Welcome to Your New Smile
After Care instructions, and so much more
YOU’VE MADE THE DECISION TO UPGRADE YOUR SMILE.
And we’re so excited for you. You’re about to see your confidence sky rocket and all we have to say is, flaunt it!
You’re starting your smile makeover journey, which means you’re on your way to being totally unstoppable – and so you don’t miss a beat, we’ve gathered all the information you’ll need along the way.
Cosmetic Treatment Info
Prep post op: Veneers
At this stage, you’ve had your teeth prepped for veneers and currently have temporaries placed on your teeth. This section will help inform you of all the do’s and don’t at this stage of the process and what to expect next.
AFTER CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Immediately AFTER YOUR PROCEDURE
Numbness can last up to a few hours. Drinking a lot of fluids can help flush it out of your system quicker. Wait for the numbing to completely wear off to eat anything so you don’t bite your tongue, cheek , lips or fracture your temporary veneers.
TIP: A smoothie or protein shake is the easiest way to fill up if you’re hungry but still numb!
Your temporaries:
eating and drinking
Your temps are made of acrylic, making them very fragile!
We encourage you to be extremely careful while eating with your temporaries. Do not bite into anything with your front teeth (not even soft toast) Cut everything up and chew with your back teeth or implement a softer diet over the next two weeks.
Because these are temporarily bonded onto your teeth, you may experience sensitivity from cold or hot fluids. Leakage under the veneers temps may happen. Do not worry, the final veneers will be completely bonded to the teeth and this will not occur.
Your Temporaries:
Keeping them clean
To help make your temporaries as strong and durable as possible, we connect them as one unit.This means you will not be able to floss in-between your teeth or around the edges or they will pop off.
Continue to brush like normal, even if using an electric toothbrush. Your tissue may bleed and may even turn a darker shade. This is a normal part of the healing process, so don’t be alarmed if this happens. It is important to continue brushing.
We will be Incorporating a medicated mouth rinse that you will use for 30 seconds in the morning and 30 seconds at night (after you brush)
For extra gum care: Put a small amount of the mouth rinse in a cup, dip your toothbrush in it and gently brush around the gum tissue (especially where gum contouring was performed)
Additional Info:
When it comes to the design and shade of your temps… We take custom shade photos as part of the process to create your final veneers, so do not worry about temp shade being off. We are only able to choose from a few shades and we match things as best as possible.
Additionally, your temps are an acrylic material, so they are all one solid shade – offering no translucency, definition or characteristics. Your final veneers will be a beautiful polished glass that possess translucency, definition and natural characterizations, just as natural teeth do.
NEXT STEPS:
During the next few days, pay attention to the length, the width, the shape and the design of your temporary veneers. If there are any changes you would like make, write them down and relay them to Dr. Hoffman so he can communicate said changes with the ceramist before your final veneers are delivered.
If you are satisfied with everything, then your smile check is basically an approval and you simply wait for the final delivery of your veneers.Y
Final Delivery: Veneers
Well that’s it, you’re all done. You have a beautiful new smile and you’re about to flaunt it to the world. This section will help you learn how to care for your new smile and how to handle all that extra confidence.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER
You will be numb for a couple of hours following treatment.
We advise against eating and drinking until the numbness subsides so you don’t injure yourself. If you must eat or drink, choose soft foods and liquids at room temperature.
Once the numbness wears off, you are free to eat and drink normally.
HOW WILL I FEEL?
Other than feeling amazing about yourself and your new smile, your gums may be irritated after treatment. To help the healing process, continue to floss and brush your teeth.
Sensitivity following treatment is normal, and should subside in a few days.
WHAT’S NEXT?
You will not need to continue using the antibacterial rinse (Peridex) with the permanent veneers. At this point you may return to your regular hygiene routine.
If your bite feels a bit off, we will adjust it at your follow up appointment.
If you don’t already own a mechanical toothbrush, we suggest you get one. We highly recommend the Phillips Sonicare toothbrush.
Tips for long-lasting veneers:
Brushing + Flossing
Routine (6-month) Cleanings + Check-ups
Wear Retainers and/or Night guard as recommended
Maintain your shade with Stay Bright, an at-home whitening subscription
Invisalign
Ahh, what a time to be aligned. Your smile will thank you for choosing Invisalign. Not only is Dr. Hoffman the TOP Invisalign dentist in Chicago, ranked a Diamond+ provider, he is considered the top 1% Invisalign provider in the entire country. This section will answer all your questions about Invisalign and how to care for your smile once you’re done.
Everything you need to know about invisalign
How often do I wear them?
You will be wearing your aligners 22/24 hours of the day. You will only take them out to eat, brush and floss your teeth.
If you eat with them they will break (so we advise against it!) You may drink with them, but keep in mind they are clear and will stain when drinking dark liquids.
For best care, remove them when drinking dark liquids and brush or rinse your mouth before putting them back in. If you don’t mind them staining, you may drink with them in.
When do I switch out MY aligners?
You will be switching out your aligners weekly -unless- the Doctor recommends otherwise.
We will make things easy for you and label your upcoming aligners with the dates you will need to switch them out on. You just have to make sure you are switching them out on the correct date. If you don’t switch out your aligners on the correct date, you risk delaying treatment and also messing up the switch out dates labeled on your other upcoming trays.
TIP: set reminders on your phone for all your upcoming aligners switch out dates.
What do I do with MY old aligners?
You can toss old aligners -BUT- make sure to keep one previous set of aligners just in case you lose the current one you’re in.
If you lose the current tray you’re in, first try to move forward onto the next aligner. If for any reason the next aligner does not fit properly, use the previous one to stabilize your teeth and prevent things from shifting. Let us know immediately if you lose or break your aligners, so we can order you a replacement.
You must always have your aligners in. If not, your teeth will shift back and you will need to start the whole process from the beginning.
If you go out of town and forget your next aligners, simply keep the current aligner in at all times to prevent your teeth from shifting back and move on to the next set of aligners when you return.
How do I keep my aligners clean?
We highly recommend Stay Clean Foam, developed specifically to eliminate stains, odor, and bacteria from your aligners. Stay Clean Foam is available for purchase at any of The Chicago Dental Studio locations, or online here.
How to use Stay Clean Foam to clean your aligners: Remove trays and place them inside of their case. Cover aligners with foam and let sit for up to five minutes. Rinse and brush aligners before placing them back into the mouth.
Do not use denture cleaners. Those are meant for acrylic dentures and will stain your aligners.
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Immediately after
First, give yourself a high-five. You did it! And might we say, you look amazing!
Since your teeth were in constant movement for multiple weeks while in treatment, our new goal is to get them stabilized.
For the next 4-6 weeks, you should wear your retainers 22/24 hours per day.
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After 4-6 weeks
Now that you’re teeth are stabilized and secured into a more anchored position, you can stop wearing your trays so frequently.
Now, you will only need to wear your aligners at night (every single night) to help hold your teeth in place.
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Happily Ever after
Keep smiling and showing those beautiful, straight teeth off to the world.
But to make sure this is a happily ever after situation, you’ll need to always wear your retainers at night.
TIP: When worn consistently over time, clear aligner trays may warp and flex, which is why it’s important to occasionally update your set. The Chicago Dental Studio offers an aligner subscription, Stay Aligned, making it easy to maintain a beautiful, straight smile. Learn more here.
Your teeth have memory, so not wearing properly fitting retainers will cause your teeth to shift back.
Night Guard
Stress less with the protection of a night guard. This device helps protect and preserve that beautiful smile. This section will help you learn all about your night guard and how to care for it.
Everything to know about your night guard:
How to wear it:
You are to wear your night guard appliance every single night since that is when people tend to clench and grind their teeth the most. If you feel like you maybe clenching/grinding during the day (while working, driving, etc.) pop that night guard in and wear it to help protect your teeth.
getting used to it:
During the first two weeks, it will take time for you to get used to your new night guard appliance. You may even wake up without it in your mouth, at times. If this happens, put your night guard back in your mouth, and repeat as long as this process takes place. Just like forming any positive habit, it takes time to get used to a new routine. Continue to wear your night guard every night so you can get used to it – once your mouth acclimates to the device it becomes oh so soothing.
If you are having discomfort or any concerns after two-weeks of wearing your night guard, call us so we can get you scheduled. You may need it adjusted.
Cleaning it:
Cleaning your night guard is easy. We recommend the Stay Clean Foam, developed specifically to clean, deodorize, and sanitize night guards as well as aligners. You can purchase Stay Clean Foam at any one of The Chicago Dental Studio locations, as well as online, here.
How to use Stay Clean Foam:
Step 1: Remove trays and place them inside of their case.
Step 2: Cover Aligners with foam and let sit for up to five minutes.Step
3: Rinse and brush Aligners before placing them back into the mouth.
When you come in for your six month checkup, make sure to bring your night guard with. Not only do we like to make sure it’s still in good condition and fitting properly – we also professionally clean it for you!
Do not boil your night guard to “disinfect” it. It will melt the appliance and warp the material causing it to not fit properly anymore.
What Our
Patients are Saying
What Our
Patients are Saying
Let’s design the smile that’s made for you.
Schedule your cosmetic consultation with Dr. Nathan Hoffman and take the first step toward results that are personal, natural, and built to last. Every treatment starts with a conversation, and ends with a smile that feels completely your own.