good oral hygiene including thorough tooth brushing, flossing to remove debris from between the teeth and tongue cleaning. Your dental professional will assist you in selecting the products to maintain not only a white smile, but a healthy one as well