Table of Content:
- Post-op instructions for fillings and crowns
- Residual numbness
- Soreness
- Bite adjustment
- Maintaining your oral hygiene
Post-op instructions for fillings and crowns
Congratulations on having received your new filling or crown. You should know that it takes a few days to get accustomed to your new fillings and crowns, especially if you’ve received multiple dental restorations. Give it a few days to see how you feel afterward. In the meantime, here are some things you can expect as you get used to your new dental restorations:
Residual numbness
If you receive local anesthesia, be sure to refrain from eating until the numbness has worn off. Drinking is okay, so feel free to have a milkshake, yogurt, or soup. However, avoid chewing on the tooth while you’re still numb. You could accidentally bite your tongue or cheeks. Once the anesthesia has worn off, you can slowly start to eat on the treated area. Typically, you should wait at least one hour prior to eating solids after having received a new filling or crown.
Soreness and sensitivity
It’s not unusual for your tooth and gums to be sore after receiving a filling or crown. You may experience some minor hot and cold sensitivity on the tooth as well. Keep in mind that your tooth needs some time to heal afterward. The soreness or sensitivity typically resolves on its own within 2 to 3 days. If you’re experiencing discomfort following your appointment, you can always try taking an Advil or Tylenol to help out.
Bite adjustment
Your new filling or crown should look and function less the rest of your natural teeth. However, it may take a few days before everything settles down into place. Most fillings and crowns feel slightly rough or a bit high at first. However, they usually start to feel normal within 2 to 3 days. If you’re still having issues more than one week after receiving your filling or crown, then you should contact your dentist to have your tooth evaluated. Ignoring bite problems can cause your filling or crown to fail or even lead to tooth fracture. Luckily, a simple bite adjustment is all that is required to fix this problem in most cases.
Maintaining your oral hygiene
Wait at least a few hours for before cleaning your new restoration. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to skip brushing and flossing your tooth the day that you receive your filling or crown. Get back to your normal brushing and flossing routine 24 hours later. You should be able to pass floss through the tooth without breaking it. Try doubling up on floss to get it to pass through if the contacts are really tight. This may be the result of cement getting stuck between your teeth. If you can’t get dental flossing to pass through your new filling or crown, then contact your dentist to have the tooth re-evaluated. If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding your fillings or crowns, free to contact your dentist for further instruction.