Resin Filling Homecare Instructions

Now that you are comfortable in your new complete denture(s), we would like to remind you that an annual dental checkup is still an important part of your overall health. Of course, the daily home care of your denture(s) is essential. However, it is also highly recommended that you visit Dr. Tyler and his hygienist Bonnie, once per year, for the following procedures:<

• Intraoral and extraoral cancer screening examination.
• Evaluation of your denture(s) retention, support, stability, wearing of tooth surfaces, and occlusion/bite.
• Denture adjustments if necessary.
• Professional cleaning of your denture(s).We use an Ultrasonic Cleaner with a calculus and stain remover soak.If required, the acrylic will be pumiced and polished on our lathe.

Oral cancer is non-discriminatory. Patients without teeth are at the same risk as a patient with all their teeth. Although those who smoke or use chewing tobacco have a higher risk, oral cancer affects nonsmokers as well. The leading cause of oropharyngeal (throat) cancer is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), one of the most common viruses in the United States. Early detection is the key. Dr. Tyler takes this part of his job very seriously.

There are many factors that will change the fit and comfort of your dentures over time. Research shows that once the teeth are removed, the jawbone shrinks and changes shape. By using dental adhesive, you may have masked the loose fit of your dentures. Even though you have adapted to these dentures, you are not receiving the function and appearance you deserve. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), a denture needs refitted or replaced every 5-10 years on average.

Chewing and Eating

Now that we have placed a temporary crown/bridge, it is important to follow these recommendations to ensure the success of your final restoration.

If we used an anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off prior to eating to avoid biting your cheeks or tongue. When you feel comfortable enough to eat, but you still have numbness, be careful not to bite your cheeks or tongue.

Avoid chewing for at least a half hour after the temporary is cemented to allow the temporary cement to set. Also avoid harder foods for a period of 24hrs to allow the temporary material to fully harden.

To keep your temporary crown/bridge in place, avoid eating hard or sticky foods, especially chewing gum. If possible, chew only on the opposite side or your mouth.

Brushing and Flossing

Brush normally, but floss very carefully. Remove floss from the side to prevent removal of the temporary crown/bridge. In some cases, we may advise you to avoid flossing around the temporary. We may recommend special floss, brushes, or other cleaning aids to keep the area free of plaque and bacteria.

If your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold or pressure, use desensitizing toothpaste. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days, call us.

Medication and Discomfort

Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed.

To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use about one teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water. It is normal for your gums to be sore for several days.

When to Call Us

Call us if your temporary crown/bridge comes off. Save the temporary so it can be re-cemented. It is very important for the proper fit of your final crown/bridge that your temporary stays in place.

Call our office if your bite feels uneven, you have sensitivity or discomfort that increases or continues beyond three or four days, or if you have any questions or concerns. (772) 286-1606

Chewing and Eating

Now that we have placed a temporary crown/bridge, it is important to follow these recommendations to ensure the success of your final restoration.

If we used an anesthetic during the procedure, avoid chewing until the numbness has completely worn off prior to eating to avoid biting your cheeks or tongue. When you feel comfortable enough to eat, but you still have numbness, be careful not to bite your cheeks or tongue.

Avoid chewing for at least a half hour after the temporary is cemented to allow the temporary cement to set. Also avoid harder foods for a period of 24hrs to allow the temporary material to fully harden.

To keep your temporary crown/bridge in place, avoid eating hard or sticky foods, especially chewing gum. If possible, chew only on the opposite side or your mouth.

Brushing and Flossing

Brush normally, but floss very carefully. Remove floss from the side to prevent removal of the temporary crown/bridge. In some cases, we may advise you to avoid flossing around the temporary. We may recommend special floss, brushes, or other cleaning aids to keep the area free of plaque and bacteria.

If your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold or pressure, use desensitizing toothpaste. If sensitivity persists beyond a few days, call us.

Medication and Discomfort

Take antibiotics or other medications only as directed.

To reduce any discomfort or swelling, rinse your mouth three times a day with warm salt water. Use about one teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water. It is normal for your gums to be sore for several days.

When to Call Us

Call us if your temporary crown/bridge comes off. Save the temporary so it can be re-cemented. It is very important for the proper fit of your final crown/bridge that your temporary stays in place.

Call our office if your bite feels uneven, you have sensitivity or discomfort that increases or continues beyond three or four days, or if you have any questions or concerns. (772) 286-1606

Now that you are comfortable in your new implant-supported denture(s), we would like to remind you that dental checkups are still an important part of your overall health.  Of course, the daily home care of your intraoral tissues, implants, and denture(s) are essential.  However, it is highly recommended that you visit Dr. Tyler and our hygienist, every 3 to 6 months, depending on your individualized recommendation, for the following important procedures:

• Intraoral and extraoral cancer screening examination.

• Professional hygiene maintenance of  your implants and attachments.

• Professional cleaning of your denture(s).  We use an Ultrasonic Cleaner with a calculus and stain remover soak.  If required, the acrylic will be pumiced and polished on our lathe.

• Evaluation of your denture(s) retention, support, stability, occlusion/bite, and wear tooth surfaces, and wear of denture-implant attachment system.

• Denture adjustments if necessary.

Oral cancer is non-discriminatory. Patients without teeth are at the same risk as a patient with all of their teeth. Although those who smoke or use chewing tobacco have a higher risk, oral cancer affects nonsmokers as well. The leading cause of oropharyngeal (throat) cancer is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), one of the most common viruses in the United States. Early detection is the key. Dr. Tyler takes this part of his job very seriously.

Excellent choice using implants to anchor your denture(s). But, please remember your implants need hygiene maintenance. Intraoral bacteria can collect on and cause bone loss around implants in a similar fashion to the process of periodontal disease on teeth. This infection is called peri-implantitis. If left untreated, peri-implantitis can lead to loss of your implant(s). Tina performing implant maintenance regularly can help protect you from this process.

Lastly, there are many factors that will change the fit and comfort of your implant-supported dentures over time. Research shows that once the teeth are removed the jawbone shrinks and changes shape. With implant attachments, denture adhesive or “glue” should not be needed. A reline, replacement of attachments and/or abutments may be needed if the denture begins to become loose. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), a denture needs refitted or replaced every 5-10 years on average.

We want to protect your dental health and do our part to contribute to increasing your quality of life. We look out for our own!

Adjusting to New Dentures

Now that you have your new dentures, here are some recommendations to ensure their success. Some temporary problems are a normal part of adjusting to new dentures. However, with time and practice, most will make the adjustment to dentures and will be eating and talking with confidence. You must commit. Unfortunately, there is 20% of the population who, regardless of the doctors and patients efforts, will not adjust to dentures. These people must consider dental implants.

Chewing and Eating

For the first few months, while you are learning to chew with your denture, start with soft foods, then gradually add more variety. Continue to eat a healthy diet, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and proteins. To make this easier, cut your food into smaller bites. Bite into foods with the side teeth, not the front. If your denture tips when you chew, try keeping some food on both sides to help balance the denture. Occasionally, small pieces of food will work their way under your denture while you eat. Simply remove your denture and rinse it with water. To protect your denture, avoid chewing ice or other hard objects.

Speaking and Staying Comfortable

You may have difficulty speaking for a short period. If this happens, practice by reading aloud in front of a mirror until you are comfortable. You can also try speaking more slowly and quietly. While your mouth gets used to the new denture, it may seem bulky, you may notice increased salivary flow, and your tongue will feel crowded. These sensations should pass with time. An upper denture causes some people to gag. Call us if this continues beyond the initial adjustment period.

Cleaning and Using Adhesives

Clean your denture over a sink full or water to prevent your denture from breaking if it is accidently dropped. Use a denture brush and denture cleaner at least once a day to thoroughly clean all of the surfaces of your denture. Do not scrub your denture with toothpaste. It is best to use mouthwash and/or liquid hand soap on your denture brush. Also, soak your denture periodically in a commercial soaking solution, or, if your denture has no metal parts, you can soak it in a solution of half white vinegar and half water. After soaking, rinse dentures thoroughly in cool water. If you need to use an adhesive, it is important to apply it to clean dentures and to thoroughly remove it every day. When you start needing adhesive regularly, call us because it is probably time for a reline.

Regular Dental Visits

Plan on regular visits to our office so we can monitor the health of your mouth and the fit of your denture. We will assist you in scheduling a customized recare (denture maintenance and cleaning plus oral cancer screening) usually every 6 months.

When to Call Us

Please call us right away if your denture breaks, cracks, chips, or if a tooth becomes loose, so we can properly repair it. Also, call us if your bite feels uneven, your denture becomes loose, you have sore spots, irritation, swelling, or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns. (772) 286-1606

Today, we have placed a soft material on the tissue side of your denture or partial denture. This is called a “Soft Liner” or “Tissue Conditioner”. The purpose of this material is to provide cushioning between the denture and your healing or irritated gum tissue.

This material is meant to be a temporary way to calm your tissue, and help it to heal properly. It typically will stay soft for between 2 weeks to 2 months depending on smoking, diet, and cleaning technique. It may be necessary for us to replace this more or less frequently utilizing a custom treatment approach to your mouth and your situation.

Cleaning:

Proceed with cleaning the denture teeth with a soft brush and mouthwash or denture cleaning tablets dissolved in water. Avoid getting these materials on the soft liner. It is also very important NOT to soak the denture in these materials.

I recommend you clean the soft material with your finger and some hand-soap 2-3 times per day preferably after meals or snacks. It is important to remove debris so it doesn’t become imbedded in the soft liner. This technique will minimize the risk of damaging or tearing the soft liner, and keeping it clean to aid in tissue healing.

Please contact our office with any specific questions you may have. (772) 286-1606

Immediate Removable Dentures and Extractions: If your dentures were placed over new extraction sites (immediate dentures), keep the dentures in for the first 24 hours including overnight. The dentures will act as a compression to help with bleeding and swelling and prevent irritations to the extraction sites. Please follow your surgeon’s guidelines after the first 24 hours to leave the denture out as much as possible over the next 4-6 weeks. For proper care of your gums and denture, please refer to Mouth and Denture Hygiene below.

Looseness: If you have had teeth removed immediately prior to placement of the denture, it may feel loose, due to mainly to the gum shrinkage that occurs as the gums and bone heal. If you need to use denture adhesive be sure to only place it in the palate area and keep it away from any sutures. Our office will place a soft-liner right away which will help improve the fit. This may need to be done 1-3 times during your healing phase. Complete healing of the gums and the underlying bone takes 12 months with the majority occurring in the first 6 months. Between 3-6 months a permanent hard reline may be placed or a new denture may be fabricated. Denture adhesives may still be required.

The following suggestions are presented to assist you in learning to use and properly care for your new dentures. Most new dentures require a “breaking in” period before they become comfortable. This length of time varies with each individual patient depending upon their ability, determination, and perseverance to learn how to use them. You must first learn to keep them in place, and the gradually start to use them.

While you have a SOFT-liner in the denture, it is extremely important to clean your denture with a soft brush and warm soapy water, after each meal. Do NOT use toothpaste. Use a soft toothbrush or fingers with warm soapy water to clean soft liner. Food partials that are trapped under the denture can cause inflammation of the gums and sore spots. You should remove your dentures for at least 6 hours daily, usually on retiring at night, to give your tissue rest. During this time, the dentures can be cleansed and placed in a small tub of water to prevent them from drying out, as this may cause warpage, and loss of fit. Most patients will be maintained in a soft-liner for at least the first 3 months of healing time.

Once you have the final HARD reline, after completion of initial healing, at least once a week, place dentures in an enzymatic or special cleaning solution to remove those otherwise insoluble stains and proteins.

Because foods will stick to the soft tissues of your mouth, it is also beneficial to brush the roof of your mouth, and your tongue daily. You may also use a small wash cloth to clean and stimulate the tissue under your denture. Massaging and stimulating these tissues will reduce the incidence of inflammation and sore spots.

Sore Spots: Soreness from uneven pressure on the gums may develop at any time, and is not unusual, especially if you have not worn a denture before. Sore spots are best corrected if the dentures are worn at least 3-6 hours before returning for an adjustment appointment. This can allow a precise detection of the pressure areas inside the denture which will be corrected by trimming these areas and possibly teeth contacts.

Eating: Start with soft foods or those that are easy to chew. Take small bites and chew slowly, trying to overcome the difficulties as they arise. Keep the food distributed evenly on both sides and chew on the back teeth. To bite foods that normally require the front teeth, such as apples or corn on the cob, apply pressure backward against the front when closing. If the denture begins to dislodge, biting with the side teeth may be an easier alternative. More difficult foods that are fibrous (steak), or hard (carrots) will require a gradual learning curve. Initially, it is recommended that you avoid chewing gum or attempt to eat sticky or adhesive foods.

Speaking and Staying Comfortable: You may have difficulty speaking for a short period. If this happens, practice by reading aloud in front of a mirror until you are comfortable. You can also try speaking more slowly and quietly. While your mouth gets used to the new denture, it may seem bulky, you may notice increased salivary flow, and your tongue will feel crowded. These sensations should pass with time. An upper denture causes some people to gag. Call us if this continues beyond the initial adjustment period.

Regular Dental Visits: While your healing you will be seeing me at 24 hours, 1 week and 1 month post surgical procedures and immediate denture delivery. After complete healing and hard reline of dentures delivered and final adjusted, you will be recommended to recare program. This is for denture cleaning, follow-up and evaluation of dentures (bone loss, and a wearing of the teeth will inevitable occur) and oral cancer screening by the doctor. Careful maintenance of the dentures and the supporting soft tissues is a key to continued success with dentures. Please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions.

When to call us: Please call us right away if your denture breaks, cracks, chips, or if a tooth becomes loose, so we can properly repair it. Also, call us if your bite feels uneven, your denture becomes loose, you have sore spots, irritation, swelling, or discomfort, or if you have any questions or concerns. (772) 286-1606.

We know this stage isn’t easy. Our compassion and knowledge combined with your commitment and patience will get you through this!

Now that you are comfortable in your new complete denture(s), we would like to remind you that an annual dental checkup is still an important part of your overall health. Of course, the daily home care of your denture(s) is essential. However, it is also highly recommended that you visit Dr. Tyler and our hygienist once per year, for the following procedures:

• Intraoral and extraoral cancer screening examination.
• Evaluation of your denture(s) retention, support, stability, wearing of tooth surfaces, and occlusion/bite.
• Denture adjustments if necessary.
• Professional cleaning of your denture(s).We use an Ultrasonic Cleaner with a calculus and stain remover soak.If required, the acrylic will be pumiced and polished on our lathe.

Oral cancer is non-discriminatory. Patients without teeth are at the same risk as a patient with all their teeth. Although those who smoke or use chewing tobacco have a higher risk, oral cancer affects nonsmokers as well. The leading cause of oropharyngeal (throat) cancer is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), one of the most common viruses in the United States. Early detection is the key. Dr. Tyler takes this part of his job very seriously.

There are many factors that will change the fit and comfort of your dentures over time. Research shows that once the teeth are removed, the jawbone shrinks and changes shape. By using dental adhesive, you may have masked the loose fit of your dentures. Even though you have adapted to these dentures, you are not receiving the function and appearance you deserve. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), a denture needs refitted or replaced every 5-10 years on average.