When to call us
Most people experience little to no discomfort following placement of a bridge, but call us right away if you have:
- Pain or swelling that develops after 24 hours
- A reaction to the medication
- If once the anesthetic has worn off you have pain when biting, or your bite feels off, you may have a “high bite” and your restoration may need adjusted. You will need to return to the office for an adjustment to avoid breaking the tooth or injuring the nerve. It takes under 10 minutes to adjust and you should call us at (513) 245-2200 to have it taken care of right away.
Follow these instructions carefully to ensure the success of your bridge:
- Do not eat or drink anything until the anesthetic has worn off.
- Do not use the area treated to bite down on anything hard (peanuts, pretzels, ice, etc.) for 24 hours. You should continue to avoid aggressive chewing and/or very sticky foods indefinitely as things like ice and tacky candy can damage or loosen the bridge.
- You may floss and brush your new bridge as normal, unless told otherwise by the doctor.
- Some minor discomfort in the area is possible following the bridge placement. Sometimes, depending on circumstances, the tooth and surrounding tissues may remain sore for a few weeks post treatment. The three most common reasons for pain are:
- Sore jaw joint from having your mouth open for a prolonged time.
- Sore muscle from the injection site.
- Sore tooth when biting down from a “high bite.” This occurs when your new restoration is seated higher than your natural tooth was and can be quickly corrected by adjusting the restoration at our office. It is important that you get the bite adjusted right away to avoid breaking the restoration or damaging the nerve. If you experience a high bite, call the office at (513) 245-2200.
Caring for your temporary restoration(s)
- If the temporary restoration comes loose or breaks, please call us. If the temporary restoration is off for even a short time, the tooth can shift position and cause the final restoration to not fit well.
- Please avoid eating in the area with the temporary restoration as much as possible.
- Avoid sticky foods and chewing gum on the temporary restoration to avoid pulling it off.
To see a video on how to floss a bridge, click on the link below:
