post procedure care

Following Silver Fillings or Tooth colored Fillings

Please avoid eating or drinking anything how until the numbness wears off. Also be careful not to bite your lip, cheek or tongue during this time.
Please stay on soft diet today and eat away from the treated area if possible.
There may be some sensitivity to temperatures, especially cold. This could last anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on the amount of decay that was present in the tooth.
There may be some sensitivity to biting. If you feel like you are biting on the filling early or hitting on that tooth early, please call us so we can adjust that for you.
There may be some sensitivity around the gum or at the injection site. Please mix one teaspoon of salt with a glass of warm water and rinse you mouth several times today and tomorrow.
If the nerves were unhealthy before treatment, they may become symptomatic at this time. If the tooth does not settle down after the initial tenderness, please call us.

Do not chew on ice.
Brush normally. Plaque must be removed daily!
Floss teeth at least once daily, but pull floss out horizontally, not vertically.
Have your teeth cleaned at least three or four times yearly.
Make sure you are not grinding your teeth at night. If you are, we will need to constuct a bite guard to avoid fracturing any esthetic dentistry and to minimize damage to your teeth and your temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
Don’t bite your fingernails.
Don’t pick at a newly bonded tooth with your fingernail. You could pull open a small over-extension and shorten the life of the material. If you feel a rough edge with your tongue, we will refinish the edge.
Don’t try out your new teeth to soon. Go on a soft diet for the first 24 hours. It generally takes about a day for many materials to harden.
To prevent staining, try to avoid or keep to a minimum coffee, tea, soy sauce, colas, grape juice, blueberries, and fresh cherries. And do not smoke!
To prevent fracture, avoid directly biting with front teeth into the following foods: ribs, bones, hard candy, apples, carrots, nuts, hard rolls, bagels, artichokes.

Rinse gently with a solution of one-third teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, unless you are on a salt-free diet. This should be done six times a day for four to five days.