Tooth Bridging | Dental Bridge Post Op Instructions

Following tooth Preparation

• Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. After each appointment when anesthetic has been used, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment.  

• To help keep your temporary bridge in place, avoid eating sticky foods (especially gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.  It’s important to continue to brush normally, but floss very carefully and remove the floss from the side to prevent removal of the temporary Dental Bridge

• Temporary Bridge is made of a composite material that may feel a little rough and the shade may not be exact. Your final restoration will be shaped and shaded better than the temporary to match your other teeth.
• The use of temporary cement is for easy removal on your next appointment. Don’t floss your temporary as this may cause it to dislodge. If your temporary bridge falls off between appointments, slip if back on and call us for an appointment.
• Many bridges fit below the gum line. Therefore, you may experience some discomfort for a few days due to the irritation of that area during the procedures. Sensitivity to cold or pressure is also possible.
• On rare occasions, temporary crowns come off.  Call us if this happens and keep the temporary so we can re-cement it.  It is very important for the proper fit of your final restoration that temporaries stay in place.
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After Final Cementation

• After the final cementation of your fixed restoration, it may take a few days to get used to the new crown or bridge. If you feel the bite is not correctly balanced, be sure and call for an appointment for a simple adjustment.
• After the procedure, your diet should be soft foods. Try to avoid hard or chewy foods. After the numbing goes away you can resume diet as normal.
• The New crown may feel strange at first and will require some getting used to just give it some time. As long as your bite is not off. i.e., the crown is touching before the other tooth you would be fine.
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Home Care Dental Bridge 

• Once your permanent crown or bridge is in place, keep in mind that while the porcelain restorations themselves do not decay, the teeth beneath them do. The area where the tooth and restoration meet, or below it, is the most vulnerable to decay. If this area is not cleaned on a regular basis, bacterial plaque will build around the restoration, leading to decay. This is the most prevalent reason for dental bridges needing to be replaced. As a result, it’s critical that you keep up with a daily home care routine to keep your teeth and gums clean.
• Dental bridges require extra cleaning beneath the pontic (missing tooth). Because the crowns are joined together you cannot typically go in between to clean it so you will have to pass a floss underneath it with a floss threader to remove food particles and buildup.

What to expect after Dental Bridge Procedure?

Sore Gums and Mild Discomfort

There may be some moderate gum discomfort after treatment due to the irritation of that area during the tooth preparation. This can usually be controlled with over-the-counter analgesics such as Tylenol or ibuprofen as needed.

Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is common after tooth preparation for a dental crown or dental bridge. This is because there is a micro space under the temporary cement and temporary crown that lets in some air and water which causes the tooth to be sensitive. This will subside over time and will go away after the permanent crown is cemented with a permanent cement. 

Medication

Take Ibuprofen or Advil 800 mg (equal to 4 tabs of over-the-counter Ibuprofen or Advil) every 4-6 hours as needed. (Do NOT exceed 2400 mg (12 tabs) in a 24-hour period!!! AND/OR alternate Ibuprofen and Tylenol for better pain coverage.

When to call us (832-906-6127)

• Pain or swelling that increases or continues beyond two-three days.
• Heavy or increased bleeding.
• A reaction to the medication.