Chase Seubert

There are several ways, but first, see your family dentist for a cleaning and exam to ensure the teeth are healthy and ready to undergo any whitening procedure. The doctor can also examine to ensure all extra cement or composite tabs are removed from the tooth prior to whitening, as leaving it would result in unevenly whitening the tooth. Once cleaned of cement and the teeth are deemed cavity free, the methods of whitening include the following options:

1) utilize OTC whitening toothpaste and mouthwash twice a day until happy with the shade.
2) utilize OTC white strips or whitening gels in non custom trays (be careful of tissue irritation.
3) in-office fabrication of trays for take home whitening using carbamide peroxide. (My preference is this because the dentist will track your progress every 2-3 weeks until your optimal result is achieved.)
4) in-office whitening (this method works great as well, but can have more sensitivity associated with it due to the high concentration of hydrogen peroxide used so I generally would recommend this option for individuals who are on a time constraint and need immediate results).

There are 2 trains of through registering this:

1) you could immediately temporize so the bottom side of the floating tooth (Pontic) can train the tissue so it looks like it's growing out of the tissue or
2) you can wait and let the tissues heal and do the bridge after 3-4 weeks of healing. For me, I’d usually do pathway 1 for missing anterior teeth and sometime first bicuspids and pathway 2 for posterior teeth.

Always consider an implant as an option, as it is the best tooth for tooth replacement because it retains the natural tooth structure of healthy neighboring teeth and can have a much longer long-term prognosis (better longevity).

I usually recommend adding a minute so you brush with a fluoride containing toothpaste for 3 minutes and instruct the patient to brush the teeth and gums for 2 minutes then focus on brushing the brackets for 1 minute. Floss using floss threaders or for better compliance, use platypus floss sticks every day. Waterpik waterflosser can be nice to have for cleaning under bands and brackets with hooks for elastics. Rinse with Listerine Total care (non-alcohol)

Order: floss, brush, rinse

Short answer is yes. Anterior teeth do not get the forces that back teeth receive. So on a back tooth with multiple cusps, if a root canal is performed, it is recommended to have a cuspal coverage restoration. For front teeth, you are usually safe not to do the crown if there are not other large fillings in the tooth that would weaken its structure. I would recommend a night guard to protect the tooth from any nighttime unconscious clenching or grinding habits (often time people are unaware that they have this habit).

This simplest would be the basic salt and baking soda rinse with purified water. You can also add a drop or 2 of you favorite flavored essential oil such as peppermint or cinnamon.

1/2 spoon of Baking soda
1/2 spoon of salt
1 Cup of water

If the tenderness is not stabilizing within that first week then the bite may need adjustment. The periodic sensitivity can be normal for several weeks and sometimes months depending on where the crown margins needed to be placed as well as if there were cracks that were being stabilized with the bridge abutments. Always consult with your dentist to confirm the bite and diagnosis if pain is worsening.

Implant if possible

There are a couple of factors that can play into the healing process, including:

- How long did the extraction take?
- Was it surgical or simple? Meaning did they have to flap the soft tissue and remove bone or section the tooth?
- Do you have a more complex medical history?

In general, the most inflammation will occur in the first 3-4 days. By day 4, the tenderness should gradually improve over the next 2 weeks. If the pain is worsening between days 3-5, then go back to your doctor and have them evaluate the site for dry socket (alveolar osteitis) or for bony sequestra.

Yes

Possibly, depending on whether there is infection in the region. It is more likely associated with TMJ dysfunction. If the pain is persistent, it is always recommended to be evaluated by a specialist.

Depending on your medical complexity, if you are able to take Tylenol and Ibuprofen, you can take 400-600mg of Ibuprofen alternating with 500mg of Tylenol every 4-6 hours. If you take any medications for chronic medical conditions, always consult your physician prior to taking other medications.

Go back to your dentist for evaluation. It is not uncommon for a filling in the back tooth to require adjustment once the anesthesia has worn off.