Patient Education & Instructions

Congratulations! You are on your way to getting a brighter and whiter smile. Whitening is a safe and effective way to improve the color and appearance of your smile that many of our patients find easy and satisfying. The information provided below will help you keep your smile white and dazzling!

Follow the Manufacturer instructions included in your whitening kit or any modifications to the treatment times recommended by your doctor.
Maximum results are seen after two weeks of consecutive daily treatment.

SENSITIVITY

Some patients experience sensitivity after whitening. This sensitivity normally lasts 48 – 72 hours however, it is not unusual for it to linger for a week or two. We recommend over the counter pain medications such as Ibuprofen, Tylenol, or Aleve counteract any discomfort you may be having.
Avoid acidic fruit juices like orange juice until the sensitivity has dissipated.
Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief or Sensodyne toothpaste is recommended for brushing should you experience sensitivity.
If you find that your teeth are experiencing too much sensitivity, it is ok to whiten every other day although this will extend your overall treatment length.

DO NOT CONSUME

…FOR AT LEAST 1 WEEK TO MAXIMIZE YOUR WHITENING RESULTS.

The first 48 hours after completing your last whitening session are crucial to maximizing the whitening results as your teeth will continue to settle during this time.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Please continue good oral hygiene during and after the whitening process, this will greatly help you maintain the new color.
Whitened teeth will always be lighter than they were prior to the treatment.
How long your results will last is variable and greatly depends on your diet and habits.

If you have any questions about your treatment, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Occlusalguard/ Nightguard/ NTI

Your appliance was custom made for your teeth in our office and can be adjusted to your personal comfort level.

Wearing Instructions:

It generally takes about two weeks for most patients to become comfortable wearing their appliance at night.
The appliance should be worn every night.
Wear the appliance during naps whenever possible.

Maintenance:

Daily: After wearing your appliance, gently brush it with toothpaste. Always keep the appliance in water when not being used to prevent cracking. It is recommended to store it in the provided case with a small amount of water.
Once a month: your appliance should be soaked in a denture cleaning solution or white vinegar at least once a month (i.e. Efferdent, Polident, Retainerbrite)
Once a year: bring your appliance with you to your cleaning appointment so we can evaluate the fit and amount of wear to your appliance.
Periodically: your appliance will need to be relined or remade after 2-3 years. There is a charge for this service.

Precautions:

Be careful not to drop your appliance. It is common for patients to drop their appliance into the sink during handling and the appliance will break if dropped on any hard surface.
Heat can distort the appliance. Do not wash your appliance in a dishwasher. Also, do not leave the appliance in the glove compartment of a car.
KEEP YOUR APPLIANCE AWAY FROM PETS – Dogs love to chew these appliances!

Thank you for your cooperation and continued commitment to good oral health. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us at (954) 781-1855 or email us at friends@brightyoungsmiles.com

Invisalign / Orthodontics

Clear Aligner Technology (Invisalign)

INVISALIGN Treatment Instructions

INVISALIGN trays must be worn for a minimum of 20 out of 24 hours of the day.
Remove trays to eat and drink. Room temperature water is permitted to be consumed with trays in. (Hot/cold can distort plastic and chewing can destroy the integrity of trays.)
Clean trays with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste.
Always save your last set of trays. We may need them at some point.
If you have attachments bonded to your teeth, please let us know if you notice a de-bonded/missing attachment

As always, please call us with any questions you have regarding your INVISALIGN treatment. We are here happy to help!

Pediatric Procedures

Pediatric Palatal Expander

Sealants

Pediatric Stainless-Steel Crowns

Fluoride Treatments

Botox® Pre & Post Care Patient Instructions

Pre-Treatment Instructions

We realize this is not always possible; however, minimizing these risks is may reduce potential side effects of the injections.
Patient must be in good health with no active skin infections in the areas to be treated.
Patient should not be needle phobic.
Avoid alcoholic beverages at least 24 hours prior to treatment Alcohol may thin the blood which will increase the risk of bruising.
Avoid anti-inflammatory / blood thinning medications ideally, for a period of two (2) weeks before treatment.
Medications and supplements such as Aspirin, Vitamin E, Gingo Biloba, St. John’s Wort, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Vioxx, and other.
NSAIDS are all blood thinning and can increase the risk of bruising/swelling after injections.
Schedule Botox® appointment at least 2 weeks prior to a special event which may be occurring, i.e., wedding, vacation, etc. etc. It is not desirable to have a very special event occurring and be bruised from an injection which could have been avoided.

Post-Treatment Instructions

Remain upright for 4 hours after injection (you may lie in a reclined position, just do not lay flat).
Exaggerate facial expressions in injected areas for 1 hour after injection.
Do not wear a headband or hat where the band goes across your forehead if you have had injections between the brows or in the forehead.
Refrain from aerobic exercise that increases your heart rate greatly (running, swimming, bicycling, etc…) for 24 hours following injections. Walking or other low impact forms of exercise are fine.
Do not massage or manipulate injected areas for 24 hours after injections. Washing your face and applying make-up is fine. Please avoid using a Clarisonic facial cleanser, have a facial, put your face in a massage cradle, or be face down in a chiropractor’s chair for 24 hours following the injection.
Refrain from using ibuprofen, aspirin, fish oil supplements, or vitamin E for 24 hours following injection.
If bruising appears, apply ice to area for 15 minutes every hour to decrease bruising.
The most common side effect is headache with Botox injections. You may use Tylenol to relieve this. If you are a chronic headache sufferer and have prescription headache medication, you may take it as prescribed by your doctor.
Botox will gradually take effect over 7-10 days with optimum result at 2 weeks. If this is your first Botox injection, we recommend scheduling a follow up appointment 2 weeks after your injection.

Dermal Fillers Pre & Post Care Patient Instructions

Pre-Treatment Instructions

For optimal results, and to minimize the chance of bleeding or bruising at the injection site, please avoid all blood-thinning medications and supplements for one week prior to your appointment. This includes over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, Motrin, ibuprofen, and Aleve. Also avoid herbal supplements such as garlic, vitamin E, ginko biloba, St. John’s Wort and
omega-3 capsules. If you have a cardiovascular history, please check with your doctor prior to stopping use of aspirin.
Inform your provider if you have a history of Perioral Herpes to receive advice on antiviral therapy prior to treatment. (Valtrex 500 mg BID, 5 days, start 2 days prior to treatment).
Avoid topical products such as Tretinoin (Retin-A) retinols, retinoids, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, or any “anti-aging” products for two days before and after treatment.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages 24 hours before or after your treatment to avoid extra bruising.
Do not use dermal fillers if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are allergic to any of it’s ingredients or suffer from any neurological disorders.

Post-Treatment Instructions

Avoid significant movement or massage of the treated area.
Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
Avoid extensive sun or heat for 72 hours.
Avoid consuming excess amounts of alcohol or salts to avoid excessive swelling.
If you have swelling, you may apply a cool compress for 15 minutes each hour.
Use Tylenol (acetaminophen) for discomfort.
Try to sleep face up and slightly elevated if you experience swelling.
Take Arnica (typically found in health food stores) to help the bruising and swelling. (Begin taking at least two days prior to injections for best results).
Wait a minimum of four weeks before skin care or laser treatments.

Dermal fillers last, on average, 6-12 months. It is recommended at the time of your treatment to schedule your next appointment for optimal anti-aging benefits. The most typical side effects (bruising, swelling, redness) are temporary and will resolve.